The expanding multimedia footprint of French independent entertainment company Ankama is reaching a significant new milestone with the global debut of Welsh and Shedar, a 12-episode animated adventure series set deep within the studio’s expansive Krosmoz universe. Created and written by Ankama CEO Anthony Roux—widely known within the creative community by his pseudonym ToT—the series represents a unique cross-cultural collaboration, bridging French game design and storytelling sensibilities with the artistic expertise and execution of Japanese animation production. Animated overseas by Studio Massket, the series is scheduled to launch its worldwide rollout on November 5, broadcasting exclusively on Ankama’s newly established Krosmoz YouTube channel for audiences outside of Japan.
This strategic release model reflects a growing industry trend toward direct-to-consumer digital distribution on global platforms, bypassing traditional television gatekeepers to reach a massive, globally dispersed fan base instantly. The premiere schedule is structured to maintain viewer engagement over the winter holiday season: Episode 1 drops on November 5, followed closely by Episode 2 on November 6. Subsequently, new episodes will premiere on a weekly basis every Thursday, culminating with the broadcast of the 12th and final episode on January 14. To ensure broad accessibility across international markets, the series has been produced with multi-language audio tracks in Japanese, English, and French, alongside comprehensive subtitle options in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Main Facts and Narrative Premise
At the core of Welsh and Shedar is a narrative that combines whimsical culinary elements with high-stakes fantasy conflict. The plot centers on Welsh, a kind-hearted and unassuming young cook whose peaceful, predictable life in the quiet village of Brassica is upended by the sudden arrival of Asalar, a majestic dragon, and Joris, a renowned hero of the realm. This unexpected encounter plunges Welsh headfirst into a dangerous web of political intrigue and magical warfare, setting him on a collision course with the formidable Queen Zabelle and her ambitious son, Shedar. As the narrative unfolds, Welsh must navigate trials that threaten not only his homeland but also force him to confront long-buried truths capable of reshaping his ultimate destiny.
A particularly charming and distinctive creative signature of the series is its episodic nomenclature. In a playful nod to the protagonist’s profession as a cook, nearly every episode title is named after a distinct culinary dish. Viewers can look forward to chapters titled after comfort foods and pastries, ranging from "Mushroom Pie" and "Cheese Omelet" to "Onion Soup!" and "Cinnamon Madeleines!" This gastronomic theme reinforces the grounding of high-fantasy tropes in the humble, everyday experiences of its protagonist, establishing an intimate connection between the viewer, the character, and the culinary arts.
Chronology and Release Schedule
The rollout of Welsh and Shedar is meticulously planned to build sustained momentum across a ten-week window, creating a digital event for both longtime adherents of the Krosmoz IP and newcomers alike.
- November 5: Series premiere of Episode 1, accompanied by the launch of the dedicated Krosmoz YouTube channel.
- November 6: Release of Episode 2, establishing the rhythm of consecutive early drops.
- November 13 through January 7: Weekly Thursday releases for Episodes 3 through 11.
- January 14: Release of the 12th and final episode, concluding the narrative arc.
Alongside the primary episodes, Ankama has engineered an interactive multi-platform engagement strategy that integrates the animated series directly into the company’s extensive digital gaming ecosystem. The series doubles as an interactive treasure hunt for attentive viewers. Hidden codes embedded within the episodes can be redeemed by players to unlock exclusive quests and thematic rewards within Ankama’s flagship PC massively multiplayer online role-playing games, DOFUS and DOFUS Retro, as well as the mobile iteration, DOFUS Touch. Furthermore, a series of complex clues scattered across multiple episodes forms an overarching riddle designed to be solved collectively by the community. As an immediate incentive, viewers watching the very first episode can secure a digital reward known as "Minikitt," a virtual pet that players can adopt and bring along on their in-game explorations across the Krosmoz universe.
Supporting Data and Background Context
To fully understand the significance of Welsh and Shedar, one must examine the profound history and cultural footprint of Ankama as an independent entertainment powerhouse. Founded in 2001, the Roubaix-based company rose to international prominence on the back of DOFUS, a tactical, turn-based MMORPG launched in 2004. Over two decades of continuous operation, DOFUS has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, amassing over 100 million registered accounts worldwide. Ankama expanded this success with the launch of WAKFU, another critically acclaimed MMORPG set in the same universe, which likewise spawned its own successful animated television series that achieved international distribution on platforms like Netflix.
Ankama’s animation division, Ankama Animations, has consistently pushed the envelope in blending video game franchises with high-quality 2D and 3D animated storytelling. However, the production of Welsh and Shedar marks a distinct evolution in the company’s pipeline by outsourcing and collaborating directly with Japanese talent. Partnering with Studio Massket allowed Ankama to infuse its established western tactical-fantasy lore with the distinct aesthetic pacing, choreography, and visual vocabulary characteristic of modern Japanese animation.
The talent assembled for the voice-cast of Welsh and Shedar reflects this cross-cultural synthesis, featuring accomplished voice actors in both English and Japanese markets. The English-language cast features Daniel J. McLean in the titular role of Welsh, Kevin Garcia as the antagonistic Shedar, Marissa Lenti as the commanding Queen Zabelle, and Elgin David Aponte as the heroic Joris. Meanwhile, the Japanese-language track boasts an equally stellar roster of voice talent, with Rikuya Yasuda voicing Welsh, Yuki Kaji as Shedar, Yuko Kaida as Queen Zabelle, and Makoto Furukawa portraying Joris.
Official Responses and Creative Statements
Speaking on the creative philosophy behind the project, Ankama CEO Anthony Roux elaborated on the emotional resonance of watching a self-created universe grow through the lens of external collaborators.
"When you’ve spent more than twenty years building a universe, it’s exciting to see what other artists find in it," Roux stated. He further emphasized the personal fulfillment of completing a project rooted in his own lifelong appreciation for Asian media arts: "Japanese animation has been part of my imagination for a long time. With Studio Massket, we had the opportunity to create something together within the Krosmoz. Welsh & Shedar carries that encounter, and I’m excited for audiences to discover this new side of our world."
By inviting international studios into the creative fold, Roux and the executive team at Ankama are signaling a shift toward a more collaborative, borderless approach to transmedia storytelling. Rather than maintaining absolute internal control over every artistic asset, the company is demonstrating a willingness to let its intellectual property be reinterpreted through foreign cultural and artistic lenses, thereby refreshing the lore for a global audience.
Broader Impact and Strategic Implications
The launch of Welsh and Shedar on a dedicated YouTube channel highlights major shifts in how animation studios monetize, distribute, and sustain their intellectual properties in the digital era. By offering the series entirely free of charge on YouTube—supplemented by archival content such as the feature-length film DOFUS – Book I: Julith, which is set 30 years prior to the events of the new series—Ankama is prioritizing audience acquisition and community building over immediate paywalled distribution models.
This approach serves a dual commercial purpose. First, it lowers the barrier to entry for prospective fans who may be intimidated by the decades of accumulated lore within the massive Krosmoz canon. A self-contained, 12-episode adventure serves as an ideal onboarding ramp. Second, by tying the viewing experience directly to in-game rewards for DOFUS, DOFUS Retro, and DOFUS Touch, Ankama creates a powerful retention loop. Viewers are incentivized to transition from passive consumers of animation into active players of the company’s core video game titles, thereby driving engagement and monetization within their legacy digital properties.
As independent animation studios continue to seek alternatives to traditional broadcast networks and over-the-top subscription services—which have increasingly grown risk-averse and prone to removing content for tax write-offs—direct-to-platform models like Ankama’s Krosmoz YouTube channel offer a viable, resilient blueprint. By retaining complete ownership of their intellectual property while leveraging global video infrastructure, creators can bypass traditional geographical restrictions and foster direct, unmediated relationships with their fan bases.
In summary, Welsh and Shedar is far more than a simple holiday-season digital release; it is a calculated masterclass in cross-media synergy, international co-production, and modern audience cultivation. As the series rolls out its weekly culinary-themed chapters through January 2025, it will undoubtedly serve as a crucial test case for how legacy gaming universes can successfully reinvent themselves for the digital-first, globally connected animation landscape of the future.
