Custom Nuts and Baboon Greenlight 2 Seasons of Groundbreaking “Battuta” Cartoon
Skwigly
Pioneering animation partners Custom Nuts and Baboon Animation have greenlit Ibn Battuta, a new family-friendly comedy adventure for a 5–7 co-viewing audience. The companies have introduced the series to buyers at Annecy/MIFA 2025.
Custom Nuts and Baboon Greenlight 2 Seasons of Groundbreaking “Battuta” Cartoon
Two seasons are now fully funded and in pre-production, with production hubs operating across Japan, the US and the MENA region.
Battuta is a bold, comedic reimagining babof the legendary 14th-century explorer as a wide-eyed kid with big dreams and an insatiable curiosity. Armed with a magical travel trunk and a wisecracking donkey, young Battuta zigzags through unexplored lands, causing as many problems as he solves.
Led by Silas Hickey and Mike de Seve respectively, Custom Nuts & Baboon, the Tokyo- and New York-based studios behind Battuta, are specialists in character-led animation, snappy visual comedy and Emmy-winning storytelling. Ibn Battuta’s hybrid anime model delivers all three across every scene.
The series is brought to life by a top transnational team: celebrated writers, board artists, animators, designers, and directors from across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Japan and Hollywood. Their collective vision marries the warm, kid-centered storytelling of kodomomuke anime with playful, family-friendly slapstick. The result is a fresh tone built for global co-viewing — smart, chaotic fun perfect for younger audiences and their families alike. “Together Mike and I have gotten to know so many great talents over the years, and the very best of the best have been so eager to jump on board Battuta,” said Hickey. “Look for some exciting announcements on that front.”
Ibn Battuta stands out as not only cutting-edge deign, but also as that rare animated IP that’s both rooted in regional heritage and still has massive global appeal. The series has drawn strong interest from broadcasters and streamers looking for content that blends cultural specificity with universal humor and heart, and is designed for longevity, with natural extensions into publishing, licensing, and digital platforms.
First-look materials for Ibn Battuta will be available after Annecy/MIFA 2025 by appointment, along with three more anime hybrid titles based on Middle East epic characters. These include Hamza, a bold new teen/young adult series inspired by the legendary exploits of Amir Hamza.