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News Pingu moves to the big city
Beat Bugs sing The Beatles
NHK is launching a new series of Pingu, the much-loved Swissborn children’s character that first came to our screens back in 1986. The new series is a co-production with N H K , N H K Enter pr ises , r ig ht s - ow ner Mattel and Japanese animation studio Polygon Pictures. Two 26 x 7 mins series are planned, following Pingu who with his family has moved from a village to a big city of ice. Pingu helps his postman father on his rounds, meeting and helping neighbours in their professions. The original series, written by Silvio Mazzola, was directed and animated by Otmar Gutman, using clay animation. “When we started remaking Pingu, the team and I set the rule as not to change the basic image and tone,” said Keisuke Tsuchihashi, senior producer NHK’s Global Content Development Division. But to use traditional stop-motion while maintaining the quality that viewers expect today means a big budget. “We thought of making it in 2D, but that would mean a very different look compared to the original,” Tsuchihashi said. “So our team came up with the idea of re-making Pingu in 3D using CG technology. This way we could maintain the quality, touch, feel and movement of clay animation and stop-motion.”
MIPJunior sponsor Beyond Distribution introduces Beat Bugs to the international marketplace in Cannes this year. Targeting boys and girls aged four to seven, the series follows the five bugs who get up to crazy adventures while never leaving their back yard. Beat Bugs features the songs of The Beatles performed by artists including Sia, Pink, Eddie Vedder and The Lumineers. “I’ve always thought The Beatles’ music is full of incredible melodies and so much imagination. As soon as I would hear Getting Better, or Yellow Submarine, or even Eleanor Rigby, I’d immediately think about the world we could create,” series creator Josh Wakely told the MIPJunior Preview. “For instance, All You Need Is Love — the idea that love and empathy are essential in overcoming challenges in life, is sort of what we built our show around.” The series is produced by Wakely’s company Grace, in association with Beyond Entertainment, Atomic Cartoons and Australia’s Seven Network. The series first launched on Netflix in August 2016. “I think Netflix appreciated the universal appeal of The Beatles’ music, and the value of bringing such iconic music to a new
Keisuke Tsuchihashi: “With 3G we could maintain the original quality, touch, feel and movement of clay” It was director Naomi Iwata who decided that Pingu should move to the city. “We adults normally don’t like work, we feel it’s dull to work. But Pingu can change any dull work into a funny and interesting thing to do. So let’s set Pingu the challenge to try out lots of different jobs,” Iwata said. “Because it is a city, we can add buildings, colour and a really dynamic environment,” Tsuchihashi said. • The new series of Pingu is launched at a MIPJunior Breakfast & Screen event at 08.30 on Sunday, October 15 in the Renoir Conference Room in the JW Marriot.
Looking for content for China FOR THE past four and a half years China’s WeKids has been active seeking out completed kids programmes from producers and distributors around the world, for broadcast in China. “These programmes have been localised, promoted and distributed into the Chinese market and I believe the characters from those programmes have
become part of our children’s daily lives in China,” WeKids’ Sean Chu said. The company is sponsoring the MIPJunior Networking Lunch on Saturday, October 14, where Chu said he hopes to make further content partnerships. “During the event we want to let people know that WeKids is moving rapidly from pure acquisition of international kids
Josh Wakely with the Beat Bugs generation,” Wakely said. “The creative freedom Netflix allowed in making the show was invaluable.” “Digital is leading the way in children’s programming,” Beyond Distribution general manager Michael Murphy said. “With Beat Bugs we are joining a host of top shows that have previously aired on Netflix which have also rated very well for broadcasters. Now children have the opportunity to watch these shows at any time they choose.” He added: “Achieving stand-out [at MIPJunior] among the plethora of new shows at this market was key. Beat Bugs is a great animated series for Beyond and we wanted to ensure full exposure.”
properties to the development and production of original content for distribution in Greater China and across the globe,” he said. “WeKids is searching for partners who are looking to get involved in international co-productions of original content that will have strong international appeal.” • The MIPJunior Networking Lunch is on Saturday, October 14 at 12.30 in the Majestic hotel
preview magazine I September 2017 I www.mipjunior.com
WeKids’ Sean Chu