The pre-Kidscreen chaos continues, and the TV animation business is abuzz with new project announcements, partnerships and sales. Here’s a quick study sheet to review before you head off to the Summit in Miami:
Anima Kitchent and Televisa will team up to produce preschool series Cleo and Cuquin (52 x 7) based on international brand The Telerin Family created by Jose Luis Moro Escalona.
Awesome Media & Entertainment is developing its Princess Ponies book franchise for TV, having appointed media exec Peter Sussman to the board to spearhead the project. The UK company is also publishing four new holiday-themed titles in the series. Music video clips, Acostador app, books and digital content are part of the companies’ transmedia brand strategy.
Cloth Cat Animation in Wales is bringing four development projects to the event: Little Oaks (upper preschool), Polly & Hax (high-action series), School Rule (comedy for kids 5-8) and Lunar Lodge (intergalactic comedy-action-adventure for preteens). MD Jon Rennie and head of animation development Adam Bailey will attend the show, with producer Ben Cawthorne of collaborating interactive development studio Thud Media.
FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment has inked a raft of free TV sales for the new Danger Mouse series. New broadcast partners include ABC (Australia), Channel 4 (New Zealand), Legardere channels (France), RTE (Ireland) and MBC (Middle East), on top of the multi-territory Netflix deal which kicks in this spring. FMK handles global TV and licensing rights; Jazwares is master toy partner.
Guru Studio has signed five new international deals, extending Justin Time’s distribution to over 200 countries. The time-traveling preschool series has sold to Presto (Australia), E-vision (Middle East, North Africa), Discovery Kids (Southeast Asia) and is gaining reach in the UK through Sony Pictures Television’s Tiny Pop service and is set to air on 24-hour Spanish-language pre-k network VMe Kids in the US starting April 4. New episodes are in production.
Hoho Entertainment has entered a co-production deal with Grid Animation in Belgium to produce a 26 x 5 series of toon vlogs for multimedia girls’ fashion brand Mimi and Bibi, created by Dan Good (Wissper) and aimed at girls 6-10. The vlogs will air on UK’s Totally Tween website, with Hoho seeking digital platform and broadcast partners at the Summit.
Radical Sheep and Corus Ent.’s Teletoon are developing a new animated comedy, Sprinkle and the Sweet Sugar Magics, created by comedian and writer Stephanie Kaliner. The 11-minute comedy for kids 6-9 centers on a shy girl named Cara whose life is changed by a magical, living, jelly-filled donut. Radical Sheep reps will be attending the Summit.
Technicolor Animation Productions and TF1 in France will co-produce a new CG Monchhichi series in collaboration with Sekiguchi in Japan. Based on the hit 1970s toy character, the 52 x 11 will comprise magical adventures and positive stories that appeal to kids and adult fans of the brand. PGS Entertainment handles international media distribution.
Zodiak Kids Studios has secured a commission from France Televisions for new animated series Lilybuds (52 x 11). The playful garden-themed CG toon will be produced in France and will be bolstered by a strong digital presence, including an online world. Zodiak will be bringing animated shows The Ranch and Magiki (commissioned by Lagardere’s Gulli in France and DeAgostini’s Super in Italy) to Kidscreen.
