Comedian and producer Andy Lee has leveraged modern technology to transform a personal children’s book into a rapidly expanding global media franchise. Originally written as a gift for his nephew George, Lee’s interactive book *Do Not Open This Book* has evolved into the animated television series *Do Not Watch This Show*, which has gained international traction across the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
Lee’s production company, Lee Bones, oversees the project, which he describes as a surprise success that grew from humble beginnings. The book was initially not intended for commercial release, but after encouragement from a publisher friend and family discussions, Lee agreed to publish it, with proceeds designated for George. As the book found an audience in more than 35 languages, the franchise expanded into animation, creating a notable presence in children’s entertainment and drawing comparisons to the hit Australian series *Bluey*.
Central to the franchise’s growth has been the adoption of cutting-edge technology. Lee credits Apple’s Mac Studio and Mac Mini desktops, along with MacBook Pros and iPad Pros, for enabling his relatively small production team to produce high-quality animation without the need for extensive server infrastructure historically required by larger studios. This hardware has allowed the company to handle the intensive demands of creating hand-drawn animated episodes efficiently.
However, the rapid evolution of technology has introduced new challenges, including increased costs and supply shortages. Apple’s Mac Studio models, prized for their local processing capabilities especially in artificial intelligence applications, faced supply constraints, leading to a brief suspension of certain memory options and a surge in resales on secondary markets. Despite these hurdles, Lee reports that his current equipment suffices to support the team’s scaling ambitions, including plans for developing additional shows.
Lee also highlighted the practicality of iPads in streamlining the animation process, particularly for ‘draw-over’ corrections during meetings, comparing them favorably to larger, less portable Cintiq tablets commonly used in animation. He personally integrates production work into his travel routine, often reviewing episodes on flights, exemplifying a blend of creative commitment and technological integration.
Looking ahead, Lee aims to further diversify the brand by venturing into game development. He acknowledges that gaming typically demands greater processing power but expresses confidence in current hardware capabilities to support this next step. Nonetheless, Lee stresses that technology is ultimately a facilitator, not a substitute, for creativity and compelling ideas.
“What I find fascinating is you can have all the money and power and technology in the world but it doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to have a great product,” Lee said, emphasizing the importance of original concepts that resonate with audiences.
*Do Not Watch This Show* stands as an example of how innovative use of technology combined with a strong creative vision can propel a homegrown idea onto an international stage in the competitive field of children’s entertainment.