Scholastic has announced the publication of Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, the 13th book in Dav Pilkey’s blockbuster graphic novel series. The book is due December 3. Also on the horizon is an animated feature from DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, scheduled for global theatrical release in January 2025.
Big Jim Begins tells the origin story of the popular Dog Man characters. Pilkey’s previous book in the series, The Scarlet Shedder, which hit shelves in March, was the #1 bestselling book overall (adult and children’s books combined) for five straight weeks in North America and topped bestseller lists worldwide, according to Circana BookScan. More than 60 million Dog Man books are in print since the series’ launch in the summer of 2016, and the books have been translated into nearly 50 languages.
Pilkey said in a statement, “With this new book, I wanted to share the origin story of my characters, as readers get to know more about Big Jim—a character who is playful, kind, overly optimistic and often misunderstood, and who sometimes gets into trouble despite having the best intentions. Since the pandemic, I’ve been writing and illustrating books in the Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club series, which has been a satisfying yet solitary experience. I’m grateful to all my readers—kids and their families as well as educators—who have sent me letters and messages of encouragement. Their support and enthusiasm have inspired me to keep making books. I am truly humbled and honored.”
The Dog Man movie will be directed by Peter Hastings, whose film credits include Kung Fu Panda, Animaniacs, and The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants. Hastings said in a statement, “What I found so compelling about Dog Man is that it transcends culture and language, connecting and uniting kids and families everywhere with stories about friendship, love, bravery, empathy, epic adventures… and of course, a lot of humor. All of us at DreamWorks Animation are thrilled to once again be partnering with the incredibly talented Dav Pilkey and the team at Scholastic to bring Dog Man to the big screen—an iconic character known all over the world.”
This isn’t the first adaptation of Pilkey’s beloved series. TheaterWorksUSA’s musical production of Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club were both New York Times Critics’ Picks and are currently touring North America and Australia.
