Ottawa-based animation company Mercury Filmworks has acquired the rights to the bestselling picture book Attack of the Underwear Dragon by author Scott Rothman and illustrator Pete Oswald.

The company says it plans to develop and produce a 2D-animated musical comedy series from the story, for kids ages six to 11. Chantal Ling will serve as executive producer on the project, which will be aimed at both streamers and broadcasters.

Rothman and Oswald will also work on the 11 x 52 minute series, which will feature originals song by Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning composer, producer, arranger, and orchestrator Bill Sherman (Sesame Street, In the Heights, Hamilton).

Attack of the Underwear Dragon was first released in October 2020 by Random House and follows 10-year-old Cole as he learns how to be an assistant knight in a Medieval land featuring the Underwear Dragon. Along the way he realizes that while knights may appear tough, they have inner fears and anxieties just like everyone else.

Rothman has written several picture books, including Mako & Tiger: Two Not So Friendly Sharks (Random House), Parfait, Not Parfait (Roaring Brook Press) and Blue Bison Needs a Haircut (Random House, illustrated by Oswald). He has also written screenplays that have sold to Warner Bros., Paramount, Sony, and New Line Cinema. His screenwriting credits include Draft Day and Army of One.

Oswald is an Annie Award-nominated animation production designer best known for The Angry Birds Movie film franchise and Oscar-nominated ParaNorman. His credits as a character designer and concept artist include Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs parts one and two; and Hotel Transylvania.

“Thanks to a hilarious and heartfelt tale by Scott, the magical illustration style of Pete Oswald, and original songs from Bill, our show won’t look or sound like anything that kids have seen before,” said Heath Kenny, chief content officer at Mercury Filmworks, in a statement.

Rothman said the comedy series will have “plenty of heart.”

“As fathers, we all wanted to create a show that we’d feel good about having our own kids watch,” said Rothman. “Tales of the Underwear Dragon will teach children to never underestimate themselves and realize they are capable of great things. It doesn’t matter that Cole was an orphan who came from nothing, what matters is that he never gives up and always finds a way to solve his problems. At the same time, kids will learn that while people might be scared of things, they will always be able to overcome their fears and win the day.”