TOTAL LICENSING
cased Pukeko and Weta Workshop’s ground-breaking creative and technical excellence. Three series have now been aired. Certainly, it becomes very clear that Pukeko, and their close association with Weta Workshop, are at the forefront of production and the creation of intellectual property. One area where both Spink and Heath are very excited is a recent coproduction deal in China. Pukeko and Hengxin Shambala Kids (Guangzhou) Cultural Industry Development have joined together to broadcast Kiddets, the sister series to The WotWots on
CCTV in China, following the series’ success in New Zealand in Australia. It is the first official children’s television co-production between New Zealand and China. The series already airs on TVNZ’s TV2, Hei Hei and On Demand services in New Zealand as well as ABC Kids in Australia. Kiddets expands upon The WotWots franchise with brand new adventures and sees the introduction of five new WotWot characters, Patches, Dapper, Bounce, Stripes and Luna - young space cadets in training at a play school space academy on planet
WotWot. Under the watchful eye of SpottyWot and DottyWot who are based on planet Earth, Patches, Dapper, Bounce, Stripes and Luna learn all the skills they need to embark on a mission to a new world. Aimed at new and existing fans of The WotWots, Kiddets offers a broader audience appeal including older preschool children with each episode demonstrating the positive values of teamwork and the building blocks of true and enduring friendship. Kiddets was created by The WotWots’ Creator, Martin Baynton and is Executive Produced by Richard Taylor. Clive Spink takes up the story. “The Kiddets are, effectively, baby WotWots and teach very small children the value of learning through play. We’re excited that Season One is already out and Season Two is now in production.” Commenting on the deal, Sir Richard Taylor, who founded and co-owns Pukeko said, “We are delighted that it will have its premiere broadcast on CCTV which is testament to the successful and ambitious working partnership on the show with our friends and partners, Hengxin Shambala Kids.”
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