Manchester City are teaming up with a group of media companies on a new animated series set inside the Premier League club's training academy, according to Variety, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

The US entertainment news outlet reports that the series, named Sky Blue Academy, will comprise 26 episodes centred around a group of boys and girls living and playing soccer at City's training base, adding that the show could be up and running by early 2022.

Variety said the show is a collaboration between the club, Singapore-based media firm August Media Holdings, Filipino company Synergy88 Entertainment and Spain's Minoria Absoluta.

The series will not feature the likes of Pep Guardiola or Raheem Sterling, according to Variety, due to complexities around image rights and how the turnover of players and staff could impact the time taken to create animations.

Variety's report added that August Rights, the distribution arm of August Media, will oversee international sales for the show, while there are also plans for a licensing and merchandise program for the series.

"We are getting together with Manchester City to create a show inspired by their academy," Jyotirmoy Saha, August Media's founder and chief executive, told Variety. "We are creating a show where football stitches these friends together. It's about relationships, how you play as a team, and the fun they have living together."