PORTLAND, OR (February 7, 2025) – More than six million people around the world have watched the acclaimed animated short THE SUMMONING, created by Elyse Castro and produced by FredFilms and Sony Animation. This fall Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, will publish THE SUMMONING VOLUME ONE: THE ART OF THE CRAFT, a cozy, coming-of-age tale based on the hit animated short and the dynamic graphic novel debut of Elyse Castro.
The first of three volumes, THE SUMMONING VOLUME ONE: THE ART OF THE CRAFT introduces Claire, a young witch, and her kitty Familiar, Edgar, as they seek to hone her magikal abilities.
“For as long as I can remember my imagination has been home to the whimsical, witchy world of Ridgewood,” said creator Elyse Castro. “Where Claire and Edgar experiment with magik, eat tasty treats, and accidentally annoy their fluffy neighbour. It’s nearly been 8 years since I was able to bring some of this world to you all through The Summoning cartoon short, and I’m ‘over the broom’ to share one of Claire and Edgar’s most important adventures with you all in The Art of the Craft. Please enjoy, and remember—do no harm.”
“I was immediately impressed by Elyse’s charming and rich world starring the gentle Claire and her best bud, the hilariously charming Edgar,” said Sierra Hahn, Editor in Chief. “The Summoning is a story of friendship and wonder, where Claire will face numerous challenges to overcome her own insecurities and discover what it truly means to be herself as an artist.”
In THE SUMMONING, Claire specializes in the magik of manifestation, creating art pieces that are capable of coming to life! But she wants to do more, and to be more—so when she learns that a prestigious magikal institution called the Ridgewood Coven is accepting applicants for the first time in years, she’s determined to improve her skills and make her mark.
But first, Claire has to pass the Coven’s rigorous application process. With the help of her best friend Edgar, her curmudgeonly rabbit neighbor Flufftops, her magikal rival Swan, and host of new friends, Claire is going summon ghosts, battle trolls, and even befriend Death—but will it be enough to impress the Coven and secure a spot within their ranks? Or will Claire’s self-doubt keep her from manifesting magikal art ever again? Through it all, the sinister secrets of the closed-off Ridgewood Coven slowly come to light. Not everything is as it seems, and difficult decisions lie ahead: Will Claire be up to the task?
A wonderful world of magik, art, and friendship awaits readers in the first volume of The Summoning, the debut graphic novel from a wholly original new voice Elyse Castro, creator of the animated short of the same name! THE SUMMONING VOLUME ONE: THE ART OF THE CRAFT magiks its way into stores on October 7th, 2025.
Creator bio:
Elyse Castro is an accomplished artist and educator based in Montville, Australia. She began her journey studying fine arts and theatre at university, which inspired her to begin an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist, specializing in intricate black and gray designs. After honing her craft, Elyse returned to academia to train as an educator and now teaches Drama and Visual Art. In 2017, she created the animated short The Summoning, produced by FredFilms and Sony Animation. Elyse’s passion for storytelling and illustration has culminated in her debut graphic novel, The Summoning, Vol. 1: The Art of the Craft.
About FredFilms
FredFilms is the producer and packager of The Summoning. One of the leading independent animation producers in the world, they’re behind hit franchises like Adventure Time, Castlevania, and The Fairly OddParents.
About Oni Press
Founded in 1997, Oni Press has a 25-year history as one of the industry’s most respected and acclaimed publishers of award-winning comic books and graphic novels with titles including Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim, K. O’Neill’s Tea Dragon Society, Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt’s The Sixth Gun, Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, Ezra Clayton Daniels’ Upgrade Soul, Brenna Thummler’s Sheets trilogy, and many hundreds more. In 2019, Oni Press merged with Lion Forge Comics – the Eisner Award-winning independent comic book publisher founded by Academy Award-winning producer and entrepreneur David Steward II – to create one of the largest, independent libraries of comics content anywhere in media. The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group now exists as a publishing subsidiary of Steward’s diversified global media company, Polarity.
The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group publishes more than 60 original and licensed graphic novels annually, in addition to an extensive list of periodical comics.
