Author - Jerry Paxton

Baobab Studios, the Emmy Award-winning animation studio led by Eric Darnell (Madagascar franchise) and Maureen Fan (FarmVille), has acquired exclusive rights—including film and television—to a broad slate of the most widely played Roblox titles. The studio is unveiling the first three properties heading to market: Natural Disaster Survival, Barry’s Prison Run, and Deepwoken.

Baobab is actively developing these properties as animated feature-length films and series, working in collaboration with the original creators to expand these worlds for global audiences.

Together, the three titles have generated nearly 10 billion visits. The studio’s slate focuses on games with long-term staying power, active multi-generational communities, and strong foundations for storytelling, prioritizing deep, prolonged engagement over short-term spikes.

“We’re not just looking at scale—we’re looking at what sustains,” said Maureen Fan, CEO and co-founder of Baobab Studios, who previously oversaw the $3 billion FarmVille franchise as VP of Games at Zynga. “Having built our own Roblox games, we sought titles that combine reach with retention, deepen engagement, and clear world-building that can carry powerfully into film and television.”

Added Baobab Studios co-founder Eric Darnell and director of all four “Madagascar” films, and Osnat Shurer, co-chief creative officer and producer of “Moana,” “Roblox is one of the most powerful platforms for entertainment, with games reaching audiences at a scale that rivals traditional media. These games have fans who are genuinely invested in these worlds, and that level of engagement is the foundation we’ll build on to welcome new audiences while preserving the passion that already exists.”

Baobab’s approach builds on its hybrid background in both animation and games, with the studio working directly with creators and their audiences to develop adaptations that remain true to the original experience while expanding them for broader audiences.

Natural Disaster Survival: Created by iconic games maker Stickmasterluke (Luke Weber) in 2008, this game is one of the platform’s earliest breakout titles having amassed more than 4.1 billion visits and remains one of the longest-running titles on Roblox. Known for its replayable, physics-driven survival scenarios, it’s an environmental survivalist game located on an island using the engine’s physics to create chaotic, unscripted moments. Astoundingly, the game has remained in the top 50 of all Roblox experiences for 16 years and successfully courted new generations of fans for over a decade and a half, resulting in billions of visits and an evergreen audience spanning current kids to Millennials and Gen Z players driven by deep nostalgia.

Stickmasterluke (Luke Weber) said, “For nearly 20 years, Natural Disaster Survival has been part of the Roblox community, so finding the right partner to expand this world was critical. Baobab understands our games because, as one of us, they make Roblox games themselves, and I fully trust them to authentically develop exciting new content for both the fans and new audiences.”

Barry’s Prison Run: Created by PlatinumFalls (Osian Taubman-Edwards), a famous Roblox YouTuber and game creator, this title represents the “Cinematic Obby” genre and in just four years has surpassed 4.1 billion visits. Widely considered a staple of modern Roblox games, the title has over 42 billion minutes of engagement. Unlike traditional obstacle courses, it utilizes first-person perspectives, scripted events, and boss encounters to provide a narrative-driven experience. A top 50 game of all time and a prominent favorite among YouTubers and streamers that spawned a wave of story-driven platforming imitators. A core differentiator is its strong comedic engine, driven by an iconic main character and a cast of sidekicks who resonate deeply with younger demographics. Its broad appeal recently led to an official partnership with LEGO.

Said PlatinumFalls (Osian Taubman-Edwards), “I’ve always envisioned Barry’s Prison Run as more than a game, with a story and character that unfold more deeply over time. Baobab understands my vision and the game’s storytelling potential, so I’m excited to see where they take it.”

Deepwoken: Developed by Monad Studios and headed by creators Ragoozer and Arch_Mage, Deepwoken is a dark fantasy paid-access action RPG, widely celebrated for having the deepest, most established lore on Roblox. Released in December 2021, it has drawn nearly 1.5 billion visits, with over 50 billion minutes of engagement, and is the platform’s most successful paid-access title, boasting unparalleled engagement and monetization levels. Its Gen Z audience has cultivated a robust, highly active fan community that extends far beyond the game itself, driving massive off-platform engagement across YouTube, Reddit, and Discord.

Said co-owners Ragoozer and Arch_Mage, “Deepwoken’s dark and magical setting has left a lasting impact on our fans, letting their imaginations run wild. Baobab have shown they’re passionate about the world we’ve created alongside our community, and we’re thrilled for our fans to see its stories told in a wholly new medium.”