MIPTV News Bytes

+ Imira Entertainment in Spain is teaming up with Italian studio Just for Kids Factory to co-produce Dummysaurs (104 x 2), a non-dialogue slapstick comedy series. The first 13 chapters are in production, with Imira presenting the first two at the show this week, along with toons Alisa (24 x 26, produced by Bazelevs), season 3 of Larva in New York (104 x 2, Tuba), Bat Pat (Atlantyca, Imira, Mondo TV with RAI and TVE), Mika’s Diary (52 x 7, Super Toons) and Cleo (39 x 6). Booth #R7.H14

+ Studio 100 Media and Hungarian pubcaster MTVA are building on the success of their Maya the Bee deal with the channel picking up CG animated series Tashi (52 x 11) as well as exclusive FTA rights for over 230 half-hours of Studio 100’s library programming. Booth #R7.C1

+ Rainbow and Brazil’s TV Cultura are amping up their broadcast partnership with a pair of new deals signed on the heels of the success of Winx Club in the region. The indie free-to-air network has picked up new animated series Regal Academy and live-action Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends – both will launch on TV Cultura in December 2016. Booth #R7.H2

+ Silvergate Media announces it has commenced production on season two of Sunny Day, a new animated preschool series (20 x 22) launching on Nickelodeon in the U.S. in early 2017 that follows “the best hairstylist in town” who solves problems with determination and a touch of creativity.

+ ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures have been commissioned to produced a third 26 x half-hour season of Thunderbirds Are Go for Canada’s CITV. The series has also been picked up by Canada’s DHX Media through a deal with ITV Studios Global Entertainment, and will premiere on its Family CHRGD and Family Channels later this month.

+ Mattel‘s new content-creation arm has secured numerous international broadcast deals for the new Bob the Builder series, which has been snapped up by Channel 11 (Australia), Dreamia-Panda (Portugal), NRK-Super (Norway), Karusel (Russia) and ATV-Minika (Turkey). Mattel Creations just announced a special for the show, Bob the Builder: Mega Machines – The Movie, coming to TV and DVD next year, produced by Mattel’s HIT Ent. and distributed by DHX Media.

Mattel Creations has also announced a new feature-length special for its CG-animated Fireman Sam. Launching next year, Fireman Sam: Alien Alert features David Tennant as the voice of villain Buck Douglas. The special is being produced by HIT and animated by Beijing-based Xing Xing Digital Corporation. DHX Media will distribute Alien Alert.