The personalities of Notorious B.I.G., Prince, and Questlove have always been vibrant. We couldn’t see them any more passionate about their music and opinions on current events. Turner Networks and Mass Appeal would beg to differ, though. They think the three celebrities and friends could use a little bit more…animation.
New partnerships with TBS and TNT networks and Mass Appeal take form this fall, starting with an animated series based on the true and unusual stories of your favorite celebrities. In collaboration with Okayplayer, Mass Appeal’s Storyville series will take on the small screen. TBS will revisit the series’ second episode with Questlove and Prince, and screen it as the pilot. In the episode, Questlove himself narrates a tale of finding love, Nemo, and the enchanted Prince. TBS secured nine more episodes, currently in production.
Next up, Biggie’s mother Voletta Wallace and Wayne Barrow of Bystorm Films will help Turner and Mass Appeal create a scripted series based on the late rapper’s lyrics. The animated show will follow a teen father’s efforts to better the lives of his daughter and son in the city.
Both shows come from TBS and Mass Appeal’s initiative to capture urban life in modern America. Under the partnership, Mass Appeal Records will open up its studios and track catalog for access to licensed tracks and original songs for TBS and TNT programs. Music will actively be a part of the initiative and determine the direction of new specials and unscripted programs. Sacha Jenkins of Mass Appeal said, “In essence, Mass Appeal’s strength lies in our ability to articulate the innermost feelings of artists and revolutionaries who are in the throes of their most potent creative moments, in a manner that is true to the creators and the movements they help spawn. I think our marriage will produce programming that will inspire a huge cross-section of people to tune in, interact and, in the case of TBS, laugh their a**es off.”
