Tongal Creating ‘Fever Fighter’ Animated Series Based On St. Jude Patient’s Artwork

EXCLUSIVE: Tongal, the creators’ platform, is launching an animated series inspired by artwork from a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The show was unveiled at the LA Comic Con over the weekend and we have the details for you here.

Fever Fighter is based on a character created by Ethan Washburn, who first dreamed up the superhero when he was aged seven being treated by St. Jude for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

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The character—whose superpower is fighting fevers, which are often present during cancer treatment—has long served as an informal mascot for patients and families. Tongal is turning Washburn’s vision into an animated series, with its global network creators helping to develop content based on the artwork.

The goal is to make Fever Fighter  the basis of a ‘Feververse’ of patient-created superheroes.

“I can’t believe Fever Fighter is going to be a real show,” said Washburn, who is now a college graduate and St. Jude cancer survivor. “I dreamed him up when I was at St. Jude more than a decade ago, and it’s amazing to now see him living an exciting life of his own. I can’t wait to see what’s next as we hand his future over to artists and storytellers everywhere.”

Fans and creators are being invited to submit their own creative concepts and artwork through the Tongal platform. They can also build his stories.

“Transforming a child’s drawing into a fully animated character like Fever Fighter is more than creative storytelling — it’s a powerful reflection of how we’re evolving the way patient artwork is experienced and shared with the world,” said Samantha Maltin, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“Art is a vital part of holistic care at St. Jude, and through this unique partnership with Tongal and its generous community, we’re able to position patient stories in ways that connect and inspire.”

“Through our collaboration with St. Jude, we’re focused on connecting with people of all ages on a deeply emotional level through storytelling,” said James DeJulio, CEO and co-founder of Tongal. “Fever Fighter was born out of Ethan’s imagination, and I believe it can spark an entirely new future of fundraising.

“We can use creativity to develop meaningful engagement that mobilizes creators, fans, and donors worldwide. The future of fundraising is through content and there’s no better way to build it than by empowering our global community of creators to bring Ethan’s Fever Fighter to life.”

A documentary short chronicling Washburn’s story from Manuel Izquierdo, a member of the Tongal creator community, premiered at Comic-Con. More content from Fever Fighter will be launched later this year.

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