Hollywood never met an intellectual property it wasn’t willing to turn into a television series or movie, and that’s especially true of comics. This year alone has seen the release of Supergirl and the second season of X-Men ’97, not to mention that both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday are still on the horizon. Even independent comics like Invincible and The Walking Dead serve as the foundation for critically acclaimed television shows. However, one of the biggest comics of this year is in an entirely different genre, and it could be the basis of a truly amazing series — especially if it lands on a service like PBS Kids.

This graphic novel is Mixed Feelings. Written by Sara Amini and illustrated by Shadia Amin, Mixed Feelings is a semi-autobiographical comic focusing on a girl named Sara as she deals with attending middle school for the first time, which is complicated by being separated from her best friend, dealing with her Iranian-Colombian heritage, and how joining drama club at school leads to even more complications. Amini’s script is witty, heartfelt, and engaging, and when paired with Amin’s extremely expressive artwork, it results in an incredible reading experience. With Mixed Feelings receiving plenty of media coverage, including rave reviews, it would make for a great animated series.

The Visual Language of ‘Mixed Feelings’ Lends Itself Perfectly to Animation

While most comic fans will make long-winded arguments about which of their favorite characters deserves a movie or television show, Mixed Feelings is a graphic novel that feels like it would translate perfectly to animation. Apart from its visual style feeling extremely animated, there are large sections of the book that feel like they could be episodes on their own. Sara’s first volleyball game, her first day of school, and the moment she joins the drama club all feel like moments you’d see on shows like Bob’s Burgers or The Simpsons, only given an extra layer by her struggles with her heritage and her shifting relationship with her friend. In a video promoting Mixed Feelings, Sara Amini said that she based the book on her own experiences growing up in Houston:

“It’s a deeply specific story to my life, but it’s also a deeply relatable story to readers everywhere.”

There’s even a great storytelling device that would make Mixed Feelings stand out from other animated shows. Throughout the graphic novel, Sara shows a great love of television, which often translates into flights of fancy. A moment where she joins the Spanish club leads to a discussion of her Iranian-Colombian heritage, and the entire thing is staged like a scene from a Law & Order spinoff. Unlike the random cutaways in Family Guy, these moments highlight the growing insecurity she’s dealing with as a pre-teen, and they actually feel witty and well-crafted. Anyone who’s been in the same boat will definitely relate to these moments, which could translate just as well on screen as they do on the page.

One of the Creators of ‘Mixed Feelings’ Is Quickly Becoming a TV Standout

If one of Mixed Feelings’ creators sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen her on television before. Sara Amini has a wide range of roles across television, including Hulu’s short-lived but excellent Future Man and The Copenhagen Teston Peacock. Her biggest role to date was in Lucky Hank, where she managed to hold her own against none other than Bob Odenkirk. Throughout those appearances, Amini showcases plenty of the wit she brings to the pages of Mixed Feelings. It wouldn’t be a stretch to display that same wit in an animated version, whether she’s providing voice work or writing episodes.

If you pick up Mixed Feelingsand enjoy it, there is more on the horizon. Sara Amini and Shadia Amin plan to create a trilogy of graphic novels, with the second installment, Mixed Signalsgoing on sale this October. Whether it makes it to television or just remains in graphic novel form, Mixed Feelingsis proof that the world of comics has so much to offer.

Mixed Feelingsis currently available for purchase.