ABC has a new comedy in the works that’s a blend of live-action and CGI animation and very Drop Dead Fred. According to Deadline, the network has given a pilot production order to Imaginary Friend from Disney animator Patrick Osborne and The Goldbergs’ Adam F. Goldberg and David Guarascio, which will follow “a thirtysomething bachelor whose life is turned upside-down when he finally meets the love of his life, a divorced working mom with three kids. This triggers even more upheaval when the slightly unhinged imaginary friend he created as an only child suddenly reappears in his life to help him navigate the transition from single guy to family man.†The imaginary friend will be CGI, while the rest of the show will be live-action.
Imaginary Friend isn’t the only live-action/animated hybrid comedy in the works at a major network this year – Chris Miller and Phil Lord are also producing Son of Zahn for Fox, which will star Jason Sudeikis as an animated “fantasy warrior†who reconnects with his live-action family.