Posted in: TV | Tagged: Mirka Andolfo, sweet paprika

Mirka Andolfo Launches Her First Animated Project, Sweet Paprika

Italian comic book creator Mirka Andolfo, who has become quite a hit in America too with Unnatural, Un/Sacred and Mercy, as well as working for DC on Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman, recently signed with Boom Studios for a bunch of covers – she committed to fewer than other artists though. Looks like she may have a lot more on her plate, courtesy of her first animated project, Sweet Paprika.

Sweet Paprika asks what if Bridget Jones's Diary in reverse me Sex & The City, with a pinch of The Devil Wears Prada, creating an urban fairy tale about sexual emancipation. Executive Producer Gabriele Pennacchioli (Love, Death + Robots) and writer Tommaso Triolo join Andolfo for the erotic romantic comedy with Arancia Studio and Grey Ladder Productions to produce.

Sweet Paprika takes place in a world similar to ours, but inhabited by characters with the appearance of angels and devils. Protagonist Paprika is a New Yorker of Italian origin, working endless hours as a Chief Creative Officer at a publisher in the centre of the thriving metropolis. Far from a traditional princess, Paprika's job and career drive consume her, forcing her to neglect her personal needs as well as her relationships with friends and family.

Enter Dill—a naïve and charming delivery boy whose "angelic" attitude grates against Paprika's no-nonsense practicality. This odd-couple prince and princess embark on an unexpected courtship that both tests their temperaments, as well as embraces the themes of female empowerment and sexual identity.

Based on a series of sketches shared initially on social media, Sweet Paprika follows the erotic misadventures of a career-driven woman—Paprika—who reluctantly engages a charming, if immature, delivery boy named Dill. Though Andolfo has only hinted at this story through her drawings, her fanbase has quickly embraced the mismatched devil-and-angel couple, requesting sketch commissions and even cosplaying as the pair at major conventions.

Andolfo is partnering with the Italian media company Arancia Studio and CEO Davide G.G. Caci to develop the animated project, which has been optioned by Alessandro Regaldo at Grey Ladder Productions. Andolfo describes Sweet Paprika as an urban fairy tale for adults, carrying the coming-of-age themes of The Devil Wears Prada mixed with the progressive, feminist romance of Bridget Jones's Diary and Sex and the City.

"I'm feverishly excited to both tell the hilarious, amorous story of Sweet Paprika, as well as see Paprika and Dill come to life (and flirt) through animation," Andolfo says. "The production team has helped ignite what was once a dream into a vibrant and massive project. I'm still devoted to creating monthly comics, but the idea of starting a new adventure in another medium is exciting, and working alongside professionals like Gabriele and Tommaso is more than I could ever hope for!"

"When I was contacted with the proposal to work on Sweet Paprika, it was love at first sight," Gabriele Pennacchioli says. "It's a lively and inspiring project, with a dynamism suited to the magic of animation. Mirka's imagination offers a wide and multifaceted world, with a breath of global creativity and Italian romanticism."

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