Sony Pictures Television has sealed a multiyear, first-look deal with content creator Thea Von Engelbrechten, who's behind the popular  Moletown Drama  social platforms - which boast 2.5 million TikTok followers and 1 million Instagram followers.

As part of the deal, Sony has the first-look rights to develop and produce original series from Von Engelbrechten. First up is the new microdrama  Hazelwood,  which premieres Friday, Nov. 13, on YouTube. Described as a  darkly comedic animated microseries,  the  Hazelwood  episodes (which will all be just a few minutes long) will roll out every Friday on YouTube then move to TikTok and Instagram on Sundays.

 Thea has cultivated a distinctive voice, blending disarming charm with a sharp, irreverent sense of humor in a way that feels entirely her own,  said Frank Ochoa, VP of adult animation at Sony Pictures Television, in a statement.  Her ability to create endearing characters and place them in wonderfully inappropriate situations has earned her a passionate following. We're excited to bring  Hazelwood' to life with her and help her develop whatever she dreams up next. 

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Per the series logline,  Hazelwood  is an animated soap opera  set in a picturesque woodland town where the animal residents' seemingly idyllic lives unravel amid scandals, dysfunctional relationships and nihilistic violence. Featuring an original cast of characters and storylines created for the series, Hazelwood follows recovering alcoholic Meadow, her husband Richard, their popularity-obsessed neighbor Arabella, Pizza Mole and Scar as they navigate outrageous drama and the everyday absurdities of suburban life. 

 It's a dream come true to have the opportunity to build my own world and characters, and they've given me the perfect environment to do that,  Von Engelbrechten said in a statement.  They really understand creatives and the creative process, and have been so supportive in giving me the freedom to take the project in the direction I want. Everyone has been an absolute pleasure to work with. The team is so kind, welcoming, and feels like one big f
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