Being a teenager is already complicated enough.
There is school, friendships, growing up and trying to figure out exactly where you fit into a world that seems to be changing around you constantly.
Developing extraordinary superpowers and discovering a parallel digital world filled with hackers, viruses and a sinister entity threatening your entire city probably isn’t going to make things any easier.
But it certainly makes for an adventure.
A Productions is taking us into a hyper-connected future with “Hyperlight – Battle of the Guardians,” a new animated action-comedy series for pre-teens that has officially been commissioned by BBC Children’s & Education.
And the series is already preparing to travel considerably farther.
Banijay Kids & Family has signed a distribution agreement for “Hyperlight,” while the series has also been pre-sold to Super RTL in Germany. Production is currently underway at Bristol-based A Productions, with Singapore’s Scrawl Animation joining as production partner and delivery planned for the end of 2027.
At the center of this futuristic adventure are two teenage girls who sound like they are about to have quite a lot on their plates.
Chrissie is a teenager who suddenly develops extraordinary powers, while Bella is a hacker genius. Together, the friends must navigate the everyday ups and downs of high school while becoming caught up in something considerably bigger inside the Network.
Hidden within the hyper-connected city of New Avalon, the Network is a parallel digital world where Chrissie and Bella find themselves facing hackers, viruses and a sinister entity threatening the city.
And this isn’t exactly our present-day version of technology.
“Hyperlight” is imagining a future filled with self-driving cars, hoverboards, robotic pets, nano-bots and seemingly endless technological possibilities, giving its young heroes an enormous playground for the series’ action and comedy.
But underneath all that futuristic technology sits an idea that feels particularly relevant right now.
Technology is evolving incredibly quickly, and children are growing up surrounded by it. “Hyperlight” is taking that reality and pushing it into a fantastical future, using Chrissie and Bella’s adventures to explore some of the questions and challenges that can come with technological advancement.
A Productions Managing Director Katherine McQueen describes the series as an “action-packed rollercoaster ride” with relatable humor woven throughout, while noting that its exploration of technology will introduce themes capable of resonating with the whole family.
That balance could be where “Hyperlight” becomes especially interesting.
This isn’t simply a show about fighting computer viruses inside a cool digital world. Chrissie and Bella are still teenagers dealing with school and everyday life outside the Network. Putting those two realities beside one another gives the series room for superhero action without losing the relatable problems of actually being the age of the kids watching.
And we always have room for another great girl duo leading an animated action series.
A Productions is certainly no stranger to children’s television either. The independent studio recently celebrated 40 years in business, with work including “My Friend Maisy” and “JoJo and Gran Gran,” while production is also underway on the BBC’s “The Underglow.”
“Hyperlight – Battle of the Guardians,” however, is taking things in a decidedly more action-packed direction.
The series is planned as 26 22-minute episodes, giving Chrissie and Bella plenty of time to explore New Avalon, uncover the secrets of the Network and hopefully figure out exactly what is threatening their city.
Because high school wasn’t difficult enough already.
Production on “Hyperlight – Battle of the Guardians” is currently underway, with delivery scheduled for the end of 2027.
Until then, we’ll be keeping an eye on the Network.
Something tells us Chrissie and Bella are going to need all the help they can get.
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