CAKE has secured a Disney XD EMEA premiere for its new co-production, Space Chickens in Space (52 x 11’), a surreal, tradigital 2D comedy aimed at kids 6-11. Created by José C. García de Letona and Rita Street, the adventures of three chickens mistakenly enrolled in an elite intergalactic academy will debut on Disney XD in the U.K., across Europe, Middle East and Africa on November 19 at 4:30 p.m. GMT (exc. Israel). It premiered in Australia on Channel 9 last month. The series is co-produced with Mexico-based Ánima (Legend Quest); London-based CAKE, Australia’s Studio Moshi (Rocket Dog) and Dublin-based Gingerbread Animation.
Cyber Group Studios has secured a major raft of sales following MIPCOM (which saw the world premiere of Gigantosaurus, the most-screened show at MIP Junior), and Taffy, the first Boomerang Original. Deals have been struck with Disney Junior worldwide (Gigantosaurus), Netflix (Gigantosaurus), RTVE Spain (The Pirates Next Door, Mirette Investigates), RAI Italy (The Pirates Next Door, Gigantosaurus), KiKA Germany (The Pirates Next Door), RTP Portugal (Mini-Ninjas S1, The Pirates Next Door), RTBF belgium (Mirette Investigates), TG4 Ireland (Zak Jinks), Vianet Ukraine (Mirette Investigates, The Pirates Next Door, Zou, Zorro), Ceska TV Czech Republic (Long Long Holidays, Zou), Channel 1 Russia (Leo the Wildlife Ranger, Cloud Bread 2), CCTV China (Tales of Tatonka), CJ English Gem S. Korea (Ozie Boo Saves the Planet, Adam’s Bakery), Forever Group Myanmar (Baloopo, Mia, Raju The Rickshaw), Télé-Québec SVOD Canada (Zak Jinks), TVA SVOD Canada (Mini Ninjas S1, Zou). TFO SVOD Canada (Mirette investigates); plus package deals with U.S. OTTs Future Today and PlayKids.
Mondo TV is highlighting key series at DISCOP in Johannesburg (Nov. 14-16) at stand #101. Animated favorites include Invention Story (104 x 11’ S1; 520 eps. Over 5 seasons planned), Sissi the Young Empress (S1 & S2 25 x 25’ each; 3D S3 53 x 11’) and Robot Trains (S1 32 x 11’, S2 52 x 11’ due in 2019), and live-action hit Heidi Bienvenida (60 x 45’ or 120 x 24’). Mondo will also bring a big, new American catalog to present to broadcasters across Africa.
Nat Geo Kids (Latin America) has licensed a trio of kids’ properties from 9 Story Distribution International in advance of MipCancun (Nov. 14-16). These are the brand-new global culture animated series Let’s Go Luna! (79 x 11’) from 9 Story’s Irish studio Brown Bag Films, CG sci-fi for kids 4-8 The Diary of Bita and Cora (26 x 5’) from TV ON Producciones, and live-action science series Finding Stuff Out seasons 3 & 4 from Apartment 11.
One Animation is toasting a fresh success for its hit comedy Oddbods, which exceeded expectations with spectacular results and immersive activity across social media for its Halloween Special. Aided by collaborations with “kidfluencers” like YouTube’s Tiana, a YouTube Kids channel takeover with free content, activities and exclusive prizes from Oddbods creator Richard Thomas; and an intensive training regime for the colorful characters to perfect the Kidz Bop shuffle. The special racked up 250 million views, including more than 35 million on Oddbods proprietary channels alone.
