ITV brings Saturday night game show The Void to Fortnite Creative

ITV has become the first broadcaster to enter the Fortnite Creative as it launches an in-game version of its new entertainment show, The Void, to the video game.

Marking a whole new step into the Metaverse for the studio, ITV is recreating the Saturday night game show in Fortnite Creative, allowing players to take on their own in-game version of the challenges and tasks undertaken in the programme.

ITV is the latest entertainment giant outside of video games to find its footing within Fortnite Creative as the deal follows a major recent partnership between Fortnite and The O2 that witnessed the entertainment venue launch a digital version into the video game. 

The week-long partnership culminated with an in-game concert performance by the UK group Easy Life.

Fortnite Creative’s link up with ITV marks the first time a UK broadcaster has utilised the platform. ITV is now building up a network of creators on different platforms to activate Metaverse audiences around its programmes.

The Void is hosted by Ashley Banjo and Fleur East and sees contestants put to the test as they take on a range of mental and physical challenges while navigating the prospect of falling into The Void – a chasm of 520,000 litres of water stretching across the arena floor.

Following the initial Fortnite Creative pilot, ITV is planning to roll out the concept to other programme and bring brands on board.

Dan Colton, ITV Group Strategy and Transformation Director, said: “The Void is a really innovative new Saturday night show that fits perfectly with this style of gameplay.

“The Metaverse is a huge opportunity for ITV both from a consumer and advertiser perspective and this is the first step of how we can best make use of our IP in these spaces.”

Aardman and CITV unveil voice cast for new CGI comedy series Lloyd of the Flies

Friday Night Dinner actor, Tom Rosenthal is among the British talent to be lending their voices to Lloyd of the Flies, a new CGI comedy series from Aardman Animation and CITV. The series is scheduled to air on CITV in autumn 2022.

Rosenthal will voice lead character Lloyd, a housefly and middle child of 453 siblings. With his best friend Abacus Woodlouse, little sister PB, and eccentric tag-along Cornea Butterfly, the motley crew will embark on a series of misadventures in a family comedy of entomology.

Rosenthal joins a cast of British acting talent, including Alex Lawther (Black Mirror) who will voice Abacus, Lauren Patel (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) who will take on the role of PB, Teresa Gallagher as Cornea Butterfly, and Callum Scott Howells (It’s a Sin) will voice Lloyd’s nemesis, Berry.

Pearl Mackie and Rob Rackstraw provide the voices of Lloyd’s parents, Gena and Malcolm. Completing the cast are Ayesha Antoine, voicing Julie and Libby, and Marcel McCalla who plays Ampersand and Bob.

Lloyd of the Flies is created and directed by Matthew Walker (episode director, Shaun the Sheep: Adventures from Mossy Bottom Farm and winner of a jury award at Aspen Shortsfest, Jury Special Mention at Clermont-Ferrand for his film ‘John and Karen’ and best graduation film ‘Astronauts’ at Annecy Animation Festival 2006). He is joined by co-director and voice director Jane Davies, who has over 25 years animation and directing experience in long form series.

Aardman’s Sarah Cox will act as executive creative director.

Seamus Malone (Arthur Christmas, Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death) is Animation Director, with Tom Parkinson (Shaun the Sheep: Adventures from Mossy Bottom Farm) in the role of Script/Story Advisor. The Series Editor is Victoria Stevens (A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon).

The writing team includes Anna Leong Brophy, Alex Collier, Tasha Dhanraj, Isabel Fay, Mark Oswin, and Jen Upton. Black Sheep’s Andrew Barnett Jones and Ciaran Murtagh are Script Editors on the series.

Using a mix of computer animation and 2D techniques, Lloyd of the Flies is the first CGI series to be produced entirely in-house at Aardman’s headquarters studio in Bristol.

Tom Rosenthal, voice of Lloyd, said: “Despite the fact that I believe Lloyd of the Flies to be a work of genius and am thrilled to bring these fantastic stories to life, the amount of people who have told me that I do actually sound like a fly has begun to get hurtful.”

Lloyd of the Flies is the flagship project for the government-funded Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), which is managed by the BFI and supports the creation of distinctive, high-quality content for audiences up to the age of 18.

The Fund offers production funding for projects which have secured a broadcast commitment from a UK Public Service Broadcaster to make the programme available to a UK audience on a free-to-access, Ofcom-regulated service.

Final Fantasy IX lands animated series adaptation with Cyber Group Studios

The Paris-based Cyber Group Studios has struck a co-development and co-production deal with the Japanese video game company, Square Enix to adapt its fantasy title Final Fantasy IX for the small screen.

The move will mark the first time that the Final Fantasy franchise’s ninth title will be the subject of an animated series. In addition to producing the series, Cyber Group will also handle worldwide distribution, licensing, and merchandise.

In a report from Kidscreen, Pierre Sissman, CEO of Cyber Group, said that the company is planning to begin pitching to broadcasters in the coming months. The goal, according to the CEO, is to begin production by the end of 2021 or beginning of 2022.

Originally launched in 2000, Final Fantasy IX has sold more than five million copies worldwide and follows the story of a thief who kidnaps a princess but finds himself teaming up with her to save the kingdom from evil forces. It is the ninth installment in a franchise that has sold more than 154 million copies worldwide collectively.

With a history spanning 30 years in the video games space, the franchise has been the focus of a TV adaptation previously, however its Cyber Group Studios deal will mark the first time that the game’s ninth iteration specifically will be adapted as an animated kids’ series.

Silvergate Media picks up bilingual picture book series ¡Vamos! for kids animated TV

Silvergate Media has acquired the rights to the award-winning, bilingual picture book series, ¡Vamos! with plans to develop the property into an animated series for children and families.

Written and illustrated by the award-winning Mexican-American author Raúl (González) the Third, ¡Vamos! is a series of imaginatively drawn picture books for children, with colors by Elaine Bay, that are told in a combination of both English and Spanish. The series is published by Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishers.

The first book in the series, ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market, follows the urban adventures of a Coyote, Little Lobo, and his dog Bernabé as the pair make a series of madcap deliveries at a market near the U.S. Mexican border. It became a critical and commercial hit on its publication in April 2019 and was followed by ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat the following year, which tells the story of a group of luchadores, professional wrestlers, awaiting battle who are delivered their pre-match meals by Little Lobo and his dog.

The picture books have been greeted with so much enthusiasm that publishers Versify have created a World of ¡Vamos! publishing line with three early readers, two board books and a further picture book in the pipeline.

Silvergate’s Kurt Mueller, who serves as executive producer for many of the company’s highly acclaimed series including Hilda, Octonauts and Chico Bon Bon, will produce the series in partnership with Raúl the Third.

“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Raúl, a true generational talent, and the fine folks at Versify, to bring ¡Vamos! to TV audiences,” Kurt Mueller, EVP Creative Content, Silvergate Media said. “The books offer a seemingly infinite cast of characters and situations that celebrate frontera culture through a singular artistic lens. Every densely illustrated page is a season’s worth of great TV.”

Raúl the Third, Creator of ¡Vamos!, added: “The response to ¡Vamos! in the past two years has been incredible. It’s such a personal project for me as the stories, locations and characters were based on my own childhood experiences, so I’m really thrilled that kids around the world will be able to enjoy these adventures on screen as much as I enjoyed bringing them to life in the books.”

The founding editor of Versify, Kwame Alexander, who is producing for his Big Sea Entertainment, along with partner, Arielle Eckstut, said: “¡Vamos! struck a chord with young readers immediately and we have no doubt that an animated series will take the franchise to new heights. Silvergate Media has a strong reputation for producing high quality, original programming based on graphic novels and picture books so we can’t wait to see what the new series will bring.”

TOMY puts new Ricky Zoom toys into gear as kids’ series makes second season debut in the UK

TOMY is preparing to launch its follow up master range of Ricky Zoom toys this year, as the popular preschool series revs itself up for its second season debut here in the UK.

First launched in July 2020 during what has been a challenging period for retail, Ricky Zoom toys have made a solid start and are set to launch more new lines throughout 2021. These include TOMY’s unique Wind & Launch assortment, a wheel launcher that will send Ricky’s red bike racing.

The launch will follow on from the top selling success of last year’s Speed & Stunt Ricky Zoom play-set, the third best-selling Ricky Zoom item overall at retail, and is already tipped to ‘be equally as popular.’

Fresh hype around the TOMY master toy line is expected to coincide with the second season debut in the UK of the CGI animation, as Hasbro and its global entertainment studio, Entertainment One, rev up for its launch on Nick Jr and Channel 5’s multi-platform preschool brand, Milkshake!

The CGI animated series follows Ricky, a speed loving little red rescue bike who enjoys to zoom around Wheelford. The show has already enjoyed a ‘strong success in the UK’ among its preschool audiences, while the brand has picked up a number of licensing partners lead by TOMY master toy range.

“We are thrilled to bring Ricky Zoom back to the number one channel for preschoolers in the UK with Milkshake! and Nick Jr.” said eOne’s Monica Candiani, EVP, content sales, family and brands.

“The show has had such strong success in the UK among young viewers, allowing us to secure a number of licensing partners across a variety of categories. We can’t wait for audiences to watch season two, which I am sure will deliver even more exciting all-bike adventures in the colourful world of Wheelford.”

Louise Bucknole, VP programming kids, ViacomCBS Network UK and Ireland, added: “We’re delighted to be welcoming back Ricky Zoom and his two-wheeled friends on Nick Jr. in June and and Milkshake! later in the year in the UK.

“It’s a fun and playful show which is a favourite among preschoolers, and we look forward to sharing their new adventures with our young viewers.”

Joining master toy partner TOMY on the growing licensee list is the likes of Penguin (story, activity, novelty books); Redan (magazines); Character World (bedding); MV Sports (wheeled toys); Ravensburger (puzzles and games); Cooneen (nightwear & socks); Blues (daywear); and Drew Pearson (accessories).

The supermarket giants have added Ricky Zoom into their preschool aisle following strong performance of the FSDU programme last Autumn/Winter. Other forthcoming toy highlights include the new interactive Maxwell’s Transforming Trailer Playset, which can be renovated into a mobile repair station and comes complete with both Maxwell and Ricky bikes.

Further product ranges from other licensees will roll out gradually throughout the year, bringing broader distribution.

Marketing activity has also been buoyant, with Ricky proving popular among parent influencers. A Dadsnet campaign to support Smyth’s Toys launch of the Speed & Stunt Play-set reached almost 408,000 via influencers and 558,000 via paid media, while a Ricky takeover on UKMums.TV hit almost 622,000 impressions, with a blogger reach of almost 296,000 and the site’s associated Twitter Frenzy reaching almost 392,000 unique accounts.

The Westminster Collection celebrates 50th anniversary of Mr Benn with new 50p coin designs

Five new 50 pence piece designs celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the classic children’s character, Mr Benn, have been authorised for release by Guernsey Treasury with the full approval of Her Majesty the Queen.

Marking the fifth decade of the popular cartoon, each coin in the collection features an illustration of Mr Benn embarking on sme of his best-known adventures, including The Red Knight, The Cook, The Clown, and The Spaceman, alongside the official Mr Benn ’50’ 50 pence piece.

Originally created by award-winning writer and illustrator David McKee, Mr Benn began life as a children’s picture book in 1967 which followed an ordinary man who had extraordinary adventures when he visited a magical costume shop. The book went on to be transformed into an animated television series transmitted by the BBC in 1971.

A ratings hit, the series went on to be repeated regularly on the BBC for almost 30 years, until Nickelodeon UK aired the series for a further nine years until 2010.

It’s been 50 years since the postman first arrived at No 52 Festive Road with Mr Benn’s invitation to a fancy dress party… and so started his first adventure. Since then, Mr Benn has fascinated millions of children with his adventures as he walked through that magical changing room doorway.

Available in a range of finishes exclusively from The Westminster Collection, the commemorative coins include a single base metal Mr Benn anniversary logo design 50 pence and a set of five designs featuring Mr Benn in an array of costumes including The Spaceman, The Clown, The Red Knight and The Cook.

There is also a silver 50 pence coin version available with stunning coloured enamel and a silver set of five 50 pence coins.

The 50 pence coins start at £6.25 for a ‘mint condition’ Brilliant Uncirculated finish coin whilst the limited edition Silver Proof coin set captures the vivid colours of the designs in incredible detail.

Mr Benn, creator and illustrator, David McKee, said: “Mr Benn endures, I think, because people like the idea of being able to escape to another life, and at their heart they’re old fashioned stories which last – the elements that make up the films, the voice, the music, the story, all simple elements that endure – good old fashioned stories, with a good rhythm.

“I often say your characters are like your children, you potty train them and look after them and point them in a good direction, but they go off do things you don’t expect – Mr Benn is living his own life and I’m excited to see what people make of the new products that are coming – and hope a new generation of children enjoy them as much as me.”

In 2017, the UK-based animation studio Factory acquired the rights to David McKee’s Mr Benn, in a move which has allowed the company to grow this classic brand even bigger and release a series of 50th Anniversary products including the brand new 50 pence coins to mark the occasion.

Boat Rocker lassos a raft of new Dino Ranch partners across the US and Canada

Boat Rocker Studios has secured a raft of new licensing partners for its hit preschool series, Dino Ranch, across a number of key categories for the US and Canadian markets. Multiple new deals see the property move into apparel, home decor, timepieces, and costume characters.

Young Dino Ranch fans can look forward to dressing themselves in Dino Ranch branded apparel, thanks to a new partnership with The Bentex Group and its affiliates Dreamwave and HIS International. The firm will be producing Dino Ranch daywear, swimwear and outerwear.

Meanwhile, Komar Kids LLC, a global leader in the design, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of apparel with over a century of expertise, will be producing a range of sleepwear for kids to ride off to bed in.

Dino Ranch will be brought to life at live events and festivals with Oasis Productions Inc. who will provide costume characters for the US, reaching audiences to engage kids’ curiosity and sense of play; while Spirit Halloween, the largest Halloween retailer in the US – with over 1,400 locations across North America – is gearing up for a range of kids’ and pet dress up costumes and accessories for Halloween 2022.

Elsewhere, fans can recreate the ranch look at home thanks to Franco Mfg, creators of home décor, who will be launching a range of products, including bedding, bedding accessories, bath and beach for the US and Canada.

Alongside publishing partner Scholastic these categories will roll out from Spring 2022 following global master toy launch by Jazwares this summer.

Kate Schlomann, EVP brand management and content marketing, Boat Rocker Studios, said: “There has been a phenomenal response to Dino Ranch on Disney Junior where it has been the number one preschool U.S. cable show since its launch.  It’s not just viewers that love the show, we have received an incredible reaction from both the broadcasting and licensing community and are delighted to team up with such a prestigious herd of licensees to provide our Rancheroos with a roar-some range of high-quality products across these key categories.”

Dino Ranch launched in the UK on Disney+ on April 23rd and in Australia on April 2nd. The series is due to roll out internationally in other territories later this year.

Dino Ranch is created by Matt Fernandes (of Industrial Brothers) and produced by Industrial Brothers and Boat Rocker Studios, in association with CBC Kids and Radio-Canada. Boat Rocker Studios manage the global franchise development including content distribution and consumer products.

New high score | Roblox is outpacing broadcast TV for audience reach – Kids Insights latest

Video gaming is setting a new high score for audience reach in the battle for eyeballs among streaming platforms, YouTube, and traditional broadcast TV, suggests the latest data from Kids Insights Media Mix Compass, and now is the time for toy brands to start paying closer attention.

Here, Nick Richardson, Founder and CEO, The Insights People, and Licensing.biz’s Robert Hutchins explore the latest trends and data to be shaping the shifting media landscape.

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The videogame Roblox has outscored all broadcast TV channels in both the UK and US as the most powerful platform through which to reach young audiences, according to the latest insight from The Kids Insights Media Mix Compass

And the implications if this can’t be underestimated. In fact, compounding the popularity of the video games market, which has continued to grow significantly over the last few years, the potential for it to change the way in which businesses execute the marketing strategies for brands and retailers, is enormous.

Advertising budgets should no longer be solely – or even predominantly – focused on television. The world has changed, and video games are all too often the undervalued platforms to core audiences by marketers.

According to our latest data – sourced through a recently launched Media Mix Compass – teens now spend an average of 1 hour 25 minutes per day playing video games. That’s more time than they spend watching TV.

Generally, kids spend 62 per cent of their available time on digital activities. In the US, for example, for kids aged six to nine, Roblox has a Media Mix Score (MMS) of 128 which is higher than Nickelodeon (91), Disney Channel (80) and Cartoon Network (76). The Kids Insights Media Mix Score considers the reach, time spent and preference of 11 different media types and approximately 1,500 different channels in each region.

This past year has found parents discovering new ways to get their kids to play. With that, one of America’s top toy properties LOL Surprise is joining forces with top digital gaming platform ROBLOX – creating a relationship with the 1st Doll World of Roblox on a Global level. Through these two leaders in toy/play coming together, billions of fans can now discover a more immersive and shared gaming experience.

Toy brands are beginning to become savvy to the step change in the importance of such gaming and entertainment platforms. Just this week, international toy manufacturer, MGA Entertainment detailed plans to launch its LOL Surprise brand onto the Roblox platform.

The launch will kick-off with a ‘testing phase’ through which fans can play with and against their favourite gaming influencers as they explore the LOL/Roblox world.

Elsewhere, last week Hasbro detailed the five year extension of its current partnership with Epic Games’ Fortnite to expand on its licensing programme that includes the addition of its GI Joe character Snake Eyes into the Fortnite video game.

Meanwhile, it is equally important to note the growing importance of other new media options, including esports, which now ranks as the third most powerful media type for boys aged 10 to 12 in the UK, behind only YouTube and video games.

Esports is therefore one of the biggest opportunities for advertisers in 2021. Already one-in-ten teens in the US, UK, Germany, Brazil, Mexico and Canada use Twitch, the premiere platform in the industry for live video content. While physical sporting events were halted amidst the pandemic, the League of Legends European Championship – streamed live on Twitch – boasted the league’s highest ever viewing figures, raking in an average of 819,400 viewers for the final in April 2020.

Meanwhile, even more traditional areas, such as online chess, has witnessed huge viewer numbers over Twitch, hitting as many as 140,000 viewers at a time and helping to fuel a global resurgence in the traditional game, confirmed by the International Chess Federation, that has seen manufacturers hit new record highs for sales of chess boards.

However, marketing to kids is not a one-size-fits-all activity. In the UK, teenage girls are still tuning into Broadcast TV with ITV recording a score of 124 and Channel 4 hitting 99, making Broadcast TV the second most powerful media type with this demographic.

But streaming services and video games took a huge piece from the tasty audience pie. Each year with a growing variety of different online entertainment, the trend for kids to opt for digital platforms over the traditional ones will likely continue.

We also should keep in mind the growing influence and decision-making power of kids within the home being greater than with any other previous generation. Children have their own opinion over many other new categories, such as the purchase of a new car (which 54 per cent more kids say they influence in 2020 compared to 2019).

Although reaching this audience is more important than ever, it is increasingly difficult to do so. Growing up as digital natives, this generation have a far greater choice of what they consume and when they consume it than ever before. Therefore, kids’ attention is fragmented across a huge range of (increasingly niche) platforms, making it harder to reach a mass audience.

Brands spend just 37 per cent of their budget on non-digital spending, yet kids spend a huge 62 per cent of their time on digital, resulting in a mismatch that will cost advertisers $1.15bn in 2021.

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For more information on the Kids Insights Media Mix Compass, and to receive complimentary access to the tool and a copy of an example report please visit www.kidsinsights.com/mediamix

To learn more about the attitudes, behavior and consumption patterns of kids, parents and families, and to get freemium access to the Insights People real-time data portal, please visit: http://www.kidsinsights.com/toynews

BritBox expands its Anderson Entertainment offering as SVOD audiences grow for Thunderbirds creator

BritBox, the subscription-based streaming service, is expanding its Gerry Anderson offering as part of its popular Old School collection of cult kids’ TV shows.

Gerry Anderson, the founder of Anderson Entertainment, is the name behind iconic shows like Thunderbirds and Space:1999, as well as more modern hits like Space Precinct and the 2005 re-imagining of Captain Scarlet.

The entertainment studio had previously secured a broadcast deal with BritBox for four of its best-loved series: the original Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, UFO, and Space 1999. Following the success of the partnership and the growing audience numbers for Anderson Entertainment productions, BritBox is expanding its Gerry Anderson output.

Already, 2021 has seen the addition of 1964’s Stingray (one of the earliest Anderson hits and the first British TV series to be produced entirely in colour) and 1969’s The Secret Service, a mix of live action and puppetry and the last Anderson series to use puppets before the arrival of Terrahawks in 1983.

Further expansion is expected over the course of the coming year, building on BritBox’s portfolio of British TV from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, as well as its library of iconic films, remastered classic, and BritBox Originals.

Meanwhile, a multitude of international SVOD platforms have underlined the enduring popularity of classic Anderson Entertainment series. Terrahawks on Amazon Prime and shows on other platforms like Shout Factory, Comet and Pluto, as well, of course, as BritBox, are helping to build a new, younger following alongside the longer-term fanbase.

Linear programming is also getting in on the act through Forces TV and the Horror Channel, while shows on DVD and Blu-Ray continue to enjoy impressive sales.

Anderson Entertainment’s growth in broadcast and streaming partners will now combine with the arrival of new content and an expanded direct-to-consumer and retail merchandising offering to grow the company’s market presence throughout 2021. 

The strategy is being led by the company’s highly successful e-commerce site, the Gerry Anderson Store, which boasts a growing list both of licensee-supplied product and new items developed and created by Anderson Entertainment.

A new corporate website, www.anderson-entertainment.co.uk, was launched in 2021 to support this ongoing expansion.

Jamie Anderson, MD of Anderson Entertainment, said: “We’re thrilled that BritBox, the premier home for the best of British creativity has extended its Gerry Anderson offering. This confirms the continuing strength of the Anderson brand among viewers of all ages, a strength that will underpin our ongoing expansion strategy for the coming year.”

Craig Morris, programming and scheduling lead for BritBox, added: “We’ve been delighted with the huge popularity of Gerry Anderson’s shows on BritBox and are proud to be working with the team at Anderson Entertainment to bring these beloved TV classics together on a streaming platform for the first time.”

Mr Men Little Miss lands Channel 4 documentary celebrating 50th anniversary milestone

The half century celebrations for the iconic Mr Men and Little Miss children’s books just keep on being rolled out, as Channel 4 commissions a new documentary to take a look into the rich 50 year history of the beloved brand.

Created in 1971 by Roger Hargreaves, prompted to answer the question posed by his then eight year old son ‘what does a tickle look like?’ the Mr Men Little Miss books have become some of the most culturally significant titles of all time, as a cast of characters to have changed the face of global publishing forever.

Channel 4 will take a dive into the history of Mr Men and Little Miss in a special feature presented by super fan, writer, actor, and comedian Matt Lucas as 50 Years of the Mr Men charts rise and rise of the colourful characters.

Meanwhile, to celebrate the milestone 50th birthday, the books now author and illustrator Adam Hargreaves – no longer inquisitive eight year old – will be creating five prototype characters to be put to a public vote. The two most popular will be announced when the programme airs, before becoming the latest members of the Mr Men Little Miss universe this September.

The film will celebrate 50 years of one of the best loved children’s characters of all time. A story that started with a ‘tickle’ in 1971 and became a family dynasty, and one of Britain’s most pioneering, successful and enduring brands globally. It will showcase the evolution of the colourful characters and their role in pioneering a new world of inclusivity and openness.

The feature will also explore significant moments in the Hargreaves’ family story, and the many artists and collaborators, child psychologists, marketing gurus, collectors and super-fans from the worlds of fashion, music and the arts that have each played their role in the global appeal of the Mr Men Little Miss brand.

In parallel, behind the scenes, Matt Lucas will reveal the secret world of the artistic process; what it takes to brainstorm, draw, write and animate new Mr Men and Little Miss characters for today’s world, as well as help launch the global competition to find the two newest characters, introducing them to new generations of children and parents across the world.

“I grew up on these books and considered the Mister Men and Little Miss characters my friends,” said Lucas. “I am delighted to be meeting them all again and look forward to finding out the story behind this much-loved, iconic series.”

For the first time ever, the general public will be able to decide the next characters to join the iconic family and be turned into classic Mr. Men Little Miss books. Whether you have an inner sense of zen like Mr. Calm, are always putting others first like Little Miss Kind, have the heart of a lion like Little Miss Brave, have a can-do attitude like Mr. Brilliant or are full of zest like little Miss Energy, there’s a part of a character inside everyone.

Voting is now open globally for fans to have their say via the mrmen.com

50 Years of Mr Men was commissioned by Channel 4 Specialist Factual commissioning editor Shaminder Nahal and will be made by Tern TV with executive producer Harry Bell and director Kelly Close. 

Nahal said: “There can’t be many families who’ve lived without a few Mr Men books at home; who’ve spent a bit a bit of time immersed in that funny, colourful, charming world. From the endless eggs for breakfasts, the crazy houses and the simple stories with their satisfying endings – the world created by Roger Hargreaves feels like an essential part of popular culture.

“I can’t wait to discover the secrets of how this much-loved universe was created – and to find out who the public choose to be the characters of the future.”