‘Finally, a Show About Men!’, an Australian short animated sketch comedy that satirizes modern masculinity, will premiere on Sunday on Aunty Donna’s Grouse House YouTube channel at Sadman Studios on the Gold Coast.
The series is produced by her husband Samuel Leighton-Dore, who is also a screenwriter, and Bradley Tennant, and is supported by a Screen Queensland online production grant. The two jointly oversee the studio.
“With ‘Finally, a show about men!’ we wanted to create something that was emotionally honest, globally recognizable, and genuinely funny, while also exploring a masculinity that is both deeply human and a little absurd,” Leighton Doll said. “This series comes from an interest in the contradictions of modern masculinity: performative, vulnerable, lonely, and theatrical. Animation has given us a way to approach those ideas through satire, surrealism, and elevated worlds that feel emotionally true.”
The debut episode, “A Scrum Is A Safe Space,” is rugby-themed. Leighton-Dore and Tennant previously produced the animated short film The Sensitive Jim Brothers and co-produced the animated sitcom Willy, which is currently in development at Ludo Studios, the same company behind Bluey, and is set to be released as a graphic novel by Penguin Random House.
“Screen Queensland is proud to support “Finally, a show about men!” Screen Queensland executive director of screen content Julie Eckersley said. “This bold animated series shows how online platforms are carving out a space for voice to experiment with personal themes and connect meaningfully with audiences. We congratulate Sad Man Studio and the entire team on their commitment to unique storytelling and exploring big emotions.”
Leighton Dore added: “The show explores that being a man is complex, serious and often misunderstood, but sometimes unexpectedly it can also be a little sweet and funny. We’re really excited to see that not all men are going to like what we’ve created.”
