CG Pre-K Series ‘Chums’ from Indigenous Creators Renewed for S2

Eric Jackson of Saskatoon’s Paxolotl Media Inc. and Leslea Mair of Winnipeg’s Zoot Pictures, announced today that Chums, a new 3D-animated series currently in production for preschoolers aged 3-6, has been renewed for a second season of 9 x 30’ episodes by broadcasters APTN and Citytv Saskatchewan. The first season of the series is slated to premiere this Spring, and will also be available for streaming on APTN lumi.

Additionally, Franco-Ontarian network TFO has also come on board to broadcast a French-language version of both Season 1 and 2 of Chums.

The series producers will soon introduce Chums to the festival circuit, planning an official selection premiere at the 11th Māoriland Film Festival in Otaki, New Zealand (March 20-24). The festival showcases new Indigenous film and television productions from around the world.

Synopsis: In the world of Chums, a young Eaglet named Ira and her rag tag group of furry friends on Turtle Island are discovering their relationships to each other and to their environment on Mother Enmmarth. Ira’s group of “Chums” — friends — includes Flies with Eagles, a young girl who is always willing to help; Emiree, a baby beaver with the softest heart; Romper, a rabbit that has trouble paying attention; and Pterry, a ptarmigan who wishes he could fly better. Our newfound chums take it upon themselves to be the explorers of Turtle Island, and to discover and learn about the world around them.

The show  is designed to encourage the discovery of traditional Indigenous relationships to the animals and environment around us. It is being produced in four languages — English, Cree, Ojibwe and French — with the aim of encouraging Indigenous languages for children. The show is formatted for lip synching and versioning the characters into various languages.

Chums director and co-writer Dennis Jackson created the popular stop-motion kids’ series Wapos Bay, which aired between 2005 and 2011 in Canada on APTN and in the U.S. on the First Nations Experience Network (FNX). A collaboration between Dennis and his son Eric (co-writer and producer of Chums), the new series features an Indigenous creative team and cast. For many of the Indigenous kids voicing the animated characters, this is their first acting break.

The production partnership between Paxolotl Media and Zoot Pictures includes a mentoring element with the goal of helping develop more Indigenous production companies in Canada/Turtle Island.

Chums also marks the creation of a new animation studio based in the Canadian Prairies. The producers have assembled a team of talented people from across the two provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The project offers experience to under-represented cast and tech people in the film and television industry and acts as an important vehicle for training. Junior animators have been paired with experienced veterans as part of a multi-year program to train Indigenous animators, modellers and riggers.

“It’s great to receive this vote of confidence from our broadcast partners APTN and Citytv Saskatchewan to go forward with a second season,” said producer/co-writer Eric Jackson of Paxolotl Media. “As I’ve said before, creating an entirely new animation studio in the Prairies with my dad and my kids makes this a pretty unique thing for all of us. Not just now, but for the future if they follow in our footsteps to continue creating Indigenous stories.”

Exec producer Leslea Mair of Zoot Pictures adds, “We’re also really delighted that TFO has come on board to broadcast Chums. The show is an exciting, innovative project is so many ways, and we’re pleased that French-speaking kids and families will also get a chance to tune in and enjoy the adventures of Ira and her furry friends.”

Chums is written by Eric and Dennis Jackson, as well as by Justina Neepin, directed by Dennis Jackson, produced by Paxolotl Media’s Eric Jackson, and executive produced by Zoot Pictures’ Leslea Mair. Art director is Stephanie Boulet. Tech design is by Frank Digital.

The series is produced by Paxolotl Media and Zoot Pictures in association with APTN and Citytv Saskatchewan. It was developed with APTN, the Canada Media Fund and the Indigenous Screen Office, and is produced with the participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund, the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Manitoba Provincial Tax Credit, the Saskatchewan Feature Film and Television Production Grant Program and the Indigenous Screen Office.

zootpictures.com