WISSPER
Below: Wissper and her animal friends
A new CGI-animated series about a little girl who has the magical ability to talk to animals, is proving a hit with preschoolers on Milkshake. Wissper only came to air at the end of 2015, but already has a loyal following especially with preschool girls.
Animal appeal W
issper, aimed at girls aged 3 to 7 years, centres on the eponymous heroine, a little girl with a very special talent for communicating with animals. Wissper lives with her family in an average house, but due to her loving connection to nature, she is able to travel to five different natural worlds from magical portals in her home. Using her special gift, she listens to the problems of all sorts of creatures and
helps solve them. “Wissper ticks a lot of boxes as an educational show for preschoolers,” says Marianne James, VP Consumer Products, UK and Ireland and European Retail Sales and Marketing. “Every episode Wissper is asked to help with new challenges, which she does by exploring different solutions by choosing an animal friend with the right skill to help her. Preschoolers are also engaged in constant exploration of their environment and repeatedly encounter unfamiliar situations and dilemmas. Each episode provides a backdrop for developing young children’s problem-solving skills.” The show is produced by m4e AG in Germany and Absolutely Cuckoo, the animation studio behind the BAFTA nominated Waybuloo. “The first episodes started on Milkshake mid-October
2015 and initial viewing figures are very positive,” says Marianne. Simba Dickie is on board as master toy for EMEA and will be releasing play sets, plush, puzzles and games, while Bastei Media will bring a range of books, apps and games to the market. “The show has a high licensing and merchandising potential linked to the five animal worlds that Wissper can travel to,” says Marianne. “There’s also a very strong educational element; children learn a lot about animals and their environments in the show. We know from research that entertainment with an educational aspect is something that parents value in a preschool children’s show.” Right: Bernd Conrad
THE MAKING OF WISSPER Wissper is already proving to be a hit with preschool girls, as Bernd Conrad, head of licensing at m4e AG explains: “Wissper is based on the concept that animals appeal to every child and every child talks to animals. So does Wissper – only, she can also understand the animals. Put that in a family background and add a touch of magic and you have the perfect recipe for an instant classic. The stories are always adventurous; Wissper is confronted with an animal and its problem – and she offers to help. To do so, she joins the animal in its natural habitat (in one of the five worlds of the series) where she can examine the nature of the problem and help. This offers plenty of possibilities for a toy line and for role play, as well as for content extensions. The colourful look of the series is perfect for licensed products.”
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