Separating Fact from Fiction in the Toy Aisle P20 Defy Media Picks up Three
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Separating fact from Defy Media picks up three Cartoon Forum—Check out some of the fi ction in the toy aisle p20 Viacom gaming IPs p27 cool new shows headed to Toulouse p30 engaging the global children’s entertainment industry JULY/AUGUST 2014 US$7.95 in the U.S. CA$8.95 in Canada US$9.95 outside of & the U.S. in the U.S. US$7.95 CANADA POST AGREEMENT NUMBER 40050265 PRINTED IN CANADA USPS AFSM 100 Approved Polywrap CANADA POST AGREEMENT NUMBER 40050265 PRINTED IN USPS AFSM 100 Approved A publication of Brunico Communications Ltd. KS.24815.CyberGroup_soldCover.indd 1 2014-07-16 5:22 PM Everyday Moments Matter ™ & © 2014 Children’s Network, LLC. All rights reserved. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Licensing: Cindy Chang 818-777-2067 or Tricia Chaves 818-777-2440 Digital Licensing: Bill Kispert 818-777-5446 Retail: Jamie Stevens 818-777-6716 BIG TENT ENTERTAINMENT: Scott Devine 940-594-3090 KS.24074.BigTent.indd 1 2014-07-16 4:28 PM engaging the global children’s entertainment industry JULY/AUGUST 2014 Ahoy! A boatload of promising projects lie straight ahead at Cartoon Forum 2014 003KS_July14Cover.indd 1 2014-07-17 2:58 PM EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS IN KIDS ENTERTAINMENT February 23-26, 2015 InterContinental Miami REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! The biggest event in kids entertainment is moving to Miami next year and will take place from February 23-26. We’re looking forward to this fresh start, and we hope you join us in our sunny new location for four days of can’t-miss networking, deal-making and market intelligence—it’s the best business investment you’ll make in 2015. Save $300 until October 10 with our lowest Early-Bird Rate. summit.kidscreen.com Joel Pinto • [email protected] • 416-408-2300 x650 KS.25241.KSS_HA.indd 1 2014-07-16 4:31 PM Editorial July/August 2014 • Volume 18, Issue 4 www.kidscreen.com vp & publisher Jocelyn Christie On the move [email protected] Full confession: I never go into a press editorial Lana Castleman Editor & Content Director cycle knowing what I will write on this [email protected] Jeremy Dickson Features Editor page. In fact, I don’t usually write my [email protected] Aaron Hutchins Senior Writer editorial until the proofs are back from [email protected] Daniela Fisher Online Writer the printer and I’m facing the drop- [email protected] Writers and Contributors Insight Kids (New York) dead-deadline. It’s at that time that KidSay (Olathe, KS) Nickelodeon Kids & Family (New York) something I’ve come to know as the business development worms of fear (a deadline-induced Along with dealing with proof day, I’m also star- and advertising sales (416) 408-2300, 1-800-KID-4512 ing down the prospect of a 24-hour journey to nausea that pushed me through grad- Myles Hobbs Associate Publisher China in economy class, which begins tomor- [email protected] uate school) kick in and force me to Jonathan Abraham Account Manager row. For those of you who may have missed our [email protected] spit my ideas out. Today, though, I’m a marketing efforts, we’re holding the first-ever Grace Li Marketing Coordinator [email protected] tad distracted. Kidscreen East event in Qingdao, China—a tiny seaside city of just eight million people. Planning creative Creative Manager & Art Director Andrew Glowala an event from thousands of miles—and several time zones—away has been [email protected] challenging. Ultimately, I think it will be worth it as it has the potential to be Junior Art Director Kate Whelan [email protected] fairly groundbreaking, bringing Chinese and Western kids entertainment people Production/Distribution Supervisor Robert Lines together in a way that hasn’t been done before. Who knows what it might result in [email protected] a year from now? But at this moment, my mind is brimming over. What could go audience services Director of Audience Services and Production wrong? What did I miss in the conference planning? Are they really going to serve Jennifer Colvin [email protected] me gruel on China Eastern Airlines, as promised on its website? Manager, Audience Services Christine McNalley [email protected] Another source of preoccupation is the fact that we’re getting ready to corporate announce a big move for Kidscreen Summit. When I’m half-way across the world, President & CEO Russell Goldstein we’ll be rolling out the news that our premier event is moving to Miami. We’ll be [email protected] VP & Editorial Director Mary Maddever hosting our annual schmooze-fest between February 23 and 26 at the beauti- [email protected] fully appointed Intercontinental Miami in the city’s business district. Personally, VP of Finance & Administration Linda Lovegrove I am very excited about the move. The venue is fresh and opens up a host of new [email protected] VP & Chief Information Officer Omri Tintpulver possibilities when it comes to content presentation and networking. And as a [email protected] VP & Realscreen Publisher Claire Macdonald Canadian, the prospect of February sunshine doesn’t hurt, either. I can’t stop [email protected] thinking about what we can do in the new space. And now you can see why I’m a Customer care To order a subscription visit www.kidscreen.com/subscribe bit discombobulated at the time of writing. Then again, I’ve got 20 hours in Wifi- To make a change to an existing subscription, please contact us by e-mail: [email protected] free airspace to contemplate it all. Oh joy. Fax: 416.408.0249 Tel: 416.408.2448 Subscription rates Kidscreen is published 7 times per year by Brunico Communications Ltd. In the US: One year US$89.00 Two years US$159.00 Cheers, Single copy price in the US is US$7.95. Please allow four weeks for new subscriptions and address changes. Lana Postmaster Notification U.S. Postmaster, send undeliverables and address changes to: Kidscreen PO BOX 1103 Watch for Niagara Falls NY 14304 Canadian Postmaster, send undeliverables and address changes to: the next issue of Kidscreen PO Box 369, Beeton ON L0G 1A0 Printed in Canada. Canada Post Agreement No. 40050265. ISSN number 1205-7746 Opinion columns appearing in Kidscreen do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine or its parent company Brunico Communications September 2014 Ltd. All letters sent to Kidscreen or its editors are assumed intended for publication. Kidscreen invites editorial comment, but accepts no Street Date: responsibility for its loss, damage or destruction, howsoever arising, while in its offices, in transit or elsewhere. All material to be returned September 8 must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. © Brunico Communications Ltd. 2014. ® Kidscreen is a registered trademark of Brunico Communications Ltd. July/August 2014 5 005_Editorial.indd 5 2014-07-17 3:46 PM Inside July/August 2014 moves 9 Banger Films launches kids division with two Disney XD series in tow How I Did It—Nick SVP Sarah Noonan gives props to Ellen Degeneres tv 17 Flickerlab takes its live-animation capabilities into mobile app JustLaunched—DHX/FremantleMedia co-pro Ella the Elephant hits its stride consumer products 20 Are girls taking over the toy aisle? We separate fact from fiction. Adventure Time takes crafty turn with new publishing effort kid insight 24 A peek into the lives of Hispanic kids and their families via Nick Muse of the Month—Lexie relies on music for her happiness and educational growth iKids 27 Defy Media turbo-charges gaming 19 portfolio with three Viacom properties New Kid in Town—BirdBrain pioneers Karate Cookie and the gang will be featured in a new half-hour version of Sesame Street on PBS KIDS educational robotic kits for schools Special Cartoon Forum Report As the industry preps for a trip to Toulouse, we take a look at some of the hot projects on the pitch sked p30 Flappy Bird to PBS shows Lego Friends Cool or Not? New tech startup rise like a land on Google’s builds girls Educational apps gets crafty with 9phoenix? 19 Chromecast 20 fanbase 25vs. comic books 29 robotics Cover Our cover features an ad for hit CGI-animated preschool series Zou from Cyber Group Studios, while our inside editorial cover sports an image of Irish prodco Kavaleer’s Cartoon Forum contender Kiva Can Do. 6 July/August 2014 006_Contents.indd 6 2014-07-17 3:02 PM KS.24816.CyberGroupFullPage.indd 1 2014-07-16 4:35 PM Enter early and save! Why? Because your team deserves to shine. We are now accepting entries for the sixth annual Kidscreen Awards, our industry’s only truly global celebration of excellence in children’s TV content and broadcasting. This year, we’re adding a “Best New Series” category to give single out brand-new shows that have launched within the last year. HEADS UP: Early-Bird entry fees are in eff ect, but for a limited time only! Full details on Deadlines, Categories, Eligibility, Judging and Entering are available at... awards.kidscreen.com KS.25242.KSA_HA.indd 1 2014-07-16 4:36 PM moves The List Five things on our radar this month 1Turning to the tried and true Despite its disappointing box-offi ce run, DreamWorks Animation kept Turbo alive in December with the debut of its Turbo Fast original Netfl ix series. Now with 15 launched eps and two Emmy nominations, Netfl ix says it’s pleased with the show’s performance, but what that means is unclear given the SVOD giant’s reluctance to share metrics.