Bono and Gavin Friday in the process of developing a short film based on Peter and the Wolf

Max and Cartoon Network are collaborating with Irish musicians Bono and Gavin Friday to create a contemporary retelling of Sergei Prokofiev’s classic symphony, Peter and the Wolf. The short film is set to debut later this year and features music and narration by Friday, accompanied by artwork based on Bono’s original illustrations. The project was originally developed in 2003 to support the Irish Hospice Foundation, a charity supporting those facing dying, death, and bereavement.

The retelling explores themes of growing up, loss, courage, transformation, and our relationship with nature, using a combination of traditional hand-drawn 2D animation and a physical set-built world. The storyline follows Peter, a 12-year-old boy who, after losing a parent, is now under the care of his grandfather. When he hears stories of a wolf on the loose, he sets out to find the wolf and, along the way, encounters helpful creatures while facing hunters trying to capture the wolf.

The project is being led by musician and composer Friday, who narrates the reimagined classic tale with The Friday Seezer Ensemble performing the Prokofiev score. The score has been newly arranged by Maurice Seezer and Friday. The artwork seen throughout the film is based on original illustrations by Bono from his book of the same name.

In a joint statement, Friday and Bono expressed their hope that this retelling of Peter and the Wolf becomes a “balm for any child dealing with loss” while exposing them to the musical world of Prokofiev. As a fan of the original Peter and the Wolf recording, and of Bono, the author of this note is looking forward to seeing how this project turns out.