Ramy Youssef and his production company Cairo Cowboy are teaming with Amazon for an original animated series. The show is currently untitled but has already been given a two season order by the company.
The show will explore the experiences of a Muslim-American family that must learn how to code-switch as they navigate the early 2000s – a time of fear, war, and the rapid expansion of the boy-band industrial complex. Youssef will serve as a co-creator and executive producer alongside Pam Brady (South Park). Journalist and illustrator Mona Chalabi is also executive producing.
Youssef said in a statement: “Amazon Studios has committed to making a show with me that I never could have dreamed of getting made, let alone explore for two seasons. Anchored by Pam Brady and Mona Chalabi, we’ve brought together a special group of experienced and first-time writers to make something that I hope will be a genuine contribution to the animated space, and television.
I’m excited and grateful to explore making more weird shit with Amazon Studios through this partnership, inshallah.” Vernon Sanders, head of Global Television for Amazon, added:
“With perfectly measured and heartfelt comedic candor, his work penetrates culture, and we are so fortunate to be working with him and his team. Family comedies have long tackled some of the most uncomfortable and difficult societal topics, but through animation and Ramy’s creative voice, we are so excited to bring this one to audiences.”
The show is part of an overall deal Youssef and Cairo Cowboy have signed with Amazon, although it doesn’t interfere with his comedy-drama series Ramy on Hulu, in which he stars. A third season of that show is currently being worked on.
This announcement might mean that Amazon is committed to developing more animated series to compete with some of their streaming rivals. But trying to extract meaning from Amazon’s decisions when it comes to what shows they are greenlighting has proven to be a fool’s errand.
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