Conference Expanding Realities Fresh Visions
ON SITE Raum Reutlingen Thursday, May 07, 17:00

Adult Animation in a Kids’ Industry: Making Task Force Querlitz in Germany

Video on demand

Adult animation is booming globally — but in Germany, it still struggles against the perception that animation is only for children. This session explores the making of Task Force Querlitz, one of the first adult animated comedies produced for German public broadcasting by the Offenbach based studio PixelPEC. The director Arne Hain and producer Sebastian Simon will share an honest behind-the-scenes look at developing adult animation in a system that rarely supports it. The talk covers navigating funding structures, and defining a tone that feels culturally European rather than derivative of US models. Beyond the creative side, the session dives into production realities: building a flexible pipeline with small team, making stylistic choices under tight budgets, and balancing experimentation with broadcaster expectations.

Arne Hain

Arne Hain, Director & Animator

Arne Hain is a German animation director and stop-motion artist known for his handcrafted, character-driven storytelling. A graduate of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Hain combines traditional and digital techniques, always tailoring the visual style to the project’s tone. His diverse credits range from Phil Tippett’s MAD GOD and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to commercials and award-winning shorts like The Last Bar. With Task Force Querlitz, Hain directs his first major TV series, pushing German animation into adult territory.

Sebastian Simon

Sebastian Simon, Producer, PixelPEC

Sebastian Simon is a producer and founder of the Offenbach-based film and animation studio PixelPEC. Since 2014, he has been producing fictional animation projects focusing on innovative storytelling forms that bridge artistic vision and technology. As a board member of the AG Animationsfil, Sebastian is particularly dedicated to the fields of adult animation and AI.

Mark Taynton

Mark Taynton, Founder and Chief Adult Animation Adventurer, Marky Sparky Media Ltd

Marky Sparky Media Ltd is a boutique consultancy redefining the future of adult animation across Europe and beyond. From ideation and pitching to launch, genre development, and digital and brand strategy, the company delivers a hands-on, strategic and commercially focused approach—built on close collaboration with talent, studios, broadcasters, and streamers.

 

Founder Mark Taynton is an international media executive with over 20 years’ experience across content, digital, brand, business development, and strategy. A specialist in adult animation, he spent more than a decade at Warner Bros. Discovery, where he helped scale the global phenomenonRick and Morty and led the expansion of the Adult Swim brand beyond the United States.

 

Mark is a regular host and moderator at leading international animation festivals, known for his energy, insight, and industry perspective. He is passionate about championing emerging talent and helping to future-proof Europe’s rich animation heritage.

 

Through Marky Sparky Media, he is focused on building the next wave of globally resonant adult animation IP, talent, and creative partnerships.