Magic Tree House, the beloved series of children’s books in circulation for three decades, has an animated series adaptation in the works with tech-based entertainment company Spuree.
The bestselling franchise is written by Mary Pope Osborne, who will retain full standing as a creative partner with Rideback on board as producer. The deal marks the first major partnership for Spuree (formerly Cheehoo) and brings Osborne’s storytelling vision together with the company’s proprietary technology — an ethical, AI-enabled 3D platform to accelerate the artistic process while keeping artists in creative control.
“For many years, I’ve been looking for the right opportunity to adapt my books into a series for the scree…
Magic Tree House, the beloved series of children’s books in circulation for three decades, has an animated series adaptation in the works with tech-based entertainment company Spuree.
The bestselling franchise is written by Mary Pope Osborne, who will retain full standing as a creative partner with Rideback on board as producer. The deal marks the first major partnership for Spuree (formerly Cheehoo) and brings Osborne’s storytelling vision together with the company’s proprietary technology — an ethical, AI-enabled 3D platform to accelerate the artistic process while keeping artists in creative control.
“For many years, I’ve been looking for the right opportunity to adapt my books into a series for the screen in a way that would allow me a real seat at the table — an experience authors almost never have when their work is adapted for other media,” Osborne said. “But now, finally, thanks to the forward-thinking teams at Spuree and Rideback, I’m able to have that and bring my handpicked creative team along with me to realize my long-held dream of bringing Magic Tree House books to the screen in a way that feels true to their spirit.”
The animated show will launch across digital and streaming platforms, as well as include educational outreach through parent, teacher and librarian networks. Spuree and Osborne are planning for global distribution and localization, leveraging Osborne’s existing reach in dozens of languages and territories. Spuree is
Osborne and her longtime creative partner Will Osborne will serve as executive producers for the series, which will feature original scripts by Magic Tree House writing partners Will Osborne and Jenny Laird, with original music by award-winning composer Randy Courts (he’s scored 8 musical adaptations of books in the Magic Tree House series).
“The Magic Tree House universe is a perfect match for Spuree’s vision,” said co-founder Michael LoFaso. “It’s rich, beloved, and full of narrative possibility. With Mary Pope Osborne and her team at the heart of the process, we ensure that the animated series honors the legacy while reaching new audiences.” The exec also touted Spuree’s workflow, one that gives artists and rights holders full control over illustration, world-building and release strategy.
The Magic Tree House book debuted in 1992, and have sold over 194 million copies worldwide and been translated into 39 languages. The series encompasses more than 100 titles, including companion nonfiction volumes, graphic novel adaptations, a planetarium show, and more than a dozen theatrical productions. They are published by Penguin Random House.
Spuree is backed by leading venture funds and strategic partners like Greycroft, Point72 Ventures, Basis Set, and Headline Asia. The company was incubated at Rideback (“Lilo & Stitch,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “The LEGO Movie”).