‘Cyko KO’: Blockchain Animated Show That Reunites Cast Of ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ Set To Launch

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Blockchain animated show Cyko KO is set to launch today.

The retro-inspired Cyko KO: The Animated Series is notable not only for being a high-profile pilot powered through blockchain tech, but also for reuniting several cast members from Napoleon Dynamite, as we first told you in September 2022.

The pilot stars Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory) as Cyko KO, a stunt motorcyclist turned SuperEarth’s greatest hero. Adapted from a webcomic, it launches today on Rewarded.tv at 11am ET, exclusive for an audience of digital collectible (NFT) holders, and also stars Heder’s Napoleon Dynamite co-stars Tina Majorino, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez and Haylie Duff. Heder is also executive producer on the pilot through his Verified Labs label.

The show was funded through NFTs on web3 streaming platform Rewarded.tv, and is a production of Replay, THETA Labs, Verified Labs, Rocketship Entertainment, Earworm Media and Simpatico Media. It is the first from Rewarded parent Replay to be funded through a digital community who gain access to the show and other perks by investing.

Replay sees the launch as a milestone for production, with tech at the center of everything from funding, through to distribution an engagement.

“With the Replay ecosystem, we’ve been so excited to provide filmmakers with a way not just to fund their movie with their communities, but to actually distribute their productions and continually engage with their fans,” said said Krish Arvapally, CEO of Replay. “And we could not pick a better project to debut than Cyko KO, a fun-loving, family-friendly cartoon that’s really been brought to life by its loyal audience.”

After the pilot’s launch, Replay Digital Collectible holders will be able to access