After scoring 5 million views and the attention of Nickelodeon with his children’s series sensation “The Weeklings,” award-winning animator Jabril Mack is using social media to entertain a new generation of diverse animation fans.
In summer of 2019, Mack independently launched “The Weeklings,” a comedy series starring the Days of the Week, on YouTube and TikTok. It has since gone on to rack up millions of video views and gained more than 180 thousand followers across social media platforms. Mack and his collaborators create new seven-minute episodes of “The Weeklings” on YouTube every month, as well as daily content for the show’s TikTok and Instagram followers.
It’s not only kids online who are noticing the innovative talent and effort that Mack puts into “The Weeklings.” The show’s success has caught the attention of media behemoths like Disney and Nickelodeon, who have asked Mack to pitch new ideas for their studios.
“I’m harnessing the power of social media to reach my audience,” Mack said. “I’ve found a way to connect with a new generation of cartoon fans. It’s great to see them embracing the show. The genesis of the idea for ‘The Weeklings’ came from my desire to want to tell stories that I wasn’t really seeing but also not waiting for someone to give me permission,” Mack said.
“The show explores the everyday life of a day,” according to Mack. “It stars the days of the week as living, breathing characters with personalities that correspond to how each day feels to us. For instance, Friday is popular, Saturday is fun-loving and happy, and no one likes Monday.”
The premise of “The Weeklings” is based on Mack’s experiences with a group of college friends living in a dorm, he said. “There were 10 guys on my floor and, just like the days of the week, we all had different personalities and yet formed a strong bond.”
The Weeklings are roommates who just moved to Calendar City. “They always get into crazy adventures as they explore and find their places in the world,” Mack said. “Calendar City is the perfect setting for this because all the characters are holidays. You can get Quinceanera, Kwanzaa, and St. Patrick’s Day all hanging out together being funny but also giving the audience a glimpse into other cultures from around the world.” I want people to know ‘The Weeklings’ for its over-the-top comedy, which is grounded in a very real need for representation and characters people can relate to,” Mack explained.
Mack noted that, behind the success “The Weeklings,” he is creating new content aimed at more diverse audiences, including the African-American community. “There is a hunger for stories and characters that are different,” he said. “Thanks to the internet, I don’t have to jump over the traditional hurdles to get my ideas in front of an audience.”
“Weeklings is the first step in creating content that has positive and meaningful representation,” Mack explained. “I grew up as a black kid in suburbs all across America. I never really saw characters like me or my family in animation. The industry has been making great strides bringing more diverse voices to the forefront but I think the animation side still needs improvement. Just like with ‘The Weeklings,’ I’m not going to wait for permission. I’m working on some new series ideas that will help redefine how black characters are represented in animation. Now that I have a platform, it’s important to me to make sure kids can see themselves in my work.”
About Jabril Mack
Jabril Mack is an award-winning animator and writer. Since winning the Nickelodeon Greater Creator Award at the age of 16, he has produced comedic animated shorts for kids all over the world. In summer of 2019, he launched his latest series “The Weeklings,” a comedy series starring the days of the week, on YouTube and TikTok. Mack aims to use his clever comedy and fun characters to entertain audiences in today’s dynamic digital landscape.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in animation from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Mack helped brands like Little Tikes, and Stan Lee’s Pow Entertainment bring their IPs to life, establishing himself as an innovative creator in the animation industry. He continues to push boundaries of animated storytelling, always being sure to bring his heart and humor into any project he works on.
Social Media for Jabril Mack
- https://www.instagram.com/jabrillio/?hl=en
- https://vm.tiktok.com/bbVyTs
- http://www.youtube.com/c/TheWeeklingsCartoon
