Pofc TBI Kids Octnov19.Indd 1 03/10/2019 07:46 Kidspxx Studio100 Octnov19.Indd 1

Home , Dino Ranch, Ellipsanime, Gaumont Animation, Sixteen South, TeamTO, Upper Boat Studios

Insight on screen TBIvision.com | October/November 2019 | MIPCOM Issue

Television Business International

e Greta Interactive unberg E ect imagination Kids TV goes green Consumption trends TBIKids Page 2 Page 13

pOFC TBI Kids OctNov19.indd 1 03/10/2019 07:46 KidspXX Studio100 OctNov19.indd 1

Contents October/November 2019

Editor Manori Ravindran manori.ravindran@informa.com Direct line +44 (0) 20 3377 3832 Twitter @manori_r

Managing editor Richard Middleton [email protected] Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 7184

2 Contributors Ann-Marie Corvin, Helen Dugdale

Sales manager Michael Callan [email protected] Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 5295

Art director Matthew Humberstone [email protected] Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 5336

8 13 Marketing executive Abigail Dede [email protected] Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 6018 2. Greta unberg’s green wave reaches kids’ TV Producers and broadcasters share notes on how to best incorporate climate change Editorial director Stuart Thomson issues into their kids-focused programming [email protected] Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 5314 6. e big deals A snapshot of the sales and greenlights making headlines in children’s TV Commercial director Patricia Arescy [email protected] 8. Cartoon Forum Direct line +44 (0) 20 7017 5320 A selection of highlights from the Toulouse-based animation festival

10. Viewpoint: Halle Stanford The Jim Henson Company’s president of TV explains the concept of ‘hopepunk’ @TBImagazine content and why family viewing can be life-arming and proﬁtable

13. Choosing their own adventures Published by Informa Tech, Blue Fin Building, Interactive and voice-activated shows are growing in popularity, but how is new 110 Southwark Street, London SE10TA e-mail: [email protected] web: www.tbivision.com technology aecting the consumption patterns of younger audiences? Printed in England by Walstead Roche Ltd, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 8LX.

October/November 2019 1

Kidsp01 Contents OctNov19 RM.indd 1 02/10/2019 18:42 TBI Kids | The Greta Thunberg Effect

Greta’s green wave reaches kids’ TV

As Greta Thunberg hits the US and Noga Levy-Rapoport beats the drum for climate change, broadcasters and producers are taking notes and brainstorming how best to get the message through to their youngest audiences. Helen Dugdale reports

hile teen activists such as Noga market that broadcasters and producers are focusing Levy-Rapoport and Greta Thunberg their attention on when trying to educate the young take to the podium to shame those audience about environmental issues. Junk Rescue empowers in power about what really needs to Kimberly Dennison, VP of creative development at kids to be eco-warriors beW done to tackle global green issues, it’s the pre-school Gaumont Animation & Family out of the US, believes

2 October/November 2019

Kidsp02-04 Greta Effect OctNov19MR RM.indd 2 02/10/2019 17:29 TBI Kids | The Greta Thunberg Effect

now is a great time for kids’ television to take up this mantle. “Kids’ media in general has a lineage of addressing environmental concepts. We think there’s a great opportunity right now to speak to kids, especially in the global citizen arena, helping them to see the world from a global view and inspire them to get excited about what they can do locally,” she says. Terri Langan, head of Glasgow-based Hello Halo Kids, is behind the CBeebies show Junk Rescue, and is quick to sing the praises of the BBC. “I think CBeebies does a great job. In the past year or so I have seen several of their brands doing episodes that highlight the need to look after the world we live in. Go Jetters, Tee And Mo and CBBC’s Newsround have all been great at getting the sustainability message simple practical things that young activists can do in Kiddets is a co-production out there.” their homes instead of focusing on larger global issues. with China However, not everyone agrees. Ellen Solberg, head Hello Halo’s Junk Rescue is a prime example of of content at pre-school SVOD Hopster, believes there a show that empowers the audience and helps them is very little content that explores environmental issues start their journey as an eco-warrior, rather than an for younger viewers. eco-worrier. “The issues I’ve faced finding this type of content “Junk Rescue makes sustainability fun. It shows for Hopster is that it isn’t designed for pre-school as how the things we throw away can be repaired, it’s too factual and a little too heavy. We’re looking repurposed or transformed into something useful, and for something that is going to tackle the subject and encourages the audience to take the lead on what they get them motivated about it and not scare them at the can make from what they find,” says Langan, who got same time. So, we’re now creating our own content,” the idea after seeing what people were throwing away she reveals. at her local rubbish dump. “It was heart-breaking. It made me think of all of It’s the way you tell the story the things [these objects] could have been used for and what sort of example we were setting for kids. I For writer and TV producer Martin Baynton, didn’t want the series to feel preachy. I wanted children founding partner at Pukeko Pictures and creator of the to have fun and be inspired but also learn to see the much-loved TV show The Wot Wots, programming beauty and value in objects that, whilst they might “ ese young that explores issues around the environment and be worn or beyond repair, could still have a use for women both endangered animals needs to be produced in a sensitive someone. have tremendous manner. “The mantra of the series is ‘it’s not junk if someone energy that you “We shouldn’t be knocking kids over the head with has a use for it’ and children get to see broken or can’t help being it from a very young, crucial age. My approach is to unwanted items transformed into amazing things,” she inspired by and they help children celebrate animals and encourage them continues. aren’t afraid of the to fall in love with them, so they see them as equal Pukeko Pictures is seeing great success with its show comments they get members of planet Earth,” he explains. Kiddets, which is a co-production with China, and from adults trying “Then, as they grow up, they will naturally start introduces five new Wot Wots to the world. to trivialise what to think about the environment and the ecology “We’ve created lots of episodes around recycling they’re trying to do” that keeps those animals alive. With The Wot Wots, water and plastic and looking after animals. More and Terri Langan, I wanted to make the show for co-viewing and more shows are embracing episodic lines to tell these Hello Halo Kids get the parents watching and laughing along with key issues about early environmental concerns. One their children. There’s nothing more inspiring or reason for this is that it’s harder to make shows utterly empowering than mum and dad laughing, as the about the environment that are really uplifting at the children think, ‘This show must be ok,’” explains moment as it’s such a dark space,” explains Baynton. Baynton from his oce in Wellington, New Zealand. Meanwhile, over at Hopster, the team are creating For creators looking to develop shows tackling playlists from their existing slate of shows that tackle climate change and encouraging sustainable living, topics like recycling – including favourites such as successful programmes tend to focus on dealing with Earth To Luna and The Science Kids – to make the

October/November 2019 3

Kidsp02-04 Greta Effect OctNov19MR RM.indd 3 02/10/2019 17:29 TBI Kids | The Greta Thunberg Effect

Rosa, Koﬁ and Ally—as they join Ryder, the magical White Feather, on global adventures to help children ﬁx local problems. Kimberly Dennison, from Gaumont Animation & Family who are developing the series, believes the stories show children how they can be the ones to change the world, one story at a time. “We’re combining realistic language about things like clean water and protecting the earth, while inspiring kids to be curious about the world as they join the Feather Friends on their eco-adventures, helping local kids solve local problems. The series will show kids around the world that our actions and choices can make a big dierence for the planet,” says Dennison.

Time to listen to the audience

As the winds of change start to sweep across the industry it seems the voices of teen campaigners are content easier to ﬁnd for busy parents. Touch The Earth is based welcomed. Solberg is particularly excited about the original on Julian Lennon’s book Langan from Hello Halo admits it’s people like content they are creating and hopes it will motivate Levy-Rapoport and Thunberg that give her hope for pre-school kids into doing something themselves. the future. “We’re delighted to launch Mr Eco, who mixes his “As a child, you’re more likely to listen to and passion for hip-hop and the environment. His brilliant respond to your peers than a ‘boring adult’. These songs cover littering, recycling and food waste in a young women both have tremendous energy that you fun way. Kids feel really engaged and motivated when can’t help being inspired by and they aren’t afraid of watching him. We’re also working on a short-form the comments they get from adults trying to trivialise animation series that looks at environmental issues,” what they’re trying to do,” she smiles. she reveals. The team at Gaumont Animation & Family are Denise Deane, owner of UK-based Edutainment “Previously, it delighted to see how Levy-Rapoport and Thunberg are Licensing is developing a pre-school series called Tiny seemed people using social media for the greater good and inspiring Tusks about eight little eco-warrior elephants and thought they didn’t the next generation to make sure that their voices are their adventures as they tell stories of climate change, really need to be heard. deforestation, ocean pollution and wildlife tracking talking to children “Young kids see other kids stepping up to a major in a light and entertaining way. about these issues challenge and can be inspired by them – whether it’s Recently, Deane has seen a shift in what but now they’re making a change in their home or their communities,” broadcasters and platforms are looking for when it expressing an says Dennison. comes to content dealing with environmental issues interest and The investors and those holding the purse strings to and believes the industry is becoming more open to accepting that it’s production budgets are also having to make changes, discussions. the children who are as Baynton from Pukeko Pictures highlights. “We’ve put Tiny Tusks in front of a couple of making the biggest “Where it’s getting interesting at the moment is that broadcasters and co-producers and we’re now starting noise. ” mum and dad investors are now saying, ‘Let’s invest to get people who are willing to embrace the topics Denise Deane, in something that is helping eect climate change’, so the show covers. Previously, it seemed people thought Edutainment Licensing you’ve got big businesses suddenly waking up to the they didn’t really need to be talking to children about fact that their investment base is going to disappear these issues but now they’re expressing an interest and as they focus on renewable fuels and tidying up the accepting that it’s the children who are making the planet.” biggest noise,” she says. However, there is also a commercial imperative at Another gentle yet persuasive story that is still in hand, explains Baynton. “We’ve got a moral obligation development is Touch The Earth, based on The New to do this, but it’s also the smart thing to do. The York Times-bestselling children’s book series by Julian message at MIPCOM needs to be either you’re going Lennon. The story follows a group of friends—Jack, to get with this or you’re dead in the water.” TBI

4 October/November 2019

Kidsp02-04 Greta Effect OctNov19MR RM.indd 4 02/10/2019 17:29 KidspXX Xilam Lupin OctNov19.indd 1 25/09/2019 09:44 TBI Kids | The Big Deals

e Big Deals The top sales of children’s programming grabbing headlines

ANIMATION

Dino Ranch Disney Junior has picked up Industrial Brothers and Boat Rocker Studios’ animated pre-school series Dino Ranch (52 x 11 minutes) Harry Amazon Prime Video has acquired animation studio Cosmos-Maya’s e Snail And e Whale comedy adventure series BBC One has scheduled Magic Light Harry (26 x 22 minutes) Gremlins Pictures’ The Snail And The Whale as part of its Christmas line-up WarnerMedia has ordered an animated prequel to the 1984 comedy horror ﬁ lm Gremlins

Ricky Zoom Nick Jr and Channel 5’s pre-school block Milkshake have bought Hasbro- ONLINE YouTube owned Entertainment YouTube has pledged to pour One’s Ricky Zoom $100m into original children’s content over the next three years LINEAR e A List Netﬂ ix has swooped for global rights to Kindle Entertainment’s teen thriller The A List (13 x 30 Find Me In Paris minutes) following its premiere Disney Latin America has on BBC iPlayer picked up three seasons of Cottonwood Media’s tween drama Find Me In Paris (78 x 30 minutes)

Marvel Studios Top Elf Disney+ has greenlit three live- Nickelodeon has greenlit Christmas- action originals from Marvel themed competition series Top Elf Studios: Ms Marvel, Moon (5 x 60 minutes) from Main Event Knight and She-Hulk Media and Ugly Brother Studios

LIVE ACTION

6 October/November 2019

Kidsp06 Kids Matrix OctNov19MR RM.indd 6 02/10/2019 17:49 KidspXX Xilam Moka OctNov19.indd 1 25/09/2019 09:46 TBI Kids | Cartoon Forum

Cartoon Forum: e Highlights Reel

Mousse And Bichon his year’s edition of Cartoon Forum, which ran from 16-19 September, saw 85 projects from 24 countries presented to participants from 39 countries. The Toulouse, France-set event Thosted more than 1,000 delegates, including buyers and commissioners from Netﬂ ix, WarnerMedia, DreamWorks Animation, Sky, Globosat and HopsterTV. We Are Family French projects garnered their share of attention, with highlights including Mousse And Bichon (Vivement Lundi!), Lucy Lost (Xilam Animation), Ewilan’s Quest (Andarta Pictures), Digital Girl (Cyber Group Studios), Calamity (Maybe Movies), We Are Family (TeamTO) and Belfort & Lupin (Ellipsanime Productions). Ireland also brought stand-out projects, including the likes of Critters TV (Turnip & Duck) and Pins And Nettles Lucy Lost (Daily Madness Productions), while Belgium’s highlights Juliette & Jules included Juliette & Jules (Altitude 100 Production) and Super Snail The Marsupilamis (Belvision), and the Luxembourgish Quirkistador: Book Of Tales (ZEILT Productions). Other top projects at Cartoon Forum included Denmark’s Hugo & Holger (Wil Film); Finland’s MiniMecs (Ferly) and Worst Best Friends (Haruworks); the UK’s Super Snail (Sixteen South); and Germany’s Spookies (Wolkenlenker) and Xxxxx Boots And Paws (Studio Soi).

Quirkistador: Book Of Tales

Adult appeal Cartoon Tribute winners

Programming with cross- Broadcaster of the Year: RTBF’s OUFtivi (Belgium) bols Sym generational appeal that allow RTBF’s youth channel OUFtivi has become the market leader for French-speaking Belgians, ex S adults to watch along with catering especially to 3-12 year-olds. young viewers was once again in the spotlight in Investor/Distributor of the Year: Telegael (Ireland) Toulouse. Projects receiving Telegael is a top investor in premium animated and live-action ﬁ lm and television content. considerable buzz included The business runs one of Ireland’s largest animation studios. Telegael productions have been We Are Family (TeamTO), licensed to more than 150 territories and translated into more than 40 languages. Le Collège Noir (Milan Presse) and Some Of Us Producer of the Year: Panique! (Belgium) (Bachibouzouk), as well as Panique!’s recent credits in animation include Panique au Village, Ernest & Celestine, Big Bad Spanish project Sex Symbols (TV Fox And Other Tales and the formidable Stinky Dog. The prodco’s latest ﬁ lm Back To School ON Producciones). won the Jury Award for TV Special at Annecy in 2016.

8 October/November 2019

Kidsp07 Cartoon Forum TBI OctNov19MR RM.indd 8 02/10/2019 17:33 KidspXX Xilam Coach Me OctNov19.indd 1 25/09/2019 09:47 TBI Kids | Opinion

Viewpoint Halle Stanford How ‘hopepunk’ content can pro t from family viewing

amily viewing shaped my career. On Friday The television community has a responsibility to get “The Dark Crystal nights, we’d snuggle up with my mom to know the family audience. According to Maria is hopepunk and watch The Muppet Show. We’d laugh Bailey at family marketing firm BSMMedia, Gen Z because of its loving together (sometimes at dierent jokes), have is the most racially diverse group in history and has messaging about Four favourite Muppets, and bond over this fun, shared a desire to make a dierence in the world. Parents coming together to experience – an experience that would inspire me, like of Gen Z kids are raising their children in an era speak out against the Kermit the Frog, to go to Hollywood to make people of school shootings, the Me Too movement and baddies and using happy. #KeepFamiliesTogether. They’re looking for stories to violence as a last A year ago, I was in a meeting with Apple television help them and their family enjoy their time together resort. Hopepunk is executives and I confessed I was weary of surviving the and also to inspire them to create a safer, healthier and the trend I hope will zombies in The Walking Dead and watching women kinder world. Today’s modern family is unique. emerge as we all start get raped in Westeros. I knew audiences, especially After I watched the pilot for Netflix’s The Dark producing family families, were looking for hopeful, meaningful and Crystal: Age Of Resistance with one of the writers, programming .” fun experiences like the ones I had when I was a kid. Simon Racioppa, he congratulated me on the series They absolutely agreed. A lot of broadcasters do, being ‘hopepunk’. I fell in love with the word instantly. too, because one of the biggest trends we’re seeing in The word was created by writer Alexandra Rowland the television industry is the development of family in a 2017 Tumblr post. She preached hopepunk “says programming. that genuinely and sincerely caring about something, Network unscripted shows like The Masked anything, requires bravery and strength”. The punk Singer and The Voice have brought in the ratings in hopepunk is making corny cool again. It’s about and attracted family audiences. Services like Apple, showing up exactly how you are and encouraging Netflix, Disney+, Amazon and HBO Max have made one another to make a change. The Dark Crystal a commitment to family programming. We’re also is hopepunk because of its loving messaging about hearing that pre-school broadcasters are looking for coming together to speak out against the baddies and programming that can be ‘co-viewed’. At The Jim using violence as a last resort. The trend I hope will Henson Company, we’ve always produced shows emerge as we all start producing family programming that create shared experiences We celebrate families. is hopepunk. I’m proud we created the first blended family in a For gatekeepers who also have ratings and pre-school series in Sid The Science Kid and the first subscribers at top of mind, let me give them hope: Pteranodon family to proudly adopt a T-Rex in hopepunk can be profitable. Star Wars, Harry Potter, Dinosaur Train. This Is Us, Stranger Things and Into the Spiderverse Premium content aimed at families that is story- are all hopepunk. Kermit the Frog and The Muppets driven with strong messaging is now in demand. We are the original hopepunkers. These are the types of may be looking at a flood of family programming in series we are developing right now at The Jim Henson the future and the question is, which shows will stand Company – positive, innovative and with spirit. out? The competition is strong and the winners will be We’re storytellers and I see it as our job to inspire our Halle Stanford is president those who invest in this genre. audiences. We all have a gift to make a dierence. And, of TV at The Jim Henson Producers who understand the modern family will as Kermit reminds us: “That’s the kind of dream that Company be the ones who create the most impactful series. gets better the more people you share it with.” TBI

10 October/November 2019

Kidsp10 Viewpoint OctNov19MR RM.indd 10 02/10/2019 17:52 KidspXX Xilam Zig OctNov19.indd 1 25/09/2019 09:49 KidspXX Xilam Athleticus OctNov19.indd 1 25/09/2019 09:51 TBI Kids | Trendwatch Choosing their own adventures

As interactive and voice-activated programming grows in popularity among kids, Helen Dugdale examines how new tech is affecting the consumption patterns of young audiences

edia headlines are awash with how that lack of linearity is changing habits, with the use children and teens are choosing to of technology, but also in that the content they’re consume their favourite shows. Young watching doesn’t need to be new.” people, with strong ideas of their own, Morgann Favennec, EVP of global sales Mare embracing the speedy developments in tech and development at Xilam Animation, agrees with the increasing number of platforms for viewing, gaming research, as evidenced by the trajectory of one of their and engaging with content. bestselling programmes. Citing a recent Kids Insights report on kids’ “Our hit series Oggy And The Cockroaches first behaviours, Nick Richardson, CEO and founder of aired 20 years ago and has never been as popular the market intelligence outfit, has some ideas on what as it is today, proving that comedy travels well they’re really up to when staring at their devices. internationally and remains timeless as we see “Technology is playing a far greater role in taking dierent generations now watching and enjoying up children’s time. They are now doing a lot more the show together. Across all genres, high-quality with tech friendlier games, using it to unlock more production will always make a dierence in the content. longevity of your content and help it cut through the “Most parents these days essentially grew up in a Puss In Boots: Trapped In market,” says Favennec. world that was more linear with regards to content An Epic Tale was one of With so many dierent options around what to and tech. While we had to wait until the next day or Netflix’s first interactive watch and how to consume it, for parents it can seem next week to watch the next episode, we’re seeing offerings that young viewers are managing to sidestep the eyes

October/November 2019 13

Kidsp13-14 Interactive kids OctNov19MR RM.indd 13 02/10/2019 17:37 TBI Kids | Trendwatch

and voice of authority and do exactly what they the swiftly changing landscape. please. “Kids have this “There is no denying the KGOY (Kids Getting However, Kids Insights research oers some peace expectation that Older Younger) phenomenon. Children nowadays of mind as it shows that parents now have more they will control have access to umpteen number of platforms to control, as the number of kids binge-watching TV is what they’re entertain themselves. Hence, the onus lies on the decreasing, as Richardson explains: watching, and they content creator to produce quality, conscientious “On average a UK child would watch three shows want to be able to content. It is an opportunity as well as a back to back, but this has reduced significantly year have an impact. e responsibility.” on year, from only 2% of kids in 2016 watching one story doesn’t have to Bruno Felix, co-founder and MD of Amsterdam episode at a time to 18% in 2017,” he says. be the way the story transmedia production house Submarine, suggests Kids now watch on average one to two episodes, is. Being able to twist that content creators should learn to adapt quickly to rather than three to four a year ago, says Richardson. it to suit themselves the new oerings and understand their specific needs. “That’s because the awareness of binge-watching is all part of the “It’s challenging for sure, but at the same time and the concerns of eects on health have been bigger trend of it is great, because as a content creator you also covered widely in mainstream media. Parents’ personalisation.” see the kids changing their relationship to the attitudes have changed, and many manufacturers Nick Richardson, dierent services and therefore playing, viewing and have now put safeguards in place, which means that Kids Insights interacting in dierent ways. These new viewing a parent can control how much content a child can options obviously give opportunities to tell stories in consume through automation, instead of manually dierent ways and keep the mind of a creator young having to be there. That’s not to say that it’s not still and active.” an issue, but in our data, we’re seeing a big reduction in binging due to an increase in knowledge from Using their voice parents and changes in technology making parents’ lives easier.” No one can deny the world of kids’ content and the platforms that exist inside the industry are changing The future is gamification at lightning speed. James Poulter, CEO of London- based Vixen Labs, a leading voice consultancy, has From the tween viewer to the more mature young seen first-hand the way that Generation Z has taken adult, most members of these demographics will to voice-activated gadgets. have sampled the delights of what interactive content “Voice applications and audio content more can oer after watching the likes of Netflix’s Bear generally are gaining real traction as parents seek Grylls-fronted live-action series You vs. Wild, Puss alternatives to screen time, particularly in the morning In Boots: Trapped In An Epic Tale and Black routines and bedtime hours. Smart speaker adoption Mirror: Bandersnatch. The buzz word on the street is is giving kids themselves access to far greater choice gamification. in what to listen to and play with, as well as access to “We’re now seeing the gamification of content knowledge and facts, as these devices are far cheaper has increased significantly,” says Richardson. and present less stress for parents.” “Augmented reality is also going to be a growth Poulter believes this is one of the biggest potential opportunity and the kids are calling for it. They growth markets for kids IP owners in the next 24 have this expectation that they will control what months “as kids and parents are in exploration mode, they’re watching, and they want to be able to have looking for new content and brands to engage with an impact. The story doesn’t have to be the way the via voice”. story is. Being able to twist it to suit themselves is all Anyone writing a marketing plan at the beginning part of the bigger trend of personalisation that we’ll of 2019 probably wouldn’t have listed TikTok as see more of in 2020.” a serious contender for grabbing attention, but as As with any personalised content, there is a greater Richardson concludes, it’s hard to plan for who or chance the young audience will interact with it for what will be the next big thing. longer, talk about it more and explore all the dierent 18% “At the beginning of the year, TikTok was nowhere variants that it oers. However, the repeated use in our data. Then in our research, from January of the same content poses a risk to independent to August 2019, it has gone on to be the second production companies or creators who are trying to favourite app with girls aged 10-12 years, just behind get their stories through. of kids watched one episode YouTube. Netflix, WhatsApp and Roblox are also Anish Mehta, CEO at animation company at a time in 2017, over 2% among the top five apps for 10-12s, which shows Cosmos-Maya, believes that creators must embrace in 2016 why data is so vital. You can react to it.” TBI

14 October/November 2019

Kidsp13-14 Interactive kids OctNov19MR RM.indd 14 02/10/2019 17:37 Zodiak Kids The home of award-winning live action

Award-winning book adaptation Multiple award-winner across 3 series Best Children’s Drama BAFTA Children’s Interactive BAFTA RTS Northern Ireland Two Broadcast Digital Awards 2nd Best Live Action TV RTS Northern Ireland Chicago Children’s Film Festival Kidscreen Award

visit us at MIPCOM stand C20.A zodiakkids.com

KidspXX Zodiak OctNov19.indd 1 18/09/2019 17:23 J12379_KIDS_AD_TBI KIDS_TV KIDS_AW.indd 1 18/09/2019 13:47 TBI Kids | Hot Picks

Kids Hot Picks The very best children’s content hitting the Croisette

16 October/November 2019

Alt Kidsp16-18,20,22,24 Kids Hot Picks OctNov19MR RM.indd 16 02/10/2019 17:42 TBI Kids | Hot Picks

Top Superhero Kindergarten toddler brand Baby Genius, Pick Distributor: Genius Brands International adventure comedy STEM Producers: Genius Brands, POW! Entertainment, Oak Productions series, Thomas Edison’s Secret Broadcaster: n/a Lab and financial literacy and Logline: A former superhero-turned-kindergarten teacher oversees a entrepreneurship series Warren class of secret superheroes Buett’s Secret Millionaires Club. The firm’s content catalogue Arnold Schwarzenegger and The 2D animated series also includes another animated Stan Lee often talked about aimed at four to seven-year-olds Stan Lee/POW! Entertainment potential collaborations over focuses on Arnold Armstrong, a series, Cosmic Crusaders. the years, according to the actor former gym teacher who turned States POW!’s Champion: and former governor. superhero after inhaling some “Stan Lee’s Superhero During one conversation, ionic dust left in the wake of a Kindergarten was near and The Terminator and Twins mysterious comet. dear to his heart, working star mentioned he’d love to After decades of saving the with one of his longtime do a sequel to his 1990 movie planet Arnold is forced to collaborators Andy Heyward, Kindergarten Cop, which expend his power in a final as well as Arnold, and we features a tough cop who goes battle against his arch nemesis. look forward to continuing undercover in a nursery to He then falls back on teaching, the partnership with Genius locate a ruthless drug lord’s albeit as a kindergarten teacher Brands to bring Stan’s vision ex-wife. to a group of five-year-olds with for this new adventure series Shortly afterwards, Lee rumoured superpowers. to life.” called up the action hero and Schwarzenegger, who POW! Entertainment is now asked what he thought about lends his voice to the series’ owned by Chinese branding doing an animated series that protagonist, serves as executive and licensing giant Camsing shared some similarities to his producer along with Genius International Holding Limited. cop movie, but with a twist: Brands’ chairman and chief While Lee might not be the teacher would be a former exec Andy Heyward and POW! around to appreciate the end superhero, and his students Entertainment president Gill results of this creation, as would be five-year-olds with Champion. homage to the comic book superpowers. While the property’s legend, he will appear as Lee passed away last entertainment value is clear, a cameo in every episode. November before he could see Schwarzenegger appears Heyward says: “Just as his one of his final ideas come into equally as enthusiastic about its millions of fans look forward fruition, but Genius Brands, health and well-being messages. to seeing him appear in each Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment “Of particular pride to me Marvel film, they will look and Schwarzenegger’s Oak is the fact that I am not only forward to his presence in each Productions have now picked teaching kids to use their episode of this cartoon. It will up the mantel. superpowers, but I am also make it a series that parents will The 52 x 11-minute imparting valuable lessons enjoy alongside their children.” Superhero Kindergarten – which about the importance of health, Schwarzenegger is also does not yet have a release exercise and nutrition,” he says. gearing up for this autumn’s date – is making its debut in Genius Brands International US release of Terminator Dark the international market at will be distributing the series Fate, which the animation MIPCOM this month and is and the property also fits into could also benefit from as being penned by Deadpool co- its “content with a purpose” parents start to reacquaint creator Fabian Nicieza. brand portfolio, which includes themselves with the franchise.

October/November 2019 17

Alt Kidsp16-18,20,22,24 Kids Hot Picks OctNov19MR RM.indd 17 02/10/2019 17:42 TBI Kids | Hot Picks

Seal Force 5 #DeliciousMax Distributor: Hoho Rights Distributor: MK Media Group Producer: Hoho Entertainment Producer: Svoya Production Broadcaster: n/a Broadcaster: n/a Logline: Five arctic seals, mutated into humanoid form, assemble as Logline: Crafted like a vlog, food enthusiast Max delves into famous an elite special forces ﬁghting ecological villainy foods that cater to an 8 to 14-year-old demo

Speaking of his search to find attached, Hoho Entertainment the right animal for Caldera helped the fledgling company Creations’ first vehicle, aimed at bring its idea to fruition and has 6 to 10-year-olds, creator Paul come on board as the series’ Caldera reveals why seals were producer. the answer. The firm’s distribution arm He says: “We were looking Hoho Rights is now on the for an animal that is both lookout for broadcast and adorable and funny yet also co-production partners at MIP fit for action, but isn’t already Junior and MIPCOM. a pop culture icon – and seals Oliver Ellis, Hoho’s joint MD, were the perfect choice. claims that the series has all the “From there, the idea of using ingredients for a fun, action- seals as Navy SEALs seemed packed show for older kids. like a readymade match for “The international market #DeliciousMax is an animated humorous look at dierent the action/comedy animation has been saying they are looking edutainment series from countries around the world. genre.” for older children’s fare for some Ukrainian producer Svoya Now in its second season, The resulting show, Seal Force time. This is now the time for Production that showcases the 12 local video vloggers, each 5 (26 x 22 minutes), features broadcasters to get on board history of some of the world’s with their own specialty, have five arctic seals, mysteriously early with a comedy adventure most loved foods – as seen been introduced in the Who’s mutated into humanoid form, series with global appeal.” through the lens of younger There? format. Max pops up in who assemble as an elite Ellis describes the seals’ teens. that, too, and while his area is special forces team to prevent a nemesis, The Evil Order of The main character is food, other vloggers include an shadowy cabal from pushing the Eden, as “a bit like James Bond’s 15-year-old Portuguese vlogger Australian into astrology and world to the edge of ecological Spectre but with a malicious Max who has his own culinary a Singaporean boy interested collapse. environmental intent”. channel. Each 10-minute in high tech. Svoya’s plan is to Each episode is self-contained Ellis believes that with episode sees Max talk about make a season per blogger. but with a longer series narrative environmental issues topping the famous foods that are bound The first episode of arc featuring the bad guys, list of kids’ concerns, this series to go down well with the series’ #DeliciousMax (12 x 10 which slowly gets revealed as the will also strike a chord with target audience of 8 to 14-year- minutes), which explores show progresses. its audience with a real call to olds: spaghetti, hamburgers, spaghetti, has already been While a broadcaster is not yet action. sushi, ice cream, pizza, French delivered, and while a fries, pancakes, popcorn and broadcaster is not yet attached, even chewing gum. Canadian distributor MK Crafted like an online vlog, Media is the international each show covers general distributor. It has been focusing information about the food increasingly on edutainment followed by its history, while titles, according to the firm’s the remaining segment is a head of sales Anna Verbovska, chatroom dedicated to Max and the distributor loves the answering viewers’ questions modern approach taken by this about cooking specifics and series. eating. “It’s a mix of blogging and The series is related to TV. A broadcaster can share another internationally #DeliciousMax for TV viewers focused Svoya production, and oer the same content for Who’s There?, which takes a its online channels.” she says.

18 October/November 2019

Alt Kidsp16-18,20,22,24 Kids Hot Picks OctNov19MR RM.indd 18 02/10/2019 17:42 KidspXX JetPack OctNov19.indd 1 30/09/2019 17:56 TBI Kids | Hot Picks

Odo Distributor: Sixteen South Rights Producer: Sixteen South, Letko Broadcaster: n/a Logline: A gender-neutral little owl is prone to getting in trouble joins other small birds in daily

Based on the book by Oliver Austria, Odo is a gender-neutral owl who joins other little birds for the day’s tasks at forest camp. When things go wrong, Odo always wants to put them right, which often causes things to snowball out of control. Belfast animation outfit Sixteen South – which is kids TV writer and script editor Letko, Williams describes the broadcasters attached, Williams producing as well as distributing Sam Barlow, with artwork look as 2D with 3D lighting and says Sixteen South Rights has the property via its new sister supplied by 2D artist Alena camera eects. already completed “a significant company – is encouraging Tkech. “We’re calling it 2.5D,” he amount of deals on the show” international broadcasters to Williams adds that the series explains. “We didn’t want to that it plans to announce shortly. choose for themselves whether also promotes self-belief in create a 3D CGI show but Summing up, Williams Odo should be male or female. pre-schoolers as well as dealing wanted the theatre of 2D and says: “Odo has had a brilliant Or neither. with important themes such added some new techniques reaction from the market. It’s “To us, Odo’s just Odo,” says as immigration and respect for involving depth of field and 3D a truly beautiful-looking show Sixteen South’s creative director others. lighting into the 2D world to with a cute lead gender-neutral Colin Williams, who created the Animated at Sixteen South really make everything pop.” character who believes they can series with Emmy-nominated and Polish 2D animation studio While there are no do anything.”

Kids Safari interesting and daring content and personal with nature and Distributor: West One International including the two main children we feel strongly that there hasn’t Producer: Lion Mountain Media entering a shark cage with great been a kids show like this on Broadcaster: n/a whites circling – a ﬁrst for a kids’ oer before,” he adds. Logline: A mix of live-action and 2D animation sees kids exploring the TV series. The series is seeking broadcast most amazing places on Earth “The series really gets up close partners in Cannes.

Created by Peter Lamberti, is a mix of live-action and 2D founder and chief executive animation. of Lion Mountain Media, this Locations range from the series was inspired by his young rolling savannahs of the African children Luca and Melua, who bush, to the Paciﬁc Ocean, the travel with their parents making Rocky Mountains in the US, wildlife ﬁlms. the jungles of Madagascar and Viewers are invited to join the towering sand dunes of the the 8 and 10-year-olds on a world’s oldest desert. wild journey of discovery as Carl Hall, MD of West they explore some of the most One International, which is spectacular places on earth. distributing the 36 x 12-minute Shot in 4K across the US and series, believes that the series is Africa, this family series, aimed “one of a kind”. at eight-year-olds and upwards, He adds: “There’s loads of

20 October/November 2019

Alt Kidsp16-18,20,22,24 Kids Hot Picks OctNov19MR RM.indd 20 02/10/2019 17:42 Kidsp21 Mondo Masterclass OctNov19.indd 1 02/10/2019 19:52 TBI Kids | Hot Picks

Lupin’s Tales Blue’s Clues & You! Distributor: Xilam Animation Distributor: Viacom International Studios Producer: Xilam Animation Producer: Nickelodeon Animated Studios, Brown Bag Films, Out of Broadcaster: France Télévisions the Blue Enterprises Logline: A little wolf dreams of becoming a fairytale hero, but makes Broadcaster: Nick Jr. (US) a terrible mess Logline: A reimagining of the beloved 1990s blue-spotted dog Blue

Nickelodeon’s 1996 curriculum- Johnson, Todd Kessler and driven interactive series Blue’s Angela C. Santomero Clues followed an animated Now called Blue’s Clues & blue-spotted dog called Blue as You! (20 x 30 minutes), it will she left a trail of clues/paw prints feature new elements alongside for the host and the viewers, to refreshed iconic items from the figure out her plans for the day. original series – including new Combining concepts from CG-animation for Blue and child development and early- Magenta, provided by Dublin- childhood education with based Brown Bag Film’s Toronto innovative animation and studios, as well as several new production techniques that characters. helped viewers learn, the original The show’s new Filipino host incarnation became the highest- Joshua Dela Cruz has already rated show for pre-schoolers on been declared “a grade-A US commercial television. hottie” by fans on Twitter, The part live-action part according to Hu Post, and animated series was syndicated distributor Viacom International Inverting the classic ‘big bad Muller also shares directorial in 120 countries and translated Studios expects the programme wolf’ trope, this animated reins with Antoine Colomb, into 15 languages, becoming the to perform strongly in markets series from Xilam follows the whose previous credits include longest-running Nick Jr. series with a local host. “We’re in adventures of Lupin, a tiny wolf Xilam’s Moka. until it was surpassed by Dora the initial phases of exploring who dreams of becoming a France Télévisions The Explorer in 2011. which territories would be most fairytale hero. commissioned the show, which The new series is a eective and looking at potential Lupin sneaks into classic is set to air next autumn, with ‘reimagining’ for a new hosts,” says Lauren Marriott, stories, taking on the heroes’ Xilam already securing pre-sales generation of pre-schoolers by Viacom’s VP of International identities, convinced that he with Rai in Italy and VRT in its original creators, Traci Paige programme sales. can do things just as well. The Belgium. The first episode will problem is that he’s still an be presented at MIP Junior this impulsive little wolf who insists year. on doing things his own way, The series uses a mix of 2D and creates a terrible mess. and 3D to create a unique With guidance from the pop-up book-like aesthetic – a show’s narrator, Lupin is willing technique adopted, according to fix his mistakes and seal a to Xilam Animation head Marc happy ending as he journeys du Pontavice, to enable kids to through medieval Europe, Greek feel as though “they can imagine and Nordic myths and Asian and create a whole world from a tales. simple piece of paper”. Aimed at upper pre-schoolers, Xilam expects the 78 x the show was jointly created by 7-minute series to do well Laura Muller – whose credits globally as episodes cover tales include Xilam’s Mr Magoo and from regions such as Asia, Zig & Sharko – and Nicolas Le Northern Europe, Latin America Nevé, the director of another and Africa.The animation Xilam property, Oggy And The producer-distributor will target Cockroaches. broadcasters and platforms.

22 October/November 2019

Alt Kidsp16-18,20,22,24 Kids Hot Picks OctNov19MR RM.indd 22 02/10/2019 17:42 2-4 DECEMBER 2019 LILLE, HAUTS-DE-FRANCE (FR) Illustration partiallyIllustration - Studio Redfrog Haye designed with Freepik Nicolas by

pitching event for animated transmedia projects www.cartoon-media.eu

pXX Cartoon 360 TBI AugSep19.indd 1 04/09/2019 09:12 TBI Kids | Hot Picks

Kingdom Force Distributor: Boat Rocker Studios Producer: Industrial Brothers, Boat Rocker Studios Broadcaster: CBC (Canada) Logline: Five animal heroes must band together to protect the citizens of various kingdoms

Described as a ‘high-octane animated action show’ aimed at older pre-schoolers, Kingdom Force follows the exploits of ﬁve animal heroes who must serve and protect the citizens of their dierent kingdoms. The kings are supported by a fearless wolf leader, Luka, and their rescue vehicles, which can transform into a giant super- robot called Alpha-Mech. properties Top Wing, Yup Yups diversity, according to Boat save ‘animal kind’ and unite to This 52 x 11-minute 3D and Gummandos. Rocker Studios. become Kingdom Force, the animated series, set to debut Animated at Industrial The distributor’s MD Jon team is unbreakable,” he says. on CBC this autumn, was Brothers and Canadian Rutherford explains: “Each Rutherford adds that Boat created by Industrial Brothers animation and VFX house Jam of our heroes comes from a Rocker has secured “signiﬁcant” co-founder Matt Fernandes, Filled Entertainment, Kingdom dierent Kingdom with their sales with leading international whose credits include The Jim Force combines children’s love own cultures and traditions broadcasters across a number Henson Company’s show Dot of action heroes, animals and but when they combine their of territories and will be holding and Industrial Brothers’ own vehicles as well as championing individual strengths to help further discussions.

series, which is being made in India, and planting a fresh through Gaumont Animation vegetable garden at a newly built in collaboration with its school in New York. president Nicolas Atlan, and “Touch The Earth will inspire Terry Kalagian, SVP of creative children everywhere to make a development. dierence and show them how The story follows four friends they can be the ones to change – UK-born Jack, Venezuelan the world, one story at a time,” Rosa, Ghanaian Koﬁ and says Kalagian. American Ally – as they join The series is comprised of a Ryder, an Earth Spirit in the CGI-animated story featuring form of a magical White Feather the main characters with a Touch e Earth airplane, on adventures around factual, live-action segment at Distributor: Gaumont the globe. the end of each episode proﬁling Producer: Gaumont Themes of environmentalism children who have made a Broadcaster: n/a and social issues run through the dierence, including Greta Logline: Four international friends join forces in ecological adventures series, and, on their expeditions, Thunberg, Ryan Hickman, the characters help other kids Gitanjali Rao, Leroy Mwasaru Based on Julian Lennon and children around the world solve problems local to their and Richard Turere. his children’s book collaborator to become eco-warriors and region. Currently in development, Bart Davis’s trio of New York promote sustainability. These involve lending a hand there are no broadcasters Times-bestselling books, Touch Lennon and Davis are to a stranded elephant in Africa, attached to the global-facing 52 The Earth aims to inspire executive producers on the diving into a beach clean-up x 11-minute series.

24 October/November 2019

Alt Kidsp16-18,20,22,24 Kids Hot Picks OctNov19MR RM.indd 24 02/10/2019 17:42 FINDING OPPORTUNITY IN CONTENT EVOLUTION

pIBC NATPE Miami OctNov19.indd 1 27/09/2019 14:08 MIPCOM 2019 MEET US AT BOOTH R8.C1 [email protected] | gaumont.us | @GaumontTV

MIPjr19_TBI_KidsMagazine_Back Cover_BM.indd 1 9/2/19 6:07 PM pOBC Gaumont TBI AugSep19.indd 1 03/09/2019 09:43