Kate Micucci Developing Animated Series ‘Toy’ Based On Keenspot Comic

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran actress, comedian and musician Kate Micucci (Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities) has launched development on Toy, a new animated series based on the popular Keenspot comic book created by Brett Murphy and Wilson Gandolpho. In addition to producing, Micucci will star and create music for the cartoon, having already recorded a first pass of the theme song.

Tobi Wilson, who serves as Senior Writer for Cartoon Network’s long-running hit The Amazing World of Gumball, is attached as showrunner and co-producer. Also set to produce are Keenspot’s Chris Crosby and Bobby Crosby, as well as David Campiti of Glass House Studios, who will be handling animation production.

Released in March 2023, Toy follows the adventures of a floppy-eared inventor of the same name, who also happens to be, you guessed it, a toy! He has two friends (at least two friends!), an ever-hungry crocodile and a skillful human girl, who help him defend the small town of Rockledge against the machinations of evil kitty-cat CEO, Lily Buttercup. Jealous of Toy’s inventing abilities, Lily will do anything to show him up — even build a ginormous mech-suit so she can personally destroy his hometown!

Within weeks of Toy‘s debut in comic shops, the first issue was selling for more than 10 times its cover price on eBay.

In a statement on the series adaptation, Keenspot CEO Chris Crosby noted that Toy‘s creators, as well as the whole team at his company “have been fans of Kate’s acting, comedy, and music for years.” Added Crosby, “We are so honored that her unique and hilarious voice is teaming up with brilliant showrunner Tobi Wilson to bring this project into animated reality!”

Perhaps best known for her role as Raj’s love interest Lucy on mega-hit The Big Bang Theory, Micucci has also held memorable roles on series including Raising Hope, ‘Til Death, How I Met Your Mother, Scrubs and Mom, most recently appearing in Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities for Netflix. One half of musical comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates (the other being Riki Lindhome), she’s also over the years voiced the iconic role of Velma in numerous animated Scooby-Doo projects, while taking on voice parts in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Steven Universe, the upcoming Angry Birds Mystery Island and more.

Toy creators Murphy and Gandolpho were also behind Paranormal Hitmen, a comic book now in development for television with eOne. Up next in comics for the international duo is an edgy sci-fi adventure to be teased in further detail at San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

Launched as a pioneering publisher of webcomics back in 2000, Keenspot now has a significant presence in comic book stores worldwide, as well as a book line distributed exclusively by Simon & Schuster. The company is perhaps best known for Marry Me, a webcomic and graphic novel created by Keenspot president Bobby Crosby, which was adapted into a Universal Pictures rom-com back in 2022. The film, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, hit #1 at the box office on Valentine’s Day while also breaking day-and-date streaming records on Peacock.

Keenspot’s first animated adaptation is the forthcoming Grubbs, based on the comics created by Max Weaver. World premiering a retro Christmas special in Los Angeles last month, the show will make its streaming debut during the 2024 holiday season. Amongst the voice cast are Stand by Me and Star Trek stars Wil Wheaton and Jerry O’Connell, TGIF icons Jodie Sweetin (Full House) and Jaleel White (Family Matters), Felicia Day (The Guild), Jason Marsden (A Goofy Movie), and Debi Derryberry (Jimmy Neutron).

Micucci is represented by Vault Entertainment; Wilson by Gemma Hirst Associates; Murphy and Gandolpho by Martin Literary & Media Management and UTA; and Keenspot by Zero Gravity Management.