+ Costa Rican indie Rocket Cartoons will launch three new shows at MIP Junior through distribution partners Monster Entertainment (Ireland) and Awol Animation (France). These include preschool targeted Yum Yum and You (78 x 5) and its holiday special A Christmas with Yum Yum and You (1 x 26), which had a soft introduction by Awol at MIPTV this spring and follows a charming, positive little cyclops learning to deal with everyday obstacles; and Outopus (52 x 2), which will be introduced by Monster and stars five funny octopi who plot crazy escapes from their fish tank. (www.rocketcartoons.com)
+ Canada’s Yowza Digital has partnered with Maggie Moreno Studios, scriptwriter/author Marie Beardmore and ThinkTank Emporium on a new animated series called Cloud Club, which will be debuted for buyers and broadcasters at the MIP Junior and MIPCOM markets this month. The transmedia property follows three tween heroes on a funny, frenetic odyssey behind the Cyber-Curtain into a world that exists just beyond our gadgets, where the digital Cloud world and the real world smash into each other. (www.yowzaanimation.com)
+ BondiBand, an animated series co-production of Exim Licensing Group, Leda Films and Mondo TV Spain, will be exclusively represented by Planeta Junior in EMEA, the European audiovisual group announced. The agreement covers all broadcasting platforms and the L&M management of the series by Planeta offices located in Barcelona, Paris, Milan, Athens and Prague–the new deal follows success for the show in LatAm and Asia. The 52 x 11 series follows six rock music students who become superheroes tasked with defending the Pink Stone from the wicked Miss C. Lebrity and her horrible monsters, using their magical instruments. Further plans for the brand include a strong licensing and produce roll-out development as well as several Internet and mobile applications and a live show. (www.bondi-band.com)
+ Spanish broadcaster TVE has signed on as a co-producing partner for Screen 21 and Plural Entertainment‘s new CG-animated preschool series, Mica (26 x 13), based on an educational project from publisher Santillana. The show will premiere on Clan TVE in 2014, with global distribution handled by BRB Internacional. The show follows Mica, a normal six-year-old girl who greats everyday challenges at home, school or in town with boundless enthusiasm together with her friends Daniel and Julia, and her secret pal Lio–a friendly “book bug” who lives in her caravan. Mica is directed by Student Oscar-winner Javier Martinez and boasts a renowned scriptwriting team. Vodka’s (Jelly Jamm) creative team is also collaborating. A licensing plan to coincide with the TV premiere is set for 2014. (MIPCOM Booth R33.12)
