Melbourne VFX Studio Framestore has brought Seth MacFarlane’s obscene yet loveable bear, Ted, to life again, this time for a television series, due to hit screens in early January 2024.

Framestore originally created the iconic digital character for the first and second Ted films and will soon see their latest work in the new comedic prequel for TV.

Ted, the series, promises stitch-inducing laughter with Seth MacFarlane returning as the voice of Ted, in addition to having directed, written, co-showrun, and executive produced the series with co-showrunners, writers, and fellow executive producers Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh.

Ted is the largest package of VFX work ever attracted to Victoria, cementing the state’s position as a global home for high-end VFX. Framestore VFX Supervisor, Glenn Melenhorst said, “Bringing Ted to life for the first two films was a career highlight I didn’t think I could top – until this new show came along. Working with Seth and Blair has been a masterclass in acting for comedy and an experience I will treasure. It’s been a genuine pleasure to get the old team back together.”

Melbourne’s Framestore produced over 2,400 shots of Ted within a year for the production, by far the biggest project that the team has ever undertaken, Framestore Executive VFX Producer Ineke Majoor explained. “The results are nothing short of astonishing. Seth McFarlane clearly agrees,” she said.

Ted’s upcoming release trails a record year for the visual effects, animation and post-production activity backed by VicScreen, with last financial year generating over $92 million in Victorian direct economic expenditure and over 550 full-time equivalent jobs. 

“Framestore’s studio in Melbourne has surpassed themselves with their exquisite VFX work on Ted for Peacock. Much gratitude to our Aussie friends.”

Seth MacFarlane

Lara Hopkins, Framestore Head of Studio said, “Seth has been an incredible creative partner for Framestore’s Melbourne team to work closely with, it’s been one of the most rewarding and fun projects we have worked on. We are very proud of the work which will no doubt shine a light on our fantastic talent in Melbourne and bring even more global projects for our incredible team.”

Ted is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, Fuzzy Door and MRC Television for Peacock, with Victorian VFX work facilitated by Matchbox Pictures, and is set to premiere on 11 January in the United States and on BINGE in Australia.

The project was attracted to Victoria by VicScreen’s Victorian Screen Incentive, which brings some of the world’s most exciting and dynamic screen projects to life.