Let’s just address the elephant in the room here before we begin: This looks a shitload like a half-baked ‘Archer.’
There’s no two-ways about it. Animated comedy cop show featuring character designs that are deliberately realistic, centring on a crack squad of bumbling fools in a sexy location. It’s ‘Archer,‘ but with ‘Strayan accents.
And that, quite frankly, ain’t a bad thing whatsoever.
Netflix has officially picked up the new animated series ‘Pacific Heat,’ which is being put together by legendary Australian production house Working Dog Productions, who are responsible for just about all your favourite Aussie comedy films and TV shows from the past 25-odd years.
The show, created by the core working dog trio of Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, and Tom Gleisner, is set on the Gold Coast and follows the exploits of an undercover police unit who have to deal with the shady doings of the region, as well as the ridiculous, over-regulated rules of Australia that we all love so very dearly.
“‘Pacific Heat’ follows the exploits of a dynamic unit of undercover police investigators working on the glitzy Gold Coast of Australia. The glamorous, sophisticated and sun-drenched paradise masks a hot-bed of crime — everyone from drug smugglers and biker gangs to eco-terrorists and the person who invented frozen yogurt — and in order to tackle this seedy underbelly, police established a covert squad of highly-trained operatives, known as Pacific Heat. When criminals strike, the squad will be there in an unconventional and uncompromising manner, and not afraid to operate outside the law — provided at least one of them is wearing a fluorescent safety vest.”
Working Dog has an active working relationship with Netflix, having previously sold the international distribution of hit ABC series ‘Utopia‘ (which was retitled ‘Dreamland‘ outside of Australia for some fkn odd reason) to the streaming giant.
As far as cast is concerned, Sitch has been confirmed as the voice of Special Agent Todd Sommerville.
Whether the Aussie/Working Dog’s modern day sense of humour transfers across to Netflix’s massive global market obviously remains to be seen.
The rest of the world will cop all 13 episodes of ‘Pacific Heat‘ on Netflix on December 2nd. But in another kick to the Australian ribs, Foxtel has stitched up the local broadcasting rights to the series, and will debut the show (presumably one week at a time) at some point later in the year.
But yeah. Bloody hell it looks like ‘Archer.’
Like, a lot.
