Sycamore Studios Acquires Animated InvestiGators Rights
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- Sycamore Studios acquired exclusive animated motion picture rights to John Patrick Green's InvestiGators franchise, a property that has sold 5 million copies in print since its 2020 debut and is a New York Times bestseller.
- Christian McGuigan, Co-Founder and CEO of Sycamore Studios, called InvestiGators a rare family franchise and cited watching his own four children devour the books as proof of the property's appeal.
- Cooper Waterman, Sycamore's Head of Production and Distribution, framed the deal as a foundation for an 'enduring global entertainment franchise' spanning theatrical, series, gaming, consumer products, and live experiences.
- John Patrick Green said he had 'always believed InvestiGators had the potential to leap beyond the page' and expressed excitement about partnering with Sycamore for the next chapter.
- Sycamore Studios' existing slate includes the in-production Doctor Dolittle: King of the Wild animated pic, Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline franchise, and Ben Hatke's Zita the Spacegirl trilogy.
- Green is represented by Debbie Deuble Hill at IAG, Jen Linnan at Linnan Literary Management, and Jamie Coghill at Surpin, Mayersohn & Coghill, LLP.
Why it matters: Sycamore is betting on a proven children's IP — 5 million copies and NYT bestseller status since 2020 — to anchor a family entertainment portfolio that already includes Madeline and Zita the Spacegirl. The studio's own language positions this as a franchise acquisition, not a one-off film, with Cooper Waterman explicitly naming series, gaming, consumer products, and live experiences as planned extensions.
