Meghan Markle signs deal with Netflix: Take a look at this animation series

Meghan Markle, also commonly known as The Duchess of Sussex and wife of Prince Harry is officially set to create and executive produce the upcoming Netflix animation series Pearl. This upcoming Netflix animation series is set to be a family series, telling the story of a 12-year old girl who finds inspiration & hope within the stories of influential women throughout the decades. 

Pearl, of course, comes from the Duke & Duchess of Sussex’s multi-year deal with the streaming company, which will involve them creating scripts, docu-series, children’s programming, and feature films. Markle executive produces with David Furnish, Carolyn Soper and Emmy-winning filmmakers Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan. Amanda Rynda will serve as showrunner and executive producer.

This isn’t the first time, however, in which Meghan Markle has opted to stretch her creative skills, as she recently wrote the children’s book The Bench, which was released just before Father’s Day this year and told the story of a relationship between a father and a son through the perspective of a mother. Now that Meghan Markle is all warmed up, can we expect Pearl to be a major hit? Let’s delve in and see what she thinks. 

Pearl

Pearl will be the first animated series from Archewell Productions. Netflix revealed in Spring 2021 that it teamed with Archewell for Heart of Invictus, a docuseries produced in partnership with the Invictus Game Foundation that highlights the resilience and hope from competitors participating in the titular event’s The Hague 2020. As for the creative team’s enthusiasm, it appears that Meghan Markle herself is all in on Pearl. 

“Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life’s daily challenges”, said Markle in the announcement. “I’m thrilled that Archewell Productions, partnered with the powerhouse platform of Netflix and these incredible producers, will together bring you this new animated series, which celebrates extraordinary women throughout history.” 

“An exciting tale that weaves together fantasy and history, Pearl focuses on a young girl who learns to step into her own power when she embarks on a heroic adventure and meets important women from history along the way,” added Megan Casey, Netflix’s Director of Original Animation. “We’re excited to develop this animated series with our partners at Archewell Productions and Story Syndicate.”

Of course, this isn’t the first time Megan Markle has taken a crack at children’s storytelling. 

The Bench

On March 4th, 2021, just two days before her son Archie’s birthday, Meghan Markle and Publisher Random House Children’s Books announced that the Duchess of Sussex would be releasing her first children’s story titled The Bench in June, which was inspired by a poem she had written for her husband, Prince Harry, on Father’s Day just prior to Archie’s birth. 

“My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the make-up, as much as it does with mine,” Markle stated in a press release last Spring. She also noted the exceptional work of Christian Robinson, the award-winning illustrator who helped bring Markle’s vision to life. 

Markle touched on Robinson’s efforts here in the press release: “Christian layered in beautiful and ethereal watercolour illustrations that capture the warmth, joy, and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life; this representation was particularly important to me, and Christian and I worked closely to depict this special bond through an inclusive lens.”

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What do you make of Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix animation series Pearl? Have you had a chance to check out The Bench? What’s your overall opinion of Meghan Markle & Prince Harry? Are there any other Netflix animation series you might recommend? Comment below and let us know your thoughts.