Disney Greenlights ARTEMIS FOWL Animated Series for Disney Channel and Disney+

It looks like Disney is taking another crack at Artemis Fowl, and this time the criminal mastermind kid genius is headed into animation.

More than 25 years after author Eoin Colfer first introduced readers to Artemis and his wild world of tech-savvy fairies, Disney has officially greenlit an animated series adaptation for Disney Channel and Disney+.

Colfer announced the news during the “25 Years of Artemis Fowl” panel this past weekend at New York Comic-Con, and he’ll also be involved as an executive producer.

Artemis Fowl has always felt like a story that could really thrive in animation, with its mix of fantasy, sci-fi, criminal schemes, fairy tech, and one very complicated 13-year-old genius at the center of it all.

The book series, which launched in 2001, follows Artemis Fowl, a young mastermind who discovers a hidden underground world filled with armed, dangerous, and surprisingly high-tech fairies.

Naturally, Artemis doesn’t just stumble into this magical world and leave it alone. His plan is to capture one of the fairies and steal its magic in an attempt to heal his dying mother and save his family.

It’s a pretty awesome hook, and animation feels like a smart way to bring all the weird creatures, gadgets, underground fairy civilization, and action to life without sanding off the stranger edges that made the books so fun in the first place.

Colfer shared his excitement about the project, saying:

“I am proud and delighted to be part of the formidable team that is putting the Artemis Fowl animation on screen.

“Everyone is so talented and so positive that I feel certain the fairy world is in excellent hands.”

Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, also talked about bringing the franchise to a new audience:

“For more than two decades, Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl books have captivated readers around the world with unforgettable characters, imaginative world-building, and gripping adventures.

“Bringing this beloved franchise to life as an animated series gives us the opportunity to introduce a new generation to Artemis’ world while honoring the longtime fans who have cherished these stories for years.”

The big question now is what tone the series will take. The original books have a sharp, mischievous energy to them, with Artemis starting out as more of a young criminal mastermind than a traditional hero.

That edge is part of what made the series stand out, so hopefully the animated series leans into the clever, chaotic fun of Colfer’s world.

After Disney’s previous live-action Artemis Fowl movie failed to land with fans the way everyone hoped, this animated take feels like a fresh opportunity to get the story right.

The format gives the creative team room to explore the fairy world, the tech, the creatures, and Artemis’ tricky moral journey in a way that could really click.

No release date or casting details have been announced yet, but with Colfer directly involved, this already sounds like a much more promising trip back into the world of Artemis Fowl.