Droners

Lore & Background

Droners takes place on Terraqua, an ocean planet 95% covered by water, with the remaining land consisting of archipelagos and atolls. The story follows the Tikis—Corto, Enki, Mouse, and Oro—a drone racing team from the island of Nuï. They must win the Whale Cup, the toughest drone racing competition in the world, to save their archipelago from marine submersion. The drones are powered by eel-like entities called G.E.N.I.E.s.

Reader's Guide

The series was produced in France by Cyber Group Studios, La Chouette Compagni, and Supamonks Studios, and distributed by TF1. It aired from 19 October 2020 to 30 June 2024, comprising 2 seasons and 52 episodes. The first season reached the top 3 of viewership on TF1 in France. The music was composed by Fabien Nataf. The story was expanded with a three-volume manga series titled Droners: Tales of Nuï, written by Sylvain Dos Santos and David Nicolas.

Did You Know?

• The series is set on an ocean planet called Terraqua, which is 95% covered by water.
• The drone racing team is called the Tikis, from the island of Nuï.

The World of Terraqua and the Tikis

Droners unfolds on Terraqua, an ocean planet where water blankets 95 percent of the surface, leaving only scattered archipelagos and atolls as dry land. At the heart of this aquatic world sits the island of Nuï, home to a young drone racing team called the Tikis—Corto, Enki, Mouse, and Oro. Their stakes are existential: the archipelago they call home is under threat from rising marine submersion, and the only path to saving it is victory in the Whale Cup, the most grueling drone racing competition in the known world. What makes these races extraordinary is the power source behind the machines. Rather than conventional engines, the drones are driven by eel-like entities known as G.E.N.I.E.s, blending organic life with high-speed competition. The series frames its adventure as a children's science-fiction action narrative, weaving environmental urgency into the thrill of racing across a predominantly water-covered globe.

Production and Creative Vision

The series was brought to life by creators Pierre de Cabissole and Sylvain Dos Santos, with direction handled by Grégory Leterrier. Production was a collaborative French effort, with Cyber Group Studios, La Chouette Compagni, and Supamonks Studios all contributing to the show's development. The musical score was composed by Fabien Nataf, adding a sonic layer to the high-octane racing sequences. Distribution fell to TF1, France's major broadcaster, where the series found a strong audience—its first season climbed into the top three of viewership ratings. Across two seasons, the show delivered 52 episodes, each running approximately twenty-two minutes. The broadcast window spanned from 19 October 2020 through 30 June 2024, giving the story a multi-year arc. The French-language voice cast featured a notable roster, including Anaïs Delva as Corto, Gabriel Bismuth-Bienaimé as Enki, Kelly Marot as Mouse, and Thomas Sagols as Oro, alongside supporting voices like Stéphane Roux, Olivia Luccioni-Dassin as Neptune, and Thierry Kazazian as Shark.

English-Language Adaptation and Voice Casting

The English-language version of Droners assembled its own distinct voice cast to bring the Tikis and their world to international audiences. Jet Walker took on the lead role of Corto, while Soso Bianchi voiced Mouse, Ogie Banks brought Enki to life, and Micheal Christopher gave voice to Oro. The supporting ensemble included Cedric L. Williams, who handled multiple roles including Adam, Deejay, and Shino, and Ryan Colt Levy, who voiced both Manta and Fuzz. Tiana Camacho covered several characters such as Debbie, Hannah, Laurel, and Max, while Karen Strassman lent her voice to Flora and Gavinda Teach. Other notable English cast members include Jenny Yokobori as Mina and Mawu, Sonny Onorati as Sun and Monk, Bill Butts as Big Moe and Pavel, Michael Sorich as Kass Krane, Kyle Hebert as Shark, and Melique Berger as Queen Rust. The breadth of roles assigned to individual actors highlights the show's commitment to a richly populated cast across its 52 episodes.

Beyond the Screen – The Manga Expansion

Droners' narrative extends well beyond its animated episodes through a dedicated manga adaptation. Titled Droners: Tales of Nuï, this three-volume comic series was written by Sylvain Dos Santos—one of the show's original creators—alongside David Nicolas. The manga deepens the lore of the island of Nuï and the world of Terraqua, offering readers a more detailed exploration of the characters, their races, and the G.E.N.I.E.-powered machines that define the series' competitive landscape. This cross-media expansion is notable because it places the story in a format traditionally associated with Japanese storytelling, yet the content remains firmly rooted in the French creative team's vision. The existence of the manga alongside the 52-episode animated run, the TF1 broadcast, and the French production pipeline underscores how Droners was conceived as a franchise with multiple entry points for young audiences. The series, catalogued on IMDb and distributed internationally, stands as a French contribution to the global children's animated action-adventure space.