Kids

TeamTO and Martian Blueberry have announced a creative collaboration on Junichiro Jackson (JJ), TeamTO’s first original adult anime-inspired series under its new TeamTOKO label. The project, currently in development, will be presented at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival with a teaser trailer and exclusive first-look footage.

Conceived as a 30-minute, 10-episode serialized 2D psychological thriller, JJ blends neo-noir mystery, action, anime-inspired visuals and music-driven storytelling. Set in a near-future, socially fractured New York City, the series follows private investigator Junichiro Jackson as he faces both literal demons and his own inner darkness after a routine case reveals a conspiracy threatening the city.

The teaser, co-directed by Slimane Aniss and Havtza, will premiere during TeamTO’s Studio Focus presentation, Come Fly with TeamTO, on June 23 at 2:45 PM at the Imperial Palace in Annecy. TeamTO’s Marco Balsamo and Tara Sibel Demren will be joined on stage by Martian Blueberry founders Carl and Love Jones.

“At its core, JJ is about identity, isolation, and the emotional cost of living in an increasingly disconnected world. What inspired us to create this project was the opportunity to explore the grey areas of deeply complex characters within a fractured society that feels increasingly reflective of the world around us.” – Marco Balsamo and Tara Sibel Demren, Producers, TeamTO

After Annecy, JJ will make its North American debut at Dream Con in Houston, Texas, during Martian Blueberry’s From Boondocks to Martian Blueberry panel. The event will include a special teaser screening and a live performance by hip-hop group Coast Contra, who are also contributing original music to the series.

“Partnering with TeamTO is about pushing animation culture forward through fearless creativity, diverse voices, and experimental storytelling to create something meaningful, impactful, and unlike anything audiences have seen before. JJ is the kind of project that reminds us why we started Martian Blueberry in the first place. We love anime and music-driven worlds that exist outside the traditional boundaries of Hollywood, stories shaped by different cultures, perspectives, and lived experiences.” — Carl Jones and Love Jones, Co-Founders of Martian Blueberry

JJ is the first title announced as part of the expanding creative and strategic alliance between TeamTO and Martian Blueberry, with further projects already in development.