Veteran actor Johnny Depp is returning to the world of animation. Per Variety, the animated series Puffins Impossible, which features Depp in the lead voice role, will soon be streaming on Apple TV and Prime Video. The series is a spinoff of the animated short-form series Puffins, which also starred Depp as the voice of Johnny Puff. He reprises that role for this new series.
The series is described as an "action-adventure version of Puffins," which followed Depp's Johnny Puff leading a group of arctic birds. Puffins Impossible picks up with Johnny Puff becoming a ninja in the company of superheroes. You can read the reported logline below.
In Puffins Impossible, the lives of puffins Johnny Puff, Didi, Pie, Tic and Tac are disrupted when a meteor lands, which leads them to gain superpowers. Led by Johnny Puff, they morph into Tactik, Didi Damage, Megapie and Mystic — a unified superhero team. Just like in Puffins, positive themes of gender and race equality and environmental protection are weaved into the narrative.
“Puffins Impossible is a great story for all ages, witty and educational,” Depp said in a statement, noting how the series is the first animated show to be produced in the Republic of Serbia. “The work that has been done in just one year is simply amazing; I’m delighted with the creativity of people from Serbia."
The 18-episode series comes from Andrea Iervolino and Monica Bacardi's ILBE via Iervolina Studios and Archangel Digital Studios. Iervolino and Bacardi have also worked with Depp on other projects like Waiting for the Barbarians and Minamata. Peter Nalli (Puffins, Arctic Friends) serves as showrunner.
“The tremendous response we’re seeing to the Puffins franchise is incredibly encouraging and speaks to the global demand for innovative high quality short animated family content adapted to all screen types,” Iervolino said.
Johnny Depp's Fans Have Been Supporting Him Throughout His Recent Career Troubles
Johnny Depp's film career has taken a turn in recent years due to a highly public legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard. After Heard had alleged that she had been abused by Depp, the ensuing publicity would eventually result in Depp's name getting tarnished in Hollywood. He says the allegations, which he's denied from the start, have cost him lucrative roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean and Fantastic Beasts film franchises.
Many of Depp's fans believe that the evidence that's publicly available suggests that he is innocent and was actually verbally and physically abused by Heard. This has sparked petitions to have Depp given his roles back with others calling for Heard to be removed from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. A hashtag #JusticeForJohnnyDepp consistently trends on social media with fans all around the world offering their support.
The fans are also willing to follow Depp wherever he goes to see what the actor has to offer next. His latest film Minamata had some issues in securing a U.S. release, but after it was finally made available in January, it has since become a contender for the Oscars' Fan Favorite award. Fans feel that Depp and Minamata had been snubbed because of the negative press related to Heard's allegations.
Puffins Impossible does not yet have an official release date, but the series will be made available for streaming on Apple TV and Prime Video.