To celebrate the SYFY Network’s 25th Anniversary, we were tasked with developing an original content series that connected fans of all backgrounds. We launched SYFY25: Origin Stories, a love letter to the science fiction genre from the fans and creators who made it so. Comprised of 15 podcast episodes and 8 animated shorts, our series is a platform for a diverse group of sci-fi creators to share their stories about this genre. The series is hosted by deeply passionate fan and expert maker, Adam Savage (Co-Host of Mythbusters, Creator of Tested.com, Special Effects Designer), allowing us to draft a diverse, all-star cast of fans and creators who make science fiction the best genre in the world.

Our podcast, SYFY25: Origin Stories was released on September 6th, 2017—the same day Star Trek premiered 51 years earlier, as an intentional Easter Egg for our fans. The project was digitally distributed, with our podcast being released for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and SYFY.com, while our animated films were published on YouTube, SYFY.com, and Art19. The total scope of the project included one audio trailer, fifteen (15) podcasts, and eight (8) animated films.

Podcast interviews were conducted in a variety of recording conditions, including on-site visits to San Diego Comic Con, Industrial Light & Magic, Adam Savage’s Cave, Kevin Smith’s Estate, and recording studios in the LA area via remote patch. Each bespoke animation was created using our interviewee’s best stories, tailoring the aesthetic direction of each film to the person telling the story.

The project’s target audience was science fiction fans from all backgrounds.

In our first month, our podcast had over 250,000 total listens between iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play. As listeners delved into our episodes, they heard the incredible stories that shaped modern science fiction: like how Star Trek Writer, DC Fontana used a gender neutral pen name to shield her identity to break into the genre. They discovered how Marvel’s Director of Content and Development, Sana Amanat, was inspired to create the first female Muslim superhero. And were captivated as Writer and Director Kevin Smith tells us how he forged a career by commenting on the genre he grew up loving. During its peak listening period, we were in the top 10% of science fiction podcasts, averaging between 5 and 10k listens per day. Not only that, but listeners love the content—with a 5-star average on iTunes.