Glitch Productions Partners With ‘Lackadaisy’ Creators For Full Series Development

Australia’s Glitch Productions, fast becoming one of indie animation’s major global players, has announced it will partner with Lackadaisy co-creators Tracy J. Butler and Fable Siegel to produce a full animated series based on the acclaimed webcomic and viral 2023 pilot.

The six-episode, 22-minute series marks the launch of Glitch’s new banner, Glitch Presents, dedicated to supporting independent creators with third-party funding while maintaining their full creative control.

The partnership expands Butler and Siegel’s original plan for shorter episodes into a full-length season that aligns more closely with Butler’s original vision for the Lackadaisy world, a 1920s St. Louis speakeasy populated by sharp-dressed, anthropomorphic cats caught in a cycle of crime, jazz, and survival during Prohibition. Glitch is also bringing on Final Space creator Olan Rogers as development executive, a move intended to strengthen the production during development.

CEO Kevin Lerdwichagul said the partnership represents the next evolution of Glitch’s mission to elevate indie animation into mainstream visibility:

I’ve seen firsthand the passion and effort Tracy and Fable have been pouring into this show. When I realized there was a chance for Glitch to help expand their planned 5×11-minute episodes into full 22-minute episodes, closer to Tracy’s original vision, I reached out immediately. Most importantly, we made sure Tracy and Fable keep full creative control of their vision.

The Glitch Presents label is designed to complement the studio’s existing slate of Glitch Originals, which includes breakout titles like Murder Drones, The Amazing Digital Circus, and Knights of Guinevere. While Glitch Originals will remain fully self-funded and distributed free via YouTube, Glitch Presents projects will leverage external financing to scale up creator-driven productions for wider distribution on additional platforms.

For Lackadaisy, the move represents a major step forward for one of the most celebrated independent animation efforts in recent years. Based on Butler’s Eisner-nominated 2006 webcomic, the Lackadaisy pilot amassed more than four million views in its first week on YouTube and raised over $2 million through a BackerKit campaign.

Butler expressed excitement at the collaboration, emphasizing how the partnership allows the team to build on the foundation of the pilot while maintaining creative autonomy:

It’s a new and amazing time for indie animation to shine. We wouldn’t be anywhere without the audience’s enthusiasm and support. Thank you to Glitch, and thank you so much for watching.

The deal reinforces Glitch Productions’ growing stature as a force in independent animation. Following the viral success of The Amazing Digital Circus (now surpassing 800 million views) and the recent release of Knights of Guinevere, which topped ten million views within a week, Glitch has positioned itself as one of the top studios capable of developing high-quality, popular animated series outside of traditional studios, broadcasters, and streamers.