One Animation’s Oddbods heads to Sky Kids in the UK

Award-winning content creation, distribution and licensing studio One Animation has secured a new deal with Sky Kids in the UK for its hit CG-animated series Oddbods. Under the deal, Sky Kids has acquired rights for season three of Oddbods’ long-form series (60 x 8’) and the seasonal special ‘The Festive Menace’ (1 x 23’).

The Oddbods content will launch on Sky Kids from Friday 17 December. In the UK, previous seasons of Oddbods have been licensed by Turner (now WarnerMedia) as part of an EMEA wide deal, as well as ITV.

Oddbods is a three-time Emmy Award-nominated, non-dialogue comedy featuring seven highly unique pals who together, despite their differences, survive the perils of everyday life, unintentionally turning ordinary situations into unexpected, extraordinary, and always humorous events.

Michele Schofield, SVP, Content Distribution at One Animation, says: “This deal marks the first time we’re teaming up with Sky Kids and we’re confident Sky Kids will make the perfect new UK home for Oddbods’ latest season.

“Oddbods fills a need for kids and their family to be entertained and laugh together at the funny events arising from everyday situations. We can’t wait to see Sky Kids’ audience enjoy adventures with the Oddbods gang over the festive season and beyond.”

One Animation adds new fan experiences and product ranges for Oddbods

 

Aardman launches newest IP, The Very Small Creatures

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

Sky’s Obki ties up with Products of Change to launch sustainable character merchandise

With Brand Licensing Europe just around the corner, Products of Change has announced the launch of a truly sustainable brand champion for the community and planet.

Obki on Sky Kids will be a leading force in driving the sustainability agenda on a global platform through a series of worldwide licensing deals via newly signed licensing agency the Radius Group. Launching at The Brand Licensing Europe Show on November 17, supported by Products of Change, Obki will bring together the most sustainable companies to curate a range of brand lifestyle products, including apparel, plush, toys, food, drink and publishing for children.

The cartoon series on Sky Kids features Obki, a loveable alien, on his journey to be a positive force for good on Earth. The show is part of Sky’s campaign to be net zero carbon by 2030 and its commitment to encourage its customers to #GoZero, by using its content and channels to raise awareness of the climate crisis and inspire viewers with actions they can take to protect the planet.

Products of Change is a global educational hub aimed at driving sustainable change across consumer product markets and beyond and will highlight the inroad that Obki on Sky Kids is making as a sustainable brand. With growing numbers of shoppers calling on retailers, brands and governments to implement change from Cop26, Obki is working with Sky Zero and Products of Change as part of its strategy.

Global licensing expert and CEO of the Radius Group, Damian Hopkins, says: “Obki has a unique ability to command the most sustainable licensing partners and influence what toys, clothes and food consumers buy and how they use their purchases at home. Obki will lead by example, driving change in the character licensing industry, by collaborating with licensees and partners to deliver products with sustainability at their core.”

Obki founder Amanda Evans coined the term “small step sustainability” – the notion that providing customers with a wide range of branded goods that they know and trust as being truly sustainable will make it easier and quicker for them to make multiple sustainable decisions, both in store and at home.

For 2022, Obki will focus on being the voice of positivity and proactivity in the face of climate change doom and gloom and communicate that small changes make a big difference. Customers will be able to view Obki on Sky Kids and obtain detailed information about the sustainability credentials of Obki’s food, clothing, toys or homewares that they are purchasing.

Amanda says: “We want to educate consumers about Obki’s sustainability principles and how they can shop more ethically and reach for the product that they know is better for the planet. Retailers will then be able to shift ethically minded consumers towards these products. Obki will become an active ambassador for climate change by inspiring the next generation to be environmentally intuitive in their thinking and decision making.”

Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO and founder of Products of Change, says: “Obki is an example of a brand that embeds sustainability into its thinking and operations. To see the ambitions of the team to build a truly sustainable licensed brand from content to product is pretty phenomenal, as well as incorporating a large proportion of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals within its sustainability framework. It is a real honour to be working with such a progressive team at Obki to bring this to life, and I am really looking forward to watching its success around the world.”

OBKI was screened at COP26 at a special event called ‘World Leaders Listen Up’ and Obki’s animator Simone Giampaolo was chosen as a UK Government ‘One Step Greener’ Ambassador.

 

Sky Kids UK lands new seasons and educational games based on The Cat in the Hat Know a Lot About That

Portfolio Entertainment has secured a raft of new broadcast deals for Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That including one with Sky Kids in the UK for seasons two and three of the 2D animated series.

Sky Kids is also taking on four new educational games based on the popular series, called Build-ma-loo, Invention Engine, Camp Time, and Arcade Escape, while French speaking Canada will be treated to the series’ seasons one and two via Unis TV.

Portfolio has also inked deals for the one hour seasonal special, The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot about Christmas with KiKa in Germany and NRK in Norway.

“The enduring legacy of Dr. Seuss’ beloved character lives on as a new generation of kids around the world will be going on adventures with the Cat in the big striped hat and his friends,” said Donnie MacIntyre, VP of sales and business development at Portfolio Entertainment. “Portfolio’s catalogue of best-in-class children’s content continues to attract leading global kids broadcasters and we’re delighted that our partners will be bringing this classic series and holiday special to their audiences.”

Fuelled by curiosity and imagination, the Cat leads best friends Nick and Sally on extraordinary adventures into the natural world. With the help of Thing One and Thing Two and their whimsically versatile Thinga-ma-jigger they’ll go anywhere from the bottom of the ocean to the centre of a beehive. The Cat in the Hat ‘knows a lot’ but he doesn’t know everything, making him the perfect guide to learning and fun.

Inspired by the animated original series, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That Christmas! is a one-hour holiday movie, originally broadcast on PBS Kids, bringing our favourite characters together to discover the magic of Christmas.

Produced by Portfolio Entertainment and Collingwood O’Hare Productions, in association with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Random House Children’s Entertainment, Treehouse, and PBS Kids, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That! is based on Random House’s best-selling Beginner Book collection, “The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library.”

The award-winning series has been sold to broadcasters and digital platforms in over 170 markets worldwide.

Sky Kids UK lands new seasons and educational games based on The Cat in the Hat Know a Lot About That

Portfolio Entertainment has secured a raft of new broadcast deals for Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That including one with Sky Kids in the UK for seasons two and three of the 2D animated series.

Sky Kids is also taking on four new educational games based on the popular series, called Build-ma-loo, Invention Engine, Camp Time, and Arcade Escape, while French speaking Canada will be treated to the series’ seasons one and two via Unis TV.

Portfolio has also inked deals for the one hour seasonal special, The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot about Christmas with KiKa in Germany and NRK in Norway.

“The enduring legacy of Dr. Seuss’ beloved character lives on as a new generation of kids around the world will be going on adventures with the Cat in the big striped hat and his friends,” said Donnie MacIntyre, VP of sales and business development at Portfolio Entertainment. “Portfolio’s catalogue of best-in-class children’s content continues to attract leading global kids broadcasters and we’re delighted that our partners will be bringing this classic series and holiday special to their audiences.”

Fuelled by curiosity and imagination, the Cat leads best friends Nick and Sally on extraordinary adventures into the natural world. With the help of Thing One and Thing Two and their whimsically versatile Thinga-ma-jigger they’ll go anywhere from the bottom of the ocean to the centre of a beehive. The Cat in the Hat ‘knows a lot’ but he doesn’t know everything, making him the perfect guide to learning and fun.

Inspired by the animated original series, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That Christmas! is a one-hour holiday movie, originally broadcast on PBS Kids, bringing our favourite characters together to discover the magic of Christmas.

Produced by Portfolio Entertainment and Collingwood O’Hare Productions, in association with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Random House Children’s Entertainment, Treehouse, and PBS Kids, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That! is based on Random House’s best-selling Beginner Book collection, “The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library.”

The award-winning series has been sold to broadcasters and digital platforms in over 170 markets worldwide.