Crunchyroll Partners with Idris and Sabrina Elba for New Animated Series DANTAI

Crunchyroll recently announced a deal with Idris Elba and Sabrina Elba to create a new animated series. This news comes as Crunchyroll achieved 4 million subscribers. The series is currently titled Dantai and will be created by Crunchyroll in conjunction with Idris’ Green Door Pictures and Sabrina’s Pink Towel Pictures. Dantai is described as a dark fantasy series and I’m game.

Currently in development, the Afro-futuristic science fiction series will be set in a city where the rise of biotechnology has created an ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots. Two rising stars from either side of this divide are pitted against each other in a story that will ultimately explore equality and kinship within a corrupt society.

Joanne Waage of Crunchyroll said:

For more than a decade, through anime and anime-inspired Originals, Crunchyroll has been leading the charge for the popularization of adult dramatic animation and we are fast becoming the epicenter for the next generation of animation fans, as is evidenced by our incredible growth in registered users and subscribers” said Joanne Waage, General Manager, Crunchyroll. “Gens Y and Z have experienced superhero fatigue and are hungry for the new stories and ideas that our creators tell. This development deal with Sabrina and Idris Elba is another example of how we’re working with best-in-class partners to bring in new audiences and tell fresh and compelling stories through a medium that transcends genres and generations.

The Elbas released the following statement:

We’re really excited to be announcing this deal on our first anime. We’re both fans of the genre and see a huge opportunity to create something unique for a powerhouse like Crunchyroll. The story of ‘Dantai’ is our first collaboration as producers together and is one that is close to our hearts.