Shaftesbury Film’s digital studio Smokebomb Entertainment has its next project: State of Syn, a futuristic web drama to star Jewel Staite, David Hewlett and Rainbow Sun Francks.

Smokebomb will produce 10 five-minute episodes that are 3D-enabled and to be rolled out online, on smartphones and tablets.

The sci-fi web drama follows Annika Drake, played by Staite, and her friends who are pulled into a twisted mystery following the unexplained death of Drake’s father.

State of Syn will also combine live action footage with animated backgrounds as part of a project to start production in Toronto in early April.

The web drama will be formally launched at MIPTV, ahead of a consumer launch in summer 2012.

State of Syn is created and produced by Daniel Dales and Jarrett Sherman for Smokebomb Entertainment.

The executive producer credits are shared by Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie and Shane Kinnear for Shaftesbury.

Sam Egan (Sanctuary) and Jimmy Palmiotti serve as creative consultants.

The digital project has funding from the Canada Media Fund’s experimental stream and the Ontario digital media tax credit.