Tag Archives: kids’ animation

Raphaelle Mathieu promoted to EVP, Cyber Group Studios

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Cyber Group Studios has announced that Raphaelle Mathieu, formerly Senior Vice President Sales, Digital and Acquisitions, has been promoted to the newly created position of Executive Vice President.

Already a member of the management board, Mathieu, in her new capacity, will oversee all commercial activities of the company worldwide and work with Chairman and CEO Pierre Sissmann and COO Dominique Bourse on defining the overall strategic areas of growth for Cyber Group Studios, including sales, digital, and licensing. 

“As the company is now developing into an international group comprised of many talented companies and executives worldwide, I am very pleased to have Raphaelle take more responsibilities in coordinating our overall commercial activities and finding synergies worldwide to grow our overall business,” says Pierre Sissmann, Chairman and CEO of Cyber Group Studios.

 

Signature Publishing partners with One Animation for Oddbods magazine

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Signature Publishing and One Animation have inked a deal to launch a dedicated Oddbods-themed issue of Signature’s successful changing-theme magazine for preschool children, ‘ADVENTURES WITH’. Under the partnership, the ‘ADVENTURES WITH Oddbods’ issue will go on sale in the UK from 10 February.

One Animation’s Oddbods is a global phenomenon, airing in 180 countries across 90 broadcasters worldwide. The brand has also generated 25 billion digital views and averages 14 million views on YouTube per day.

The magazine will follow the quirky but charming Oddbods on their adventures and will feature branded stories, puzzles, colouring and more. The magazine will also include a pizza set toy, which ties in with the magazine content and provides imaginative play value.

“We are so excited to be publishing ‘ADVENTURES WITH Oddbods’ magazine,” says Amanda Clifford, Signature Publishing’s Editorial Director. “The brand is so bright and colourful, celebrating individuality and friendships, and creating an Oddbods magazine has been an absolute joy. We’re sure it’s going to be a great success and bring laughter, learning and fun to every child who reads it.”

Sashim Parmanand, CEO at One Animation, adds: “We’re always looking for creative ways to bring the Oddbods characters to life for fans, and this partnership with Signature Publishing provides a perfect opportunity to achieve just that. Signature Publishing has effectively captured the Oddbods’ spirit and created a really fun and engaging magazine, which we know is going to be a huge hit with our fans.”

The three-time Emmy Award-nominated slapstick comedy series follows the adventures of seven adorable, highly unique friends. Together, despite their differences, they survive the perils of everyday life, unintentionally turning ordinary situations into unexpected, extraordinary, and always humorous events.

‘ADVENTURES WITH Oddbods’ magazine is available to buy in the UK at supermarkets, newsagents and magazine stockists and is priced at £4.99.

Jetpack brokers three new deals for Moley

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Jetpack Distribution has announced three new deals that will see the top-ranking CGI animated series Moley (52 x 11 minutes) and the 30-minute special Master Moley: By Royal Invitation hit free-to-air screens in Germany and New Zealand, and TV screens in Brazil.

German public service broadcaster ZDF has acquired the free TV and video-on-demand (VOD) rights. The special launched in December.

Further afield, Latin America’s Globo has paid for the TV and SVOD rights to air in Brazil. Both the animated series and the 30-minute special are available on Globoplay, Brazil’s largest video streaming platform.

In New Zealand, the country’s leading broadcaster TVNZ has bought the free TV and VOD rights.

Following a massive launch campaign and premiere at London’s Leicester Square Odeon, Moley hit EMEA screens in October this year.

The uplifting family animation, aimed at ages four and upwards, is inspired by bedtime stories about a magical mole, created by entrepreneur James Reatchlous, and told to his daughters.

It features an award-winning cast including Warwick Davis, who is also Executive Producer, (Harry Potter, Star Wars, Moominvalley), Julie Walters (Mamma Mia!, Harry Potter, Billy Elliot), Gemma Arterton (Their Finest, Quantum of Solace) and Richard E. Grant (Can you Ever Forgive Me?, Horrid Henry: The Movie).

Jetpack’s CEO, Dominic Gardiner, says: “Charming, warm-hearted and extremely high quality, Moley is a timeless gem, perfect for families across the world. I’m very happy to see the show acquired by such prestigious networks, ones we highly value, respect and enjoy working with. We’re looking forward to bringing Moley to more screens globally.”

 

 

WildBrain to bring Jay Ward Productions’ classic animation IPs to a new generation

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Kids’ and family entertainment company WildBrain and Jay Ward Productions have signed an agreement across distribution, production and licensing for the entire portfolio of classic Ward-owned IP that includes such legendary properties as George of the Jungle, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Dudley Do-Right, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Super Chicken and more.

Under the agreement, WildBrain will add 788 episodes of Jay Ward Productions’ classic animation to its distribution library, and the two companies will create brand-new content based on the Ward portfolio.

The new partnership reunites WildBrain’s CEO, Eric Ellenbogen, with Tiffany Ward, President of Jay Ward Productions and daughter of the late, acclaimed animation producer Jay Ward, who was the creator of some of the most iconic cartoons of the 1950s and 60s. Twenty years ago, Ellenbogen and Ward created Bullwinkle Studios through Ellenbogen’s former company, Classic Media, which was sold to DreamWorks in 2012 and ultimately became part of NBCUniversal.

“Everything old is new again,” says Ellenbogen. “I’m delighted to be reunited with Tiffany to bring to new audiences the hilarious characters and shows created by her father, which are part of the canon of the world’s greatest animation. Never has there been a better time to refresh classic branded IP like this, just as we are doing with so many of our evergreen WildBrain brands.”

“I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Eric again,” says Tiffany Ward. “Our past partnership with Bullwinkle Studios was prolific and successful, and now that Eric is at the helm of a creative powerhouse like WildBrain, I’m excited to work with him and his fantastic team to broaden the legacy of my father’s work to reach new generations of kids and families.”

The prior collaboration between Ellenbogen and Ward resulted in such projects as DreamWorks’ 2014 animated feature film Mr. Peabody & Sherman, as well as two new series animated by WildBrain (then called DHX Media), including 52 episodes of the Emmy-nominated The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, commissioned by Netflix from DreamWorks; and 26 episodes of the Emmy-nominated The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, commissioned by Amazon Studios from DreamWorks. Also, 52 episodes of George of the Jungle were produced by Bullwinkle Studios and a further 52 episodes later produced by August Media.

In addition to various new production, licensing and merchandising rights on Ward’s portfolio of the classic IP, the new venture sees WildBrain grow its distribution library with such beloved classic Jay Ward series as The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (326 x 3.5’), Peabody’s Improbable History (91 x 5’), Dudley Do-Right (38 x 4.5’), Hoppity Hooper (104 x 4.5’), Fractured Fairy Tales (91 x 5’), Aesop and Son (39 x 5’), Mr. Know-It All (60 x 1.5’) and Bullwinkle’s Corner (39 x 1’).

 

Masha and the Bear ranked as top in-demand preschool show

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Animaccord’s hit animation Masha and the Bear has reached new heights over the past 12 months, most notably reaching 100 billion views on YouTube.

According to Parrot Analytics, in 2021 Masha and the Bear was the number-one preschool show worldwide, with 36 times more demand than the average show – putting it in the top 0.2% of all TV series across all platforms.

The series was again ranked as a top-five show among children (0-18) for 2020-2021, being more in-demand with global audiences than PAW Patrol (34.9 times) and Peppa Pig (34.1 times).

The cartoon has been 101 times more popular outside of its home market than the average show and had 32.9 times more longevity, meaning that Masha and the Bear is still very relevant in its genre after over a decade. For the US and UK markets, the show is in the top three per cent of all shows and TV series.

In addition to its success in the preschool market, Masha and the Bear also stacks up against recent global hits such as Squid Game, Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye and Amazon Prime’s Wheel of Time, being ranked as twice more in-demand.

Animaccord launches Masha and the Bear e-shop

The Point.1888 appoints sub-agent Playology to expand programme for TV’s The Raccoons

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The Point.1888 has signed Playology International as a sub-agent for Canada to explore new and existing licensing opportunities and partnerships for The Raccoons.

Playology is charged with delivering a licensing programme that will capitalise on the recent resurgence that the TV series has seen, with fans eager for more access and products from the much-loved Canadian show.

This will support The Raccoons’ return to TV after the announcement that the series is being remastered prior to being released on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as streaming services.

Created in 1985, the animated television series follows the day-to-day life of raccoons Bert, Melissa and Ralph, their friend Cedric Sneer the aardvark and his dad, Cyril Sneer, and their adventures in the Evergreen Forest. For two decades, it engaged the imaginations of families in 180 countries all over the world.

Olivia Wiggett, Associate Commercial Manager at The Point.1888, says: “Many of our team go way back with Playology’s co-founder Jacqueline Vong, and we’re thrilled to finally have the chance to work with her. Playology has a fantastic reputation, and its brand portfolio compliments The Raccoons perfectly. We are certain they will be an amazing partner for the brand in its home country, Canada.”

Jacqueline Vong, Co-founder of Playology, adds: “Growing up in Canada with The Raccoons as a staple on TV and having the opportunity to work on the brand now is a full-circle moment. We can’t wait to introduce The Raccoons to a new generation and their fans again!”

 

 

The Point.1888 appoints sub-agent Playology to expand programme for TV’s The Raccoons

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The Point.1888 has signed Playology International as a sub-agent for Canada to explore new and existing licensing opportunities and partnerships for The Raccoons.

Playology is charged with delivering a licensing programme that will capitalise on the recent resurgence that the TV series has seen, with fans eager for more access and products from the much-loved Canadian show.

This will support The Raccoons’ return to TV after the announcement that the series is being remastered prior to being released on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as streaming services.

Created in 1985, the animated television series follows the day-to-day life of raccoons Bert, Melissa and Ralph, their friend Cedric Sneer the aardvark and his dad, Cyril Sneer, and their adventures in the Evergreen Forest. For two decades, it engaged the imaginations of families in 180 countries all over the world.

Olivia Wiggett, Associate Commercial Manager at The Point.1888, says: “Many of our team go way back with Playology’s co-founder Jacqueline Vong, and we’re thrilled to finally have the chance to work with her. Playology has a fantastic reputation, and its brand portfolio compliments The Raccoons perfectly. We are certain they will be an amazing partner for the brand in its home country, Canada.”

Jacqueline Vong, Co-founder of Playology, adds: “Growing up in Canada with The Raccoons as a staple on TV and having the opportunity to work on the brand now is a full-circle moment. We can’t wait to introduce The Raccoons to a new generation and their fans again!”

 

 

Genius Brands to launch Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse following acquisition of Ameba TV

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Genius Brands International has announced that it will be launching its subscription-based Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse on April 15, 2022, at $3.99/month.

Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will be anchored by technology from the acquisition of Ameba TV, a rapidly growing children’s video streaming service.

Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will include all the popular programmes of Kartoon Channel!, while adding exclusive metaversal content, which will be launched in a phased rollout.

Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will feature a fully integrated design, including custom avatars and emojis for kids, exclusive games, branded Kidaverse VR goggles, immersive content and NFTs for kids (“KFT”s).

The new platform will also feature collectable digital cards based on many of the channel’s popular characters, including those from the upcoming Stan Lee Universe, debuting in Q4 2022, and a digital currency for kids called Kidaverse MetaBuck$. Additionally, the Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse is planning to introduce child-safe messaging (“Messies”), podcasts, music, and more.

“Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse is expected to revolutionise children’s entertainment, because it will include all of the popular animated programmes of a children’s channel, metaverse features and, most importantly, it will be fully curated and child safe,” says Genius Brands Chairman and CEO, Andy Heyward.

“The single strongest message we receive from parents is the concern about safety for children on screens, whether it is programme content or roaming around the internet and various apps. The premise of the Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse is to provide children with fun, positive, engaging digital media AND to provide them with a safe and parent-controlled product.”

In addition to the hit shows of Kartoon Channel! today, including Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rainbow Rangers, Peppa Pig, PJ Masks, Minecraft, Surviving Roblox, My Little Pony, and Yu Gi Oh, Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will add another 13,000 episodes under license to Ameba, including hit brands such as Casper The Friendly Ghost, Donkey Kong Country, Gummy Bears, and Rescue Heroes.

The platform will also become the home to the several thousand hours of animated content available through its recent acquisition of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media and strategic investment in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment (YFE). The Company believes this will make it the largest single children’s portal of animation in the world, with over 20,000 animated titles under license.

“As Kartoon Channel! has grown, many of our viewers have asked for a commercial-free version of the experience,” says Jon Ollwerther, Kartoon Channel! President. “While our free, ad-supported platform will still be available to consumers, the subscription-based Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will address that market need, while also building the 360-degree kid’s digital media platform of the future. We believe it will be a unique entertainment experience that simply cannot be had anywhere else.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

YouTube Originals greenlights new episodes of hit Korean animated series Pinkfong Wonderstar

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YouTube Originals today announced the new episode pick-up of Pinkfong Wonderstar, SmartStudy’s popular animated series, returning with new adventures this November. The 13 new episodes of the series will be sequentially released on Pinkfong’s Korean and English official YouTube channels and will be available on the YouTube Kids app from November 9.

Pinkfong Wonderstar was the first Korean animated series on YouTube Originals in 2020. The first 13 episodes have been streamed in English and Korean since December 2020 with 73 million views as of October 2021.

YouTube Originals also launched the first 13 episodes of the series in four additional languages – Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian and Russian – in 2021.

Pinkfong Wonderstar follows two best friends, Pinkfong and Hogi, as they team up to solve their friends’ problems in Wonderville, using Pinkfong’s magical powers and Hogi’s great ideas. Exclusive to YouTube Originals are special clips at the beginning of every episode featuring Pinkfong and Hogi’s fun explanation of key learning takeaways from each episode’s story.

“We are delighted to introduce another fun-filled adventure of Pinkfong Wonderstar on YouTube Originals,” says Min Seok Kim, CEO of SmartStudy. “We hope the series continues to bring joy to children across the globe and help them to learn the important values of life with exciting stories and songs and lovable characters.”

“Building on our successful partnership with SmartStudy, we are thrilled to bring the global YouTube Kids audience new episodes of Pinkfong,” says Nadine Zylstra, Head of Family, Learning and Impact, YouTube Originals. “It is so exciting to see the impact of launching a global IP across the world and in multiple languages on the same day.”

Pinkfong Wonderstar is the latest addition to an expanding roster of YouTube Originals focused on kids and family, including the award-winning Lockdown, and recent hits such as Get Curious with Vice President Harris, BookTube Jr, The Workout Badges, Growing with Lottie Dottie and Break the Record.

 

 

The Clangers announce magical musical plans

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International rights owner Coolabi Group and its BAFTA award winning kids show, Clangers, are celebrating a host of musical activations for the much-loved brand including partnerships with Nordoff Robbins, Amazon (for the brand-new Clangers Talk Kids+ Edition), a licensing deal with tonies and an official Clangers album release with Grammy Award winning composer, John du Prez.

Coolabi Group has announced that Clangers will be partnering once again with music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins for a brand new interactive three part series of ‘On Stage at Home Live’.

Launching on Monday 11 October at 10am with its first session followed by two more morning sessions on 18 October and 25 October, the fun and free musical Zoom sessions for preschool children will be hosted by CBeebies presenter and performer Cat Sandion and Nordoff Robbins music therapist Emily Grimes. They will feature dancing from the Clangers and a specially created kindness song for viewers to sing, dance and learn important life skills on how to be kind.

In addition, a new version of Clangers Talk Kids+ Edition, a voice-activated Alexa Skill for Amazon, is now available. Clangers Talk originally launched in 2019 and quickly became one of Alexa’s most popular kids’ skills on the device. It allows children to communicate with Clangers, who respond with whistles and songs, and now includes popular nursery rhymes and Clangers audio stories.

The brand new Clangers figurine from audio box company tonies is now available, with six magical stories voiced by Clangers narrator, Sir Michael Palin. The Clangers tonie is available from selected toy retailers, bookshops and the tonies website.

‘The Clangers Album’ by award winning composer John Du Prez, featuring the magical sounds of the Little Blue Planet, has been released on the Ocean Music label, and is available to buy in all high street and online music shops. John Du Prez has produced 18 magical tracks on the 12” LP version, available in a choice of pink and blue vinyl, and an extra four bonus tracks for the CD and digital download.

Jeremy Banks, CEO of Coolabi Group said: “We are absolutely over the moon to be announcing these brand new Clangers partnerships and product releases which celebrate all the fantastic music and sounds that make Clangers so magical and unique.“