ITV Studios launches Steve Penk’s Animal Radio

ITV Studios’ Creative Network has partnered with Steve Penk to launch a digital-first comedy series, Steve Penk’s Animal Radio, reimagining his classic Wind-Up calls for a new generation.

The series is set in an animated world where a pirate radio station, run by animals, broadcasts prank calls to unsuspecting humans below from the top floor of a city tower block.

Cats, dogs, monkeys, mice, bears, chickens and other eccentric animal characters operate the station, creating chaos and reliving some of Steve’s most memorable prank calls in a new visual format.

James Abadi of Abadi Films handled the production design, AI image and video generation, music, sound design and editing, using Almation’s Omnigen to create the show’s unique look.

The series is available from today on dedicated YouTube and TikTok channels, with digital experts Zoo 55 distributing it across wider digital and social platforms.

Steve said seeing his calls brought to life in this way is “something else entirely” and described the Animal Radio world as “weird, funny, slightly unhinged and unlike anything I’ve seen before.”

James explained that AI technology allowed them to build a world that is both believable and ridiculous, making it possible to tell these stories in a new way.