Cassandra
Bright, hopeful and determined to make a difference. Cassandra is trying to finish a novel about truth while paying off her student loan. Advertising offers opportunity, but her conscience refuses to stay quiet.
Solomon & Cassandra
An idealist, an octopus, and the pursuit of happiness. A warm, irreverent animated series about trying to do the right thing in a world that would rather sell you something.
Logline
An idealistic young writer enters the slippery world of advertising, while her cynical octopus flatmate questions whether happiness, honesty or a decent heating system are ever really within reach.
Short synopsis
Cassandra has big dreams, a huge student loan and a run-down Auckland flat shared with Solomon, a philosophically inclined Pacific octopus. A job at a struggling ad agency gives her a chance to make a difference. When a glamorous rival agency comes calling, success brings rock stars, tech gurus and increasingly awkward ethical choices. Can she hold on to the truth in an industry built on persuasion? Solomon has his doubts.
Advanced development
A character-led animated comedy-drama with satire, warmth and a distinctly New Zealand point of view.
Series format
6 × 22 minutes
2D digital animation
Young adult / adult audience
Industry enquiries
Contact Yukfoo to discuss the project and request selected development materials.
Film coming soon
The project film will be added here when available. Explore the story and characters below.
Meet the flatmates
Solomon
A Pacific octopus with eight arms and more than enough opinions. Disillusioned by love and suspicious of ambition, Solomon prefers philosophical arguments and television reruns to Cassandra's plans for a better world.
Truth, love & a better tagline
Cassandra's world
From the cold comfort of the flat to the polished promise of a leading creative agency, Cassandra moves between worlds with very different ideas about what a good life looks like.
The tone
Funny, philosophical and affectionate. The series explores advertising, relationships and the pressure to be happy, pairing sharp social observation with genuine care for its characters.
The people around them
Suki
Cassandra's best friend and a fiercely independent choreographer. Her dance company, Shin, is devoted to truth through movement, even when almost nobody comes to watch.
Marama
Smart, ambitious and magnetic. An advertising contractor and influencer whose life on social media draws Cassandra into a different kind of spotlight.
Al
Cassandra's first boss, the reluctant owner of a struggling family ad agency. He is more at home quoting melancholy poetry than winning the next account.
Martin
The charismatic owner of Bentham and Goode. Behind the open door, spiritual language and effortless charm is a very successful advertising business.
Created by
Matthew Darragh
Producers
Alan Dickson
Matthew Darragh
Project materials
Selected development materials are available to industry partners on request.