Set on a coastal English pier

Stand-up Sean McLoughlin is working on an adult animated sitcom set on a coastal English pier.

Pleasure Beach was unveiled last week at the Cartoon Forum in Toulouse, France. The 12-part series is being backed by Disney+, with producers Nexus Studiosat the industry event to seek partners to help cover the £12million budget.

Set in the forgotten seaside town of Branbourne, the comedy revolves around loveable but dim pier manager Peter Gregg and workshy 25-year-old Jean, whose ‘summer job as an assistant manager has lasted for eight years’. 

One plotline involves a whale that  maroons itself on the pier, with Peter building another attraction on top of it – only to find the mammal has fallen in love with him.

 According to producers, McLoughlin gives the series an ‘irreverent edge to match its unique computer-generated art style…. Pleasure Beach is unafraid to go to some dodgy places to heighten its sense of comedy.’ He has written the show with co-creator and director Laurie Rowan and stand-up turned screenwriter  Brydie Lee-Kennedy.

© Celia Lenoir/Cartoon

The comic, pictured above pitching the film in Toulouse with  Rowan, told British Comedy Guide: ‘Pleasure Beach is a majestic and ridiculous workplace sitcom.… It’s filled with jokes and looks incredible.’

‘We can't reveal too much more about the show yet. We're currently navigating the world of European animation subsidies which is as sexy as it sounds. Animation is a slow process, particularly if you want to make something as rich and textured as we want to

‘But it will be worth the wait as I can safely say that there won't be another show on the air that looks or feels like this one.’

Published: 24 Sep 2023