UK-based producer and rights management company Coolabi has landed a U.S. distribution deal with Entertainment One (eOne) for its preschool animated show Poppy Cat (52 x 11), beginning this fall. New-York based The Joester Loria Group has also been in discussions with potential partners on behalf of the property.
Based on a popular book series created by British author Lara Jones that has sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide, Poppy Cat is commissioned by Nick Jr. UK and debuted on 24-hour preschool channel PBS Kids Sprout last November. To date, the series has been picked up by more than 20 broadcasters worldwide including Disney Junior in Spain and Latin America, Nick Jr. Australia, TVO, SCN and Knowledge Network in Canada, RTE Ireland, across Scandinavia and the Middle East. The series is co-produced by Coolabi’s television production arm Coolabi Productions and the BAFTA award-winning King Rollo Films.
Coolabi recently finalized a $7.7 million management buyout by shareholder Edge Performance which gives the company access to new funds and better leverage to grow its brands. Coolabi has already launched a digital strategy for Poppy Cat with Nick Jr., a tie-in has been signed for books with MacMillan, and a deal with U.K. toy manufacturer Golden Bear.
