KID_1012_UPFRONT_EUR_1006_ELLENDER 9/24/12 8:31 AM Page 8
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TV KIDS
Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment www.gaiam.com • Tappy Toes • Puss in Boots: A Furry Tale • Chop Kick Panda
Expanding acquisitions activities is a key priority for Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment at the market, according to Bill Sondheim, the company’s president. Gaiam will also be presenting buyers with a trio of animated projects, among them Tappy Toes.The 45-minute film follows Pingo the Penguin, who is on an odyssey from being a total outcast to finding his unique place within his flock—all thanks to a special pair of tap shoes.There are two other 41-minute animated films that Gaiam will be talking to buyers about, Chop Kick Panda and Puss in Boots: A Furry Tale. The first film is about an overgrown panda, Lu, who overcomes his self-doubt and becomes a hero when his mortal enemy, tiger warrior Kudo, attempts to loot the village.The latter of the two titles is an updated classic that starts with Puss’s brave escape from the devious Queen Marie. Sondheim points out that these films all “take advantage of the strong interest generated by popular theatrical film franchises that feature the same type of fun animal characters (panda, penguin) and delightfully comedic themes.”
“We want to offer some of our most successful North American programming to our international partners.
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—Bill Sondheim Chop Kick Panda