Meet the Creative Minds Behind the Animated Sci-Fi Comedy ‘Force 5’: David Marshall and Todd Gallina

New Animated Series "Force 5" Set for Launch at Kidscreen Summit and MIP London

Los Angeles, CA – Emmy-nominated producer David Marshall, known for his work on Rick and Morty, has teamed up with industry veteran Todd Gallina to create a new animated sci-fi comedy series titled Force 5. The series will be introduced at both the upcoming Kidscreen Summit and MIP London.

Force 5 is designed for children aged 7 to 12 and centers around a diverse group of teens who are tasked with saving the world. Their unexpected ally is a colossal, sentient robot who is reluctant to let them pilot him. According to the creators, Gallina has spent nearly a decade developing the series into what they describe as a "franchise-ready universe."

Cookbook Media, led by Claudia Scott-Hansen and Rob Bencal, has been appointed as the global agent for content distribution and consumer products. The team will present the Force 5 series, consisting of 13 episodes each lasting 22 minutes, to prospective buyers and licensing partners at the forthcoming industry events. A pilot episode has already been filmed.

Marshall, a seasoned animation professional, has directed and supervised projects for notable franchises, including George Lucas’s Ewoks and Droids, as well as the Care Bears and Ralph Bakshi’s The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse.

“Force 5 was created to be the kind of franchise we wished existed when we were kids,” said Marshall and Gallina. “It’s an epic, funny, and deeply character-driven adventure built around a strong emotional core and an iconic giant-robot premise. With Cookbook Media on board, we’re excited to bring this world to partners who can help bring our vision to life. With a creative team that brings decades of global animation and franchise-building experience, we are eager to deliver a fresh new children’s franchise to audiences worldwide across screens, retail shelves, and pop culture platforms.”

The pilot of Force 5 was produced by Cheer Digital in Taipei. Marshall serves as co-creator and director, while Gallina is co-creator and producer. The production team also includes Tony Chang as head of animation production, Zac Retz as art director, Laura Kleinbaum as head writer, Jing Wuen as a writer, and Andy Kelly as storyboard artist and character designer.