Category Archives: Entertainment

Aardman launches newest IP, The Very Small Creatures

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Aardman has announced the launch of its newest IP, a series for 1- to 3-year-olds called The Very Small Creatures.

The Very Small Creatures, the first spin-off from the studio’s hugely popular Morph series, follows the adventures of five toddler-like clay creatures who explore a child’s play area when no one’s around – learning about their physical world, themselves and each other. The 20×3″ colourful and characterful stop-motion episodes are available on Sky Kids from today.

A bonus Christmas episode, ‘A Very Small Christmas’, will also be part of a Sky Kids Christmas Favourites compilation on Sky Showcase and will be available on Sky Kids on Demand and NOW from 19 December.

The Very Small Creatures is a series directorial debut for Aardman talent Lucy Izzard, who is both an animator and director. “I’m delighted to be able to share my five new besties with you,” she says. “I hope these colourful characters thrill, excite and entertain a whole new host of very small people, as they watch The Very Small Creatures leap, bounce and ‘bottom-pop’ around their screens with all the joyous fun that curiosity brings.”

Lucy Murphy, Director of Kids Content, UK & ROI at Sky, adds: “You don’t have to be a child to find Aardman’s incredible stop-motion animations truly enchanting. It’s been a real privilege to work with Lucy Izzard, whose unique creative vision for The Very Small Creatures is sure to delight the whole family this festive season.”

The Very Small Creatures is available now on Sky Kids and NOW. Territories include the UK, Germany and Italy

DeAPlaneta and Planeta Junior consolidate as DeAPlaneta Entertainment

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DeAPlaneta and Planeta Junior, both Planeta/De Agostini Group companies, are coming together under the brand DeAPlaneta Entertainment.

The merger of the two companies is due to a strategic reorganisation that aims to consolidate their leadership in the entertainment segment, and to be more agile in order to respond to the new needs of a global, multi-channel market.

Its activity will be focused on three main areas: fiction content, content for children and families, and interactive products.

The merger responds to the transformation processes in the entertainment sector where the boundaries between audiences and genres have blurred, where global markets are being served and where companies tend to adopt business models that promote a direct relationship with their audience.

“The entertainment industry is a growing and constantly changing sector. DeAPlaneta Entertainment is a company prepared to compete in international markets with a global concept,” states Ignacio Segura, CEO of DeAPlaneta Entertainment. “Nowadays, it is necessary to move towards a new business model that involves diversification, finding new ways to meet the needs of users, occupying solid positions at more points in the value chain and being big. With this merger we will become a more competitive player.”

DeAPlaneta Entertainment will continue to focus on the production and distribution of quality content with memorable stories to excite all kinds of audiences beyond traditional screens: liquid experiences (audiovisual, physical and digital) that combine creativity, technology and innovation.

The new company brings together more than 20 years of experience producing and distributing content with a global reach. From fiction and animated films and series and licensed products to live shows, video game competitions and, more recently, NFT development and presence in the metaverse.

DeAPlaneta Entertainment successes include the release of “The Physician”, the “Saw” saga and the Oscar-winning “The King’s Speech”, “12 Years a Slave”, and “The Pianist” in Spanish cinemas, as well as the creation of TV series such as “Ana Tramel. The Game”.

For children and family audiences, DeAPlaneta Entertainment manages and produces series such as “Miraculous Ladybug”, “Milo”, “Gormiti”, “Heidi” and “Maya the Bee”, generating different audiovisual content and licensed products for audiences all over the world.

In the interactive arena, the company continues to expand and explore new areas, and has organised high-profile events such as the eCopa RFEF and the national FIFA 21 benchmark tournament, with the support of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DeAPlaneta Entertainment has had numerous successes in the different entertainment sectors, including the release of the popular titles “The Physician”, the “Saw” saga and the Oscar-winning “The King’s Speech”, “12 Years a Slave”, and “The Pianist” in Spanish cinemas, as well as the creation of TV series such as “Ana Tramel. The Game”.

For children and family audiences, DeAPlaneta Entertainment manages and produces series such as “Miraculous Ladybug”, “Milo”, “Gormiti”, “Heidi” and “Maya the Bee”, generating different audiovisual content and licensed products for audiences all over the world.

In the interactive arena, the company continues to expand and explore new areas, and has organised high-profile events such as the eCopa RFEF and the national FIFA 21 benchmark tournament, with the support of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

Spacetoon and IMPS bring Smurfs TV series, toys and live experiences to MENA

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Spacetoon, the family edutainment content provider, producer, and broadcaster, has recently partnered with IMPS to bring The Smurfs to MENA through Spacetoon TV channel, entertaining on-ground branded events and new toys.

Based on this partnership, the two parties are to work on re-introducing the show to young audiences in MENA by broadcasting the localised, Arabic dubbed version of The Smurfs in 3DCG animation style, in addition to recreating the “good old days” for those who grew up watching it in 2D years ago.

Audiences will be able to enjoy the adventures of Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy and Clumsy, along with all other inhabitants of The Smurfs Village. This step comes as part of Spacetoon’s strategy to run the most-loved kid- and family-friendly content.

As the promotional licensee of the brand in the region, Spacetoon also has plans to expand the presence of The Smurfs in MENA through various on-ground entertaining activities.

The deal also includes bringing new The Smurfs toys to MENA market, in collaboration with ToyPro, the leading toy distributor in the region. This new toy line by Jazwares, the new global master toy partner of The Smurfs, includes action figures for The Smurfs characters, in addition to toys for all family members to enjoy.

Commenting on the partnership, Kamel Weiss, Strategic Business Development Director of Spacetoon, says: “The Smurfs is a multigenerational title that has been resonating with audiences for 40 years now, and we are proud to have it back in MENA as a TV show and also as branded events. We are aiming to pull all family members together to enjoy live entertaining experiences that suit all ages.”

“We are very excited to bring The Smurfs toys to the region to deliver a full family-entertaining experience with our media partner Spacetoon TV,” says Fawaz Abidin, Managing Director of ToyPro. “The Smurfs figures – reflecting their distinctive personalities – the different playsets, vehicles and plush toys all will hit the shelves in the MENA market next year.”

 

Hey Duggee series 4 gets the green light

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BBC Studios and CBeebies have commissioned a fourth series of multi-award-winning hit animation Hey Duggee from Studio AKA.

Duggee and The Squirrels will return for 40 brand new episodes of the much-loved show.

Hey Duggee is a fun, inclusive and educational series devised by Grant Orchard, senior director of Studio AKA, and narrated by comedian Alexander Armstrong.

Each episode features members of the Squirrel Club exploring, learning and overcoming challenges to earn a new Badge from Duggee – making new friends along the way.

Since launching in 2014, Hey Duggee has become a six-time BAFTA and international Emmy award-winning hit on CBeebies and was the most-watched kids’ show on BBC iPlayer in 2020 with over 192 million requests. All episodes of Hey Duggee are available exclusively on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

Additionally, Hey Duggee has over 1.2 million fans across its social channels and its official YouTube channel has over a billion lifetime views. Recently Hey Duggee teamed up with The Body Coach Joe Wicks for The Workout Badges series on YouTube, following on from bespoke lockdown-themed content on its social channels such as The Handwashing Badge, while The Parenting Badge, which debuted in December 2020, has had over 1.2M views.

Henrietta Hurford-Jones, Director of Children’s and Executive Producer of Hey Duggee for BBC Studios, says: “Hey Duggee is so popular with both parents and children and I’m sure they’ll be as delighted as we are that a new series is on the way. We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved so far and how much people love Duggee and The Squirrels – so we’re delighted to be working with the hugely talented Studio AKA once more and can’t wait for you to see it!”

Sue Goffe, Head of Production at Studio AKA, adds: “We’re thrilled to be continuing our glorious Duggee Adventure with BBC Studios and CBeebies. A huge thank you to our extraordinary creative team for all their hard work, and to all our viewers for your continued love and support for the show. Prepare yourselves for more gems to come!”

Hey Duggee has an impressive footprint in over 150 countries with its global popularity spawning numerous licensing agreements, including Golden Bear as UK master toy partner and Penguin Books publishing under their Ladybird imprint. Recently BBC Studios secured agreements in Spain with Ypislon as licensing agent and Bizak as master toy partner, marking further growth in Western Europe.

Last year, France TV was signed as the French licensing agent for Hey Duggee and product now available in the region includes: toys from master toy Lansay; plush toys, furniture and melamine courtesy of licensee Jemini; puzzles and early learning games from Ravensburger; magazines by Milan; and books by Hachette.

Jetpack acquires international rights for live action toddler series The Mini Kids    

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Global kids and family content distributor Jetpack Distribution has acquired the rights for The Mini Kids, a live-action preschool show commissioned and produced by Norway’s PSB digital terrestrial channel NRK Super.

The deal sees Jetpack acquire the first two seasons (16 x 17 minutes) of The Mini Kids, which targets babies and toddlers (0 – 3-year-olds), alongside their parents or carers, plus season three (12 x 17 minutes), which is being delivered in summer 2022.

The first two seasons have aired in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and The Faroe Islands to critical acclaim, delivering strong performance among all age-groups particularly on channel-led video on demand platforms.

The Mini Kids aims to stimulate activity and development for toddlers. It features real-life one- to two-year-olds and combines them with animation and music. The show’s objective is to inspire positive interactions among young children. It also stars ‘Fantus’, an animated character the audience engages with throughout each episode.

The series is structured in accordance with curriculum based preschool/kindergarten’s practice, with safe and familiar frameworks and rituals.

It won the Prix Jeunesse 2020 and best VFX at the Golden Screen Awards Norway 2020 and 2021.

Jetpack Distribution’s CEO, Dominic Gardiner, says: “The Mini Kids really strengthens our preschool offering and is one of a few outstanding shows for this age group. It’s hugely didactic and something that parents across the globe will welcome. Safe, funny and enjoyable for the youngest sector!”

“The Mini Kids has had exceptional ratings in Norway and we are very happy that the show can now travel the world with Jetpack,” says Head of NRK Super, Hildri Gulliksen. “We are optimistic that The Mini Kids will be as well received outside of the Nordics.”

Judas Priest and Z2 Comics announce ‘Screaming for Vengeance’ graphic novel

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Z2 Comics has partnered with heavy metal legends Judas Priest for an original graphic novel to be released in 2022, in time for the return of Comic Con International and the 40th anniversary of the band’s highest-selling album of all time: ‘Screaming for Vengeance’.

Produced with writers Rantz Hoseley (Comic Book Tattoo, the Heroin Diaries) and Neil Kleid (Savor), and artist Christopher Mitten (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.), the novel is set 500 years from now, when a ring of cities orbit high above the surface of a dead world, controlled by a ruling elite that maintains power through manipulation and brutality. When a naive engineer inadvertently threatens the status quo with his vital scientific discovery – a bloodstone – he is betrayed by those he trusted and cast out to the broken planet below.  In the wreckage and desolation of a broken world where every day is a battle for survival, he must choose between accepting his new life in exile… or SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE.

The graphic novel includes an extensive interview with original cover artist Doug Johnson in which he discusses the process of creating the award-winning album cover design, and the origin of the metallic bird of prey, now known as The Hellion. Additionally, as part of the expansion of Z2’s product offerings, newly appointed Z2 Vice President of Collectibles and Aggronautix founder Clint Weiler has designed a detailed Hellion statue, with battery-operated LED “electric eyes” in celebration of both the original album design, and the dramatic conclusion of the story in the Screaming for Vengeance graphic novel.

Judas Priest: Screaming for Vengeance will be released in both softcover and hardcover formats in selected bookstores, comic shops and record stores in July 2022, with special limited deluxe and super deluxe versions featuring an exclusive anniversary vinyl LP, prints and more, available to preorder now exclusively through the Z2 website.

Jetpack Distribution inks 14 new deals for kids’ shows

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Global kids and family content distributor Jetpack Distribution has announced that it has signed 14 new deals with video-on-demand (VOD) and linear platforms across the globe for 964 hours of TV series from its burgeoning catalogue of kids’ character driven shows.

The deals are heavily focused on VOD rights and are testament to the growing demand for VOD content from both platforms and audiences worldwide.

The following European networks have paid for rights for a selection of hit animated shows.

  • Discovery Italy has bought both linear and SVOD rights for pre-school animation Yoko (seasons one to three).
  • C+ in France renewed the PTV and SVOD rights for Talking Tom & Friends (seasons one to three) and licensed both rights for Kitty is Not a Cat season one.
  • Kidzone TV (across the Baltics, Middle East and North Africa) is taking pay TV and SVOD rights for Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! season one and pay TV rights for Kazoops, The Sisters season two, Talking Tom & Friends seasons one to three, Talking Tom Heroes and Talking Tom Minis.
  • Minimax has bought pay TV and VOD rights across Central Eastern Europe for Oswaldo, and Marsupilami seasons one, two and  three.
  • JimJam has bought the Pay TV and VOD rights for Daisy & Ollie seasons three and four for their pan-Europe feed.
  • UK’s Pop has acquired the free-to-air and FVOD rights for Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty.
  • NRK in Norway is taking the free-to-air and FVOD rights for Welcome to Cardboard City.

The following VOD networks across the globe have paid for the rights to air a further selection of animated series across all age groups.

  • HBO Max in Latin America has acquired the SVOD rights for Chuggington S6, Talking Tom & Friends seasons four and five, Talking Tom Heroes and Talking Tom Minis seasons one to four.
  • Semillitas pay TV Channel and SVOD services in US, Central America and Caribbean ‘Flix Latino’ and ‘Pinguinitos’ has picked up the rights for Chuggington, seasons two and three.
  • Lingopie, ​​educational app for language learning based on TV content to learn languages has taken the rights for The Sisters season one (German and Italian), Wolf season one (German and Italian), Talking Tom and Friends (Italian) seasons three, four and five, Yoko season one (Italian).
  • Toon Goggles in the UK, USA and Canada has bought the AVOD and SVOD rights for Boj, Daisy and Ollie seasons one and two, Emmy & GooRoo, Kitty is Not a Cat, My Petsaurus seasons one and two,Talking Tom & Friends seasons four and five and Yoko season one.
  • Tet Sia in Latvia is taking the SVOD rights for Talking Tom & Friends seasons three to five and Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! seasons one and two
  • Kartoon Channel in the USA and Canada have bought the AVOD and SVOD rights for Boj, Kitty is Not a Cat season two and Yoko season one.
  • Indonesia’s Mola TV has bought the SVOD rights for Emmy and GooRoo seasons one and two and is renewing Wolf seasons one and two.

Dominic Gardiner, CEO of Jetpack says: “It’s hugely inspiring to cement deals with such a strong selection of networks. Our content library has broadened significantly in recent times with multiple shows that work for different age groups, cultures and networks.

“We see – more than ever – the growing demand for VOD content and these deals demonstrate the proliferation of opportunities for content producers and distributors in this area. They also reflect the ever-evolving consumption habits of viewers worldwide.”

 

‘Hilda and the Mountain King’ to debut on Netflix this December

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Silvergate Media is readying the upcoming release of Hilda and the Mountain King, an 80-minute movie special which will launch exclusively on Netflix’s global streaming platform from 30 December.

Adapted from Luke Pearson’s sixth graphic novel in the Hilda series, Hilda and the Mountain King picks up where the cliff-hanger ending of Hilda Season 2 left off: finding Hilda stranded in troll country with the body of a troll. Her quest to change back into her human form and reunite with her mum and friends brings her deeper into the world of trolls – their customs, their cuisine, and their legends; namely the infamous Mountain King. Meanwhile, as tensions rise between the gathering trolls and the city of Trolberg, Hilda’s mum scours the mountainside desperate to find her daughter before the conflict erupts into a full blown war.

“We’re really excited to bring audiences a new feature length format with the release of Hilda and the Mountain King,” says Ron Allen, EVP Commercial at Silvergate Media. “The epic scope of the storyline gives us the opportunity to explore the full potential of Hilda’s fascinating mythical world and we think fans are going to love getting lost in the hidden depths of Trolberg this holiday season.”

Co-produced by Silvergate Media and Mercury Films, Hilda and the Mountain King marks the end to a year filled with numerous critical accolades. The show’s second season was awarded two Daytime Emmys, including Outstanding Children’s Animated Series, and three Annie Awards, including Best Animated TV Production for Children.

Other award-winning productions from Silvergate include Octonauts, Peter Rabbit and Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt for Netflix, and Sunny Day for Nickelodeon.

 

WildBrain serves up more Strawberry Shortcake deals

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WildBrain has signed a further wave of licensees for both the new and classic Strawberry Shortcake brand, brokered by its consumer products licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG. Additionally, the new Strawberry Shortcake series, Berry in the Big City (80 x 4’), plus four brand-new CG-animated seasonal specials (4 x 44’), produced by WildBrain’s Vancouver animation studio, will be available on Netflix worldwide, with the series launching Spring 2022 and specials to follow in 2023. Other streaming and linear television partners across the globe are expected to be announced in the coming months.

“Strawberry Shortcake’s evergreen status as a cherished brand continues to attract major partners across the entertainment and licensing industry,” says Michael Riley, Chief Brands Officer at WildBrain. “We look forward to building on these strong foundations as we continue to roll out the new Strawberry Shortcake for fans to enjoy on and off screen.”

The new 44-minute CG-animated specials are part of the global rollout of WildBrain’s new Strawberry Shortcake brand across animated content, gaming, music, toys, food, apparel, events and other licensing partnerships. Berry in the Big City made its digital-first debut this September on WildBrain’s premium kids’ and family AVOD network, WildBrain Spark. A new Roblox game, Bake with Strawberry Shortcake, is also launching this fall.

Jasen Wright, VP of North America at WildBrain CPLG, says: “Strawberry Shortcake has always had enduring popularity, and the relaunch has seen excitement around this property really ramp up. We’ve seen strong interest from licensees in WildBrain’s new version of the brand, and that halo is fueling a simultaneous renaissance around the classic brand from the 1980s, all of which is testament to the strength of Strawberry Shortcake’s appeal across generations.”

Newly signed promotional partners for WildBrain’s new Strawberry Shortcake include I’m the Chef Too! (culinary educational) and Bahama Buck’s (ice cream). These add to the list of previously announced licensees, including Moose Toys (Master Toy) and Penguin Random House (publishing), plus promotional partners Naturipe (strawberries and blueberries), Sunkist Growers (oranges, lemons and limes), Envy Apples (apples), Zolli Candy (dentist-approved lollipops), Dippin’ Dots (ice cream), Snip-Its (kids’ hair salons) and Challenge Butter (butter).

Classic Strawberry Shortcake is also enjoying a surge in interest from licensees with multiple new deals signed, highlighting the evergreen appeal of the brand amongst girls and their mothers. The vintage brand is partnering with boutique specialty retailers in North America and Canada in unique capsule collections, as well as ranges that feature classic artwork from the original brand. Dolls Kill and Unique Vintage are planning Strawberry Shortcake apparel with the Dolls Kill capsule collection including apparel, outerwear, swimwear, loungewear, intimates, accessories, footwear and home for ladies and junior in the US (stores) and worldwide (online), while Unique Vintage will launch apparel, accessories and home ranges, available worldwide.

Additionally, designer Samii Ryan will be releasing a Strawberry Shortcake apparel and accessories collaboration for early 2022; PacSun will be launching ladies and junior holiday collections by The Forecast Agency in the US and Canada, following the success of its summer line launch, which will feature apparel, underwear, socks, tote bags and headwear; and Glamlite is set to launch a cosmetics line in Spring 2022.

 

ON Kids & Family appoints bRAND-WARD to build Petronix Defenders brand

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European studio ON kids & family, part of Mediawan, has appointed kids IP consultancy bRAND-WARD to develop a UK licensing programme for comedy-animation adventure series Petronix Defenders. 
The 52 x 13′ series is aimed at children from 4 to 7 years old. It is produced in association with the M6 Group (Gulli and M6Kid) and Super RTL, in partnership with the Chinese toy manufacturer and global media group Alpha, the segment leader in the Chinese market, and one of the main players in the toy market worldwide.

When the world’s wild animals are in danger, a team of young superheroes rush to their rescue: their backpacks are transformed into small animals equipped with incredible technology, and together they set off on ever more daring missions to help them.

The series’ environmental values and the empathy created by the characters address the current concerns of young audiences and their parents.

In addition to bRAND-WARD Services, ON kids & family is setting up an international network of experienced licensing agents: Gulli (France), Super RTL (Germany, Benelux and GAS), Planeta Junior (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Eastern and Central Europe), Megalicense (Russia, Ukraine), Lotus Global (Brazil and Latam), and Plus Licens (Nordic countries).

In the UK, Tiny Pop will be the free to air broadcast partner.

“Our L&M strategy is based on major exposure of the series on the best free TV broadcasters, to ensure our partner Alpha the best possible visibility from the beginning of the broadcasts,” says Erick Rouillé, SVP co-productions, Business Development, Licensing & Merchandising. “Our series is generating an enthusiastic response from our broadcast and licensee partners who are convinced of the project’s potential. Alpha will also be launching its toy line worldwide, outside of China, for Christmas 2023. Our organisation also relies on the strong local involvement of agents to whom we have chosen to entrust the exploitation of the brand in many territories.”

Jean-Philippe Randisi, co-founder of bRAND-WARD, adds: “ A superb series, featuring engaging characters, fantastic toys and a very compelling message, Petronix Defenders will take the world by storm in 2023 and beyond. We are proud to be able to join forces with ON Kids & Family to make this series a success in the UK.”