With the animation studio located in Ireland, it was easiest (and sensible given Covid) to work remotely by passing around notes and having virtual meetings. Another reason for animating El Deafo was, of course, the pandemic.

“But it took somebody like him being I already respected for me to really dive into turning the book into a show.” The decision to make the show animated was an easy one as well, given the book is in cartoon form. (Both Bell and McRobb serve as executive producers.) “ all just sort of fell into place after that,” she said. Bell was a fan of his prior work, so she felt comfortable working with him. “I felt like the graphic novel would be the perfect format to try to share this story,” she said.Īs for how El Deafo came to be for the small screen, veteran TV writer Will McRobb contacted Bell and expressed how much he enjoyed the novel and was interested in developing a version for TV. Having already been a published children’s author, she figured what better way to confront her feelings than by writing for others. She felt a need to come to terms with her deafness, as she was reticent to tell anyone she was deaf nor discuss it.

In a recent interview with me, Bell said the impetus for the comic started a decade ago. The book is autobiographical of sorts, as it mirrors Bell’s own childhood experience with being born hearing and then becoming deaf. AppleĮl Deafo is based upon the graphic novel of the same name, written by author and illustrator Cece Bell. Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled Apple TV+ at an event in March 2019.

El deafo by cece bell