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WWW.TVKIDS.COM
MARCH 2021
TV Kids Festival Videos / WorldScreenings: DreamWorks Animation / In-Demand Report
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14 TV KIDS
CONTENTS ACQUISITION TRENDS Insights from WarnerMedia’s Adina Pitt, M6’s Maud Branly, Kidoodle.TV’s Brenda Bisner and Hopster’s Ellen Solberg. SUPER RTL’S CLAUDE SCHMIT The group’s CEO on maintaining its competitive edge. VIACOMCBS’S WORLD OF KIDS An in-depth conversation with Nina Hahn and Jules Borkent. MAKING ARCHIBALD’S NEXT BIG THING Actor Tony Hale and DreamWorks Animation’s Teri Weiss on the story behind the hit series. WILDBRAIN’S ERIC ELLENBOGEN The company’s CEO and vice chair on the potential of AVOD and the keys to reinventing classic brands. KIKA’S SEBASTIAN DEBERTIN The TV Kids Pioneer Award winner on the value of public-service media. PANEL & PREMIERE: 50/50 HEROES Cyber Group Studios’ Pierre Sissmann, France Télévisions’ Christine Reinaudo and character designer Yann de Preval introduce the brand-new kids’ comedy. DISTRIBUTION SHIFTS CAKE’s Ed Galton, 9 Story’s Alix Wiseman and eOne Family Brands’ Monica Candiani talk windowing and exclusivity. THE GENIUS WAY Genius Brands’ Andy Heyward and ChizComm’s Harold Chizick on navigating the kids’ business today. PARTNER POTENTIAL Serious Lunch’s Genevieve Dexter, Guru Studio’s Frank Falcone, Toon2Tango’s Ulli Stoef and Boat Rocker’s Jon Rutherford discuss co-pro models. FRANCE TOONS IN Xilam’s Marc du Pontavice, Superprod’s Clément Calvet and Dandelooo’s Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin talk French animation. REBOOTING BLUE’S CLUES Traci Paige Johnson and Angela Santomero on reinventing the preschool classic. DAN POVENMIRE The hit creator on his new project, Hamster & Gretel. JONATHAN M. SHIFF The man behind hits such as H2O: Just Add Water on creating content for tweens and teens. THE KIDOODLE.TV STORY Brenda Bisner talks Safe Streaming. GIRL POWER Kelly Kulchak, executive VP of current series at DreamWorks Animation, talks the studio’s girl-empowering slate. IN-DEMAND A spotlight on 12 new and returning preschool and kids’ properties available on the global market.
GET DAILY NEWS ON KIDS’ PROGRAMMING
Publisher Ricardo Seguin Guise Group Editorial Director Anna Carugati Editor Mansha Daswani Executive Editor Kristin Brzoznowski Managing Editor Chelsea Regan Editor, Spanish-Language Publications Elizabeth Bowen-Tombari Contributing Editor Elizabeth Guider Production & Design Director David Diehl Online Director Simon Weaver Art Director Phyllis Q. Busell Senior Sales & Marketing Manager Dana Mattison Sales & Marketing Coordinator Genovick Acevedo Business Affairs Manager Andrea Moreno Contributing Writers Steve Clarke Andy Fry Joanna Stephens Jay Stuart David Wood
Ricardo Seguin Guise President Anna Carugati Executive VP Mansha Daswani Associate Publisher & VP of Strategic Development TV Kids ©2021 WSN INC. 1123 Broadway, #1207 New York, NY 10010 Phone: (212) 924-7620 Fax: (212) 924-6940 www.tvkids.com
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June 7 to 10
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Mondo TV MeteoHeroes / Agent 203 / Annie & Carola MeteoHeroes, a Mondo TV co-production with an Italian weather forecasting group, teaches kids about the importance of protecting the environment. “MeteoHeroes addresses in a fun and entertaining way subjects like climate change, ecology, global warming, oceans and air pollution, biodiversity and respect for nature,” says Luana Perrero, head of content sales at Mondo TV. Agent 203 follows Zoe and her intergalactic team as they protect the planet from an alien invasion. In Annie & Carola, shy Carola builds a robot clone named Annie who is her complete opposite.
Agent 203
“Mondo TV is looking forward to a strong performance from all of our shows in the key spring period and beyond.” —Luana Perrero
ZDF Enterprises Zoom—The White Dolphin / Pan Tau / Space Nova The second season of ZDF Enterprises’ Zoom— The White Dolphin follows the adventures of 15-year-old Yann and Zoom, a mysterious white dolphin. The live-action series Pan Tau centers on the titular magical extraterrestrial hero. “The fantastic new adaptation of the classic Pan Tau is co-viewing programming at its best and shows that it was time to bring this classic back to the screen in a modern version,” says Arne Lohmann, VP of ZDFE.junior. Space Nova is a space-set animated series with an educational element.
Pan Tau
“Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, ZDF Enterprises’ junior department has been able to boost its production slate with a handful of new high-class commissions in live action and animation.” —Arne Lohmann
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OUR PLAYGROUND
IS GETTING
BIGGER!
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Leading Kids’ Content Buy
ACQUISITION T
WarnerMedia’s Adina Pitt, M6’s Maud Branly, Kidoodle.TV’s Brenda Bisner and Hopster’s Ellen Solberg share their acquisition needs.
watch the session here...
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TV KIDS
Buyers Talk
N TRENDS We have room for something new on the live-action side, even for preschoolers or co-viewing. We want to be surprised.
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–Maud Branly
I would like to encourage creators out there to maybe color outside the lines a little bit.
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–Adina Pitt
We consider all content sent to us. Sometimes you don’t know you’re looking for something until you see it.
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–Ellen Solberg
We’re launching anywhere from 10 to 27 new shows per week.
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–Brenda Bisner
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Keynote: Super RTL’s
CLAUDE SCH
Super RTL remains at the forefront of Germany’s kids and youth market. The group’s CEO shares the strategies for maintaining that edge.
watch the session here...
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TV KIDS
s
CHMIT We have succeeded in moving from a purely linear channel to a content hub. We have to make sure we offer content pieces, which have to be the best possible, to our viewers— the kids and their parents—on whatever device they are on at whatever time they are using it.... We offer the largest portfolio possible.
”
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ViacomCBS’s
WORLD OF K
An in-depth conversation with Nina Hahn, the senior VP of international production and development for Nickelodeon International and head of ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) Kids, and Jules Borkent, the executive VP for kids and family at ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI).
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TV KIDS
F KIDS Covid has shown that kids are consuming from everywhere now, whether on YouTube or other platforms. That gives us a lot of freedom to be more open and free about how we approach content.
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–Jules Borkent
The innovation that has come out of the way we make content, the stories we’re telling and the people with whom we’re working, has given birth to content that is astounding.
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–Nina Hahn
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Tony Hale, Teri Weiss Tal
ARCHIBALD’S NE
Award-winning actor Tony Hale joins DreamWorks Animation’s Teri Weiss to share the story behind making the series Archibald’s Next Big Thing.
watch the session here...
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TV KIDS
Talk
NEXT BIG THING Everyone who loves picture books knows how much time and thought goes into every page. I was struck by Tony’s book in terms of the comedy, not only in the character designs but in the storytelling. It just felt, visually alone, ripe for an animated series.
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–Teri Weiss
I just love seeing this little chicken who walks in and is like, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ He doesn’t judge anybody, and he’s open to whatever comes his way. We need more of that in the world.
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–Tony Hale 3/21 WORLD SCREEN 61
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Keynote: WildBrain’s
ERIC ELLENBO
WildBrain's CEO and vice chair shares his strategies for navigating the shifting landscape. After the keynote, the TV Kids Festival premiered an episode of The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, based on the bestselling books by Liz Pichon.
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TV KIDS
BOGEN When you have a piece of library content that has succeeded over the decades, there is something that the audience responded to. That gives you an enormous head start. Often the reinvention process, while preserving the DNA of what made something work, has so many possibilities. A fun part of the job is taking these great legacy brands and reintroducing them to a new audience.
”
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TV Kids Pioneer Award
SEBASTIAN D
KiKA’s head of international content acquisitions shares his strategy ahead of being honored with the inaugural TV Kids Pioneer Award.
watch the session here...
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TV KIDS
rd
N DEBERTIN We are working in an industry that is providing a service to the most important target group in the world: kids. With kids’ media, I cannot change the world. But I can change the kids’ view of our world! That is a big chance we should make good use of.
”
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The Story Behind
50/50 HEROE
Cyber Group Studios’ Pierre Sissmann, France Télévisions’ Christine Reinaudo and art director and character designer Yann de Preval discuss 50/50 Heroes ahead of the premiere of a trailer for the brand-new series.
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TV KIDS
ROES
I said to my team, You know what would be great? A series where superheroes are not superheroes.
”
–Pierre Sissmann
For me, what is most important in this series is the emotional path. You need kindness; you need benevolence, especially nowadays. These storylines combine a real action series with, as Pierre and Yann said, comedy and joy. There is a lot of cohesion.
”
–Christine Reinaudo
Producers used to say, ‘I need something that looks like this.’ Now, the references they have in mind are much wider and broader. [They want] something fresh and that has not been seen thousands of times before.
”
–Yann de Preval 3/21 WORLD SCREEN 67
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Distribution Shifts
THE BIG PICT
The streamers have upended the traditional system of windows that has long sustained the kids’ distribution business. CAKE’s Ed Galton, 9 Story’s Alix Wiseman and eOne Family Brands’ Monica Candiani discuss how they are working with linear and nonlinear platforms to satisfy clients’ divergent needs.
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TV KIDS
CTURE
“Linear [channels] still want digital rights because catch-up, especially for public broadcasters, has become more important.
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–Monica Candiani
It’s slightly becoming an all-ornothing model. The move is more generally toward exclusivity, particularly for new IP. The non-exclusive model is an interesting one as well and another developing scenario.
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–Alix Wiseman
The irony is, when you have brand-new original content and you’re trying to build a new brand, you’re handcuffed by exclusivity. So there is somewhat of a double standard in our business.
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–Ed Galton 3/21 WORLD SCREEN 69
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Andy Heyward, Harold Ch
NAVIGATING THE
A conversation with Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of Genius Brands International, and Harold Chizick, CEO and co-founder of ChizComm, followed by a sneak peek of Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten introduced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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TV KIDS
ld Chizick on
HE KIDS’ BUSINESS We go into the networks and we say, We want to buy X number of commercials. We aggregate over 30 clients, so we’re able to get a much-preferred rate for those television commercials.
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–Harold Chizick
We’re very focused on doing things that bring some kind of positivity and enrichment to kids. Everything we’re doing has to have entertainment value for kids and commercial value that will bring profits to our investors and shareholders.
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–Andy Heyward
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Partner Potential
CO-PROS IN F
Co-productions remain the lifeblood of the kids’ content financing system, but they are becoming more complicated. Serious Lunch’s Genevieve Dexter, Guru Studio’s Frank Falcone, Toon2Tango’s Ulli Stoef and Boat Rocker’s Jon Rutherford discuss.
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TV KIDS
N FLUX I’m still really keen on the oldschool model because I like to own the intellectual property and to also keep the distribution rights.
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–Genevieve Dexter
We’re trying to find new models to produce shows that aren’t as dependent on the big players.
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–Frank Falcone
The determination on what is a brand franchise within your portfolio in many ways will dictate the path you take.
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–Jon Rutherford
It’s still totally uncertain whether a streamer will be able to make an IP brand, a licensing and merchandising hit number one.
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–Ulli Stoef 3/21 WORLD SCREEN 73
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In Focus
FRENCH ANIMA
France remains a powerhouse in global animation. With new legislation around streaming platforms set to radically transform the landscape in 2021, we hear from Xilam Animation’s Marc du Pontavice, Superprod’s Clément Calvet and Dandelooo’s Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin.
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TV KIDS
MATION
There’s a demand for new narratives and new risks in storytelling. I think that’s good for everyone.
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–Clément Calvet
It’s going to become like a festival of many projects and more diversity on the creative side because we can now develop things that are serialized, that are for older kids, different formats. Everything seems to be possible.
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–Emmanuèle Pétry-Sirvin
It feels like jumping from a pond to an ocean. We used to work with a very rigid system, creatively and businesswise, with the same partners. It was an exercise to reinvent yourself always within the same frame. Now it’s very different.
”
–Marc du Pontavice 3/21 WORLD SCREEN 75
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Rebooting
BLUE’S CLUE
Traci Paige Johnson and Angela Santomero, the cocreators of the iconic Blue’s Clues, discuss reinventing the property for a new era in Blue’s Clues & You!
watch the session here...
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TV KIDS
UES Both of us as kids were so inspired by TV. More than just the show, it’s what happens when you turn off the show. What are you inspired to do to make, create, be? We’re so excited to be able to talk to kids and families and spread the message to the world.
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–Traci Paige Johnson
We wanted kids to be heard; that’s why we started the interactivity. That’s been the mission from day one and we believe 100 percent that it’s still true today.
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–Angela Santomero
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Creative Keynote
DAN POVENM
The multitalented animator on the long road to getting Phineas and Ferb commissioned, the inspiration for his new series Hamster & Gretel and the opportunities for animators today.
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TV KIDS
NMIRE When I was coming up, if I made a movie or a little piece of animation, I had to carry around a Super 8 projector with a cord and reels. Then you had videotapes, which was easier. Now, you can just send it to somebody’s phone. People are doing stuff online on YouTube and TikTok that are getting as [many] views as a lot of TV shows get.
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Creative Keynote
JONATHAN M. S
The creator of such hits as H2O: Just Add Water shares his perspective on producing live-action content for kids today.
watch the session here...
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TV KIDS
M. SHIFF Sometimes, you get one piece of the jigsaw, but you can’t just put it on a table and make the rest of the jigsaw work as a straight pattern. I often think that the jigsaw is in the air and I’ve got to build it, but it keeps moving. The story keeps moving and evolving and you’ve just got to go with it. You’ve got to let the story take you somewhere, even though it isn’t what you originally intended.
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The Kidoodle.TV Story
BRENDA BISN
Brenda Bisner, chief content officer at Kidoodle.TV, provides a deep dive into the AVOD platform’s strategy.
watch the session here...
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TV KIDS
y
SNER We’re a safe alternative to anything else out there, and we are an additional revenue stream to any existing AVOD business you have. We’re looking at partners that have great content that people care about, that we care about, and that care about the important work we’re doing. It’s not just a one-way street for us.
”
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DreamWorks Animation’s Gabby ’s Dollhouse.
Girl Power
Kelly Kulchak, executive VP of current series at DreamWorks Animation, highlights the studio’s girl-empowering slate. By Kristin Brzoznowski 84 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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TV KIDS
S
trong female characters are central to DreamWorks’ properties, and the series from DreamWorks Animation are delivering girl power in a big way. For younger audiences, Gabby’s Dollhouse features a young girl who takes viewers on fantastical adventures inside her magical dollhouse full of adorable cat characters. Cleopatra in Space is a scifi-fantasy retelling of a young teenage Cleopatra thrust into a time-traveling journey to save the universe. Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts features a lead character who, despite the odds of survival being stacked against her, leads with kindness, empathy and optimism in a post-apocalyptic world. Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous expands the franchise with kids at the lead for the very first time, featuring three female characters in the core ensemble. There are also Lucky, Pru and Abigail in Spirit Riding Free; Poppy, Val and Holly in the new Trolls: TrollsTopia; Wenda in Where’s Waldo?; Leyla and Astrid in their respective Dragons series; a young Gloria in Madagascar: A Little Wild; and the female ensemble of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power with Adora and Glimmer in the lead. 3/21 WORLD SCREEN 85
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“Across the board, we work to realize female characters that are multidimensional and have real agency,” says Kelly Kulchak, executive VP of current series at DreamWorks Animation. The studio doesn’t so much classify its shows as being only “for boys” or only “for girls,” Kulchak notes. “We build worlds and stories that have something for everyone. While Gabby’s Dollhouse might follow play patterns more traditionally associated with girls, there is a big world inside of the dollhouse filled with fun, eccentric characters that kids are falling in love with.”
“We work to realize female characters that are multidimensional and have real agency.” —Kelly Kulchak
Kulchak adds that empowering young women is of crucial importance in the kids’ programming business, and DreamWorks Animation is enthusiastically doing its part. “Kids’ television, and animation specifically, are the first places that kids are going to see themselves on-screen and begin to shape their worldview. We have a responsibility to make sure girls (and boys) see a world full of possibility, that what you have to say matters, that it’s okay to make mistakes, and so often, the things that make us feel different are the things that make us most special.” 86 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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In-Demand
Elinor Wonders Why Commissioned By: PBS KIDS Produced By: SHOE Ink Distributed By: PBS International Description: (Preschool 2-6, 74x11 min./37x25 min. & 1x55 min.) Elinor Wonders Why encourages children to follow their curiosity, ask questions, figure out the answers and learn about the natural world around them using their science-inquiry skills. Pitch Perfect: The warm, funny main characters—Elinor, Ari and Olive—are curious about the things all preschoolers are curious about. Why do birds have feathers? Who or what is making those "whoo hoo" sounds at night? In finding the answers, they explore the remarkable ways that our everyday lives are connected to nature. Preschoolers relate to this desire to explore and feel empowered to make these same kinds of connections in their own lives. The series is educational—and fun! Sales Contacts: Betsy LeBlanc, Anna Alvord, Nanci Church. 88 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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Zoom—The White Dolphin Commissioned By: ZDF Enterprises Produced By: Media Valley, Marzipan Films Distributed By: ZDF Enterprises Description: (Kids 6-10, 104x12 min.) After being the hero of the 1970s cult series created by Vladimir Tartakovsky and Marc Bonnet, the most famous cetacean in cartoon history makes his comeback in the animated series Zoom—The White Dolphin. Pitch Perfect: Yann, an intrepid 15-year-old, and his little 7-year-old sister, Marina, live with their Uncle Patrick, an oceanographer, on the paradise island of Maotou, in the Pacific Ocean. Yann’s best friend is Zoom, a remarkably intelligent white dolphin. Zoom takes Yann and his friends on exciting adventures, set in the fascinating, fragile and danger-filled underwater world, as well as on dry land. Comedy and humor are central to the series, expressed through a host of colorful characters, including Raoul, Marina’s pet koala; John-Sebastian, the chatterbox mynah bird; Loaf, the sloth; and other inhabitants of Maotou Island. Sales Contact: Arne Lohmann. 90 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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Pikwik Pack Commissioned By: Disney Junior Produced By: Guru Studio Distributed By: Guru Studio Description: (Preschool 3-5, 52x11 min.) Pikwik Pack follows Suki the hedgehog and her team of adorable animals as they deliver magical packages to the kind citizens of Pikwik. Pitch Perfect: Preschoolers are falling in love with Pikwik Pack’s adorable characters and stories packed with huge laughs, inspiring adventures and big beating hearts. Everyone loves the show’s energy and colorful designs. We’re hearing from the broadcast and the licensing world that it’s the perfect time for a show about working together to deliver joy to our communities. Slot Winner: Coming off its successful launch on Disney Junior in the U.S. and Treehouse in Canada, Pikwik Pack is now preparing for its international launch on Super RTL in Germany, Canal Panda in Portugal, Hop! in Israel, MiniMini+ in Poland, YLE in Finland and Okto in Singapore. Sales Contacts: L&M: Jonathan Abraham, Content: Corey Caplan. 92 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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Milo Commissioned By: Channel 5’s Milkshake! Produced By: Fourth Wall Animation for Milkshake!, in association with Planeta Junior. Produced with the support of the BFI’s Young Audiences Content Fund. Distributed By: Planeta Junior Description: (Preschool, 52x11 min.) Milo, an adventurous 5-year-old cat, lives with his parents, who own a dry-cleaning shop called Scrubby’s with a friendly mechanical robot called Suds. Each episode, Milo and his best friends, Lofty and Lark, interact with Suds to try on different outfits, and the trio are then transported to the world of that specific vocation to learn all about it in a fun and entertaining way. Milo discovers that every vocation is amazing, giving a positive message to kids that they can be anything they want to be when they grow up. Pitch Perfect: The show’s family dynamic opens the door for situational comedy in Milo’s home. Plus, a wide cast of strong, archetypal characters—in the form of Scrubby’s customers—provide a platform for funny and good-humored dialogue. Slot Winner: The writing team is led by award-winning authors like Sam Barlow, Sean Carson, Chris Parker, Lisa Akhurst and Liam Farrell. Sales Contacts: Judit Foz, Lucia Vismara. 94 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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62 TV KIDS
Anna & Friends Commissioned By: France Télévisions Produced By: Superprod, Digital Graphics, Atmosphere Media Distributed By: Superights Description: (Upper preschool, 78x7 min.) What do you get when you cross an imaginative little girl, an impatient frog, an over-confident dog, a thoughtful cat and a naïve earthworm? A hilarious and heartwarming preschool series featuring five inseparable friends celebrating the power of friendship, imaginative play and backyard “grown-up” adventures! Enter the simple whimsical world of Anna & Friends and the joyfulness and enthusiasm that childhood brings. Pitch Perfect: Why Anna & Friends? It’s based on the popular and beloved comic book series published in seven languages. Its innovative CG animation technique simulates a charming hand-modeled clay look. The vibrant engaging stories burst with heart, humor and happiness. It’s an exploration of sincerity, self-expression and the joy of togetherness. It promotes an appreciation for the natural world and inspires young viewers’ wonder, imagination and creativity. Sales Contacts: Nathalie Pinguet, Canada, Western Europe, Nordics, Russia, Australia, New Zealand; Jeromine Ader, CEE, Middle East, Africa, inflight; Pedro Citaristi, Asia, LatAm, Southern Europe; Louise de Staël, U.S. 96 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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The Brilliant World of Tom Gates Commissioned By: Sky Kids Produced By: Black Camel Pictures, Wild Child Animation, TG Entertainment Distributed By: WildBrain Description: (Kids 7-12, 20x11 min.) Capturing the imagination of all children, this bright and funny original animated Tom Gates story is interwoven with live-action crafts and drawing, stop-motion games and music videos. This epic show will have everything that Tom Gates fans know and love about the best-selling book series. In addition, they get to meet their favorite author/illustrator Liz Pichon, who shows us how to draw and create just like Tom! Pitch Perfect: Deirdre Brennan, executive VP of content partnerships at WildBrain, said: “The Tom Gates book series has been a runaway success all the over the world, capturing the imaginations of families through its authentic storytelling, humor and unique graphic style. As the books prepare to make the highly anticipated jump from the page to the screen, we’re confident the series will delight both new and existing Tom Gates fans internationally.” Sales Contact: Caroline Tyre. 98 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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TV KIDS
Annie & Carola Commissioned By: RTVE Produced By: Mondo TV Iberoamerica, MB Producciones, RTVE Distributed By: Mondo TV Description: (Kids 6-10, 52x11 min.) Nerdy Carola builds Annie—a robot clone—as a friend. But the crazy, uninhibited Annie drags her into all the situations she fears the most. Pitch Perfect: Annie & Carola is fantastically entertaining—full of great gags, sparkling dialogue and hilarious slapstick: all you’d expect from a high-quality animated comedy. But it’s also about kids with feelings and needs that we all share: shyness, solitude, frustration, embarrassment, sympathy, pride, tenderness and friendship. Our geeky heroine and her crazy robot are completely different, but they are devoted pals, and viewers will love their originality and uniqueness while identifying with their emotions and interactions. This is a wide-ranging project with universal appeal and a wonderfully original approach, strengths which make it appropriate for multiple, varied media. Sales Contact: Maria Bonaria Fois. 3/21 WORLD SCREEN 99
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66 TV KIDS
Orange Moo Cow Commissioned By: Channel 1—Karusel Produced By: Cyber Soyuz Junior (a French and Russian joint label created by Cyber Group Studios & Soyuzmultfilm) Distributed By: Cyber Group Studios Description: (Preschool, 52x7 min.) A very sweet animated comedy series for preschoolers about family, friendship and love. The series follows the daily life of Zoh, an energetic 6-year-old cow, and her little brother Boh, a sensitive and curious 4-year-old bull. Along with their loving family—Mommy Cow and Father Bull—and their young friends Cathy the Cat, Grey the Wolf and many others, Zoh and Boh turn their everyday life into fun. Follow them in their exciting adventures as they try to find answers to their many questions! A sweet and fun show for kids all around the world. A joyful way to develop kids’ curiosity and discover the world. It is the very first creation of Cyber Soyuz Junior. Pitch Perfect: Click here to watch Cyber Group’s Raphaelle Mathieu deliver a one-minute pitch for Orange Moo Cow. Sales Contacts: Raphaelle Mathieu, Michèle Massonnat, Jessica Laloum. 100 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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TV KIDS
MeteoHeroes Produced By: Mondo TV Group, MOPI—Meteo Expert Distributed By: Mondo TV Group Description: (Upper preschool, S1: 52x7 min., S2: 52x11 min. in prod.) Adventure-comedy series featuring the amazing adventures of six extraordinary kids who use their superpowers to protect the planet from pollution and extreme weather events while also promoting sustainability and encouraging everyone to take good care of the environment. Pitch Perfect: There’s an international, inclusive and gender-equal lineup of characters, an emphasis on the importance of teamwork to get the job done, rounded and believable characters developed with the help of a respected child psychiatrist and great storylines based on the amazing science behind real weather events. Most of all, there’s a positive message for today’s kids. They can make a difference in the fight against the pollution of our air, our water and our fields. Slot Winner: MeteoHeroes was among the hit shows on Cartoonito in Italy last autumn. It’s already been sold or confirmed in over 120 countries; including Canal+, Minika Çoçuk and RSI. Sales Contact: Luana Perrero. 3/21 WORLD SCREEN 101
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68 TV KIDS
Kiva Can Do! Commissioned By: Screen Ireland, Broadcast Authority of Ireland, RTÉjr; developed with support from Creative Europe & Screen Ireland Produced By: Kavaleer Productions Distributed By: Lacey Entertainment Description: (Preschool 3-5, 52x11 min.) Along with her best friend, Saul, and her cardboard dog, Angus, Kiva conceives some amazing adventures that bring them around the world and well beyond. Pitch Perfect: Kiva Can Do! is an original series with positive prosocial stories that are characterized by warmth and cheerful fun that reflects the highly imaginative play patterns of children around the world. Kiva is an especially aspirational character helping to encourage constructive development. The ensemble cast of characters, most notably the very affectionate relationship with grandmother Nanni, helps to infuse a genuinely authentic transgenerational appeal to the series. Available in 25 languages. Slot Winner: Airing on Nick Jr. (worldwide excluding U.S.), Gulli, Discovery Italy, RTÉ. Sales Contact: Brian Lacey. 102 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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TV KIDS
Agent 203 Commissioned By: Super RTL Produced By: Mondo TV, Toon2Tango Distributed By: Mondo TV and Toon2Tango Description: (Kids 6-10, 26x22 min.) Spy-fi for girls, featuring a strong and independent female lead on a quest to save the universe, find her father and have a normal teenage life. Agent 203 is created by Damjan Mitrevski and co-created by Toon2Tango’s Jo Daris and Ulli Stoef. Pitch Perfect: Agent 203 is a modern show, made for kids who are born into technology and a diverse world. Lead character Zoe is a strong personality, mainstream but confident and independent. The adventure-comedy series is funny and adventurous, with clever solutions, lots of disguises, old-fashioned spy work and unexpected twists. It aims to meet the increased demand for content for girls aged 6 to 10. An extensive L&M strategy is underway and discussions with worldwide toy partners are in the works. Sales Contacts: GAS, Scandinavia, Benelux, English-speaking: Ulli Stoef, Toon2Tango; Rest of World: Luana Perrero, Mondo TV Group. 3/21 WORLD SCREEN 103
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70 TV KIDS
Dino Ranch Commissioned By: Disney Junior, CBC Kids, SRC Produced By: Industrial Brothers, Boat Rocker Studios Distributed By: Boat Rocker Media Description: (Preschool 2-5, 52x11 min.) Dino Ranch follows the actionpacked adventures of the Cassidy family as they tackle life in a fantastical, “pre-westoric” setting where dinosaurs still roam. As the young ranchers learn the ropes, they discover the thrill of ranch life while navigating the great outdoors through unpredictable challenges. Pitch Perfect: Dino Ranch features a unique and exhilarating mix of dinosaurs and ranchers. With stunning visuals, thrilling adventures, wide open spaces and big blue skies, preschoolers and their parents will be transported to a place where they can encounter irresistible escapism to the wild frontier. “Packed with comedic, mischievous fun, it introduces preschoolers to problem-solving, the foundations of forging lifelong friendships, strengthening family and community bonds, and taking care of animals,” says Gia DeLaney, senior VP of global sales for kids and family at Boat Rocker Media. Sales Contacts: Jon Rutherford, Gia DeLaney. 104 WORLD SCREEN 3/21
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