Polish transmedia developer Wonder Legends Studio has raised $1 million in a pre-funding round led by the SMOK Ventures fund.
WLS is developing a game prototype and pre-developing an animated series in a European co-production scheme.
The game was co-financed by the Creative Industries Development Center and the series was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The studio also received an Epic MegaGrant.
Both projects are being created in Unreal Engine 5 and are set in a world that mixes Greek mythology and steampunk. The game and the first season of the animated series are scheduled to release in late 2027 or early 2028.
WLS was founded in 2023 by Artur Malczyk and Wojciech Karubin, and both projects have been in development since 2019. Currently, the studio is made up of 15 industry veterans.
“We are delighted to have completed the pre-seed round with SMOK Ventures as lead investor, especially in a challenging market like the current one,” said WLS founders Malczyk and Karubin.
“It is a testament to the confidence in our vision and years of hard work. We are confident that Wonder Legends has the potential to become our country’s next major intellectual property, enhancing the reputation of Poland’s creative industry.”
SMOK Ventures Founding Partner Diana Koziarska added: “At SMOK Ventures, we believe that bold ideas drive innovation, and WLS exemplifies this. By combining Greek mythology with a steampunk universe and pioneering a transmedia production model, Artur, Wojciech and their team are setting a new standard for storytelling.
“We are proud to support their vision and excited to see them represent Poland on the global creative map.”
