Mondo TV Iberoamerica, part of the Mondo TV Group — one of the largest European producers and distributors of animated content — is showcasing its new kids’ animated comedy Masked Cinderella in a number of important industry events for broadcasters, program buyers and financing/production partners. These include MIPCOM Online+, Cartoon Forum, Weird Market and the recent Indian Cine Film Festival, where it won a major award.
Now in development, Masked Cinderella (26 x 22’) is a new and very modern take on the classic tale, full of magic, humor and adventure, aimed at a target audience between six and 12 years old. The 2D-HD animated comedy is created and directed by Myriam Ballesteros and written by Txema Ocio.
The show is a co-production with MB Producciones, the production company founded by Ballesteros, who has been developing animated content for more than 20 years. Ballesteros is an admired producer and director with a strong reputation in the audiovisual industry for highly original ideas.
In this year’s reformatted Cartoon Forum, the show has been pitched on a digital platform across three virtual rooms. Pitches appear on a digital platform following an established agenda. The first showing of Masked Cinderella took place on the opening day (Sept. 15). Videos will be accessible until Oct. 15 — CF participants will be able to request a personal login to access them.
Masked Cinderella is also part of the program at Weird Market (Oct. 1-4). Formerly known as 3D Wire, Weird Market is one of Spain’s most important professional markets for animation, video games and new media – and a major event at the pan-European level as well.
From October 12-16, the series will also be among Mondo TV’s strong sales slate for MIPCOM Online+. Masked Cinderella makes its market debut at this year’s virtual Cannes confab, alongside established international favorites and newer titles including Annie & Carola (MB Producciones, Mondo TV Iberoamerica, RTVE), Grisu – The New Adventures, Hey Fuzzy Yellow (Toon2Tango, Mondo TV, Jungle Fruit), Invention Story (Mondo TV, York Animation), MeteoHeroes (Centro Epson Meteo, Mondo TV), Robot Trains (Mondo TV, CJ E&M) and Sissi: The Young Empress (Mondo TV, Il Sole di Carta).
Although it is still in the early production phase, the show has already received an award: The pilot of Masked Cinderella (presented as Cinderella Swing) won the Best Animation Short award from the jury at the eighth Indian Cine Film Festival in August.
Growing buzz around Masked Cinderella is being driven by its innovative concept that takes a well-known story and brings it right up to date in a highly original way. The show stars an ordinary 21st-century teenager with 21st century teenager problems – except that she lives in a magical kingdom whose inhabitants are all characters from classic fairy tales.
Cinderella studies at the Brothers Grimm High School, with unique classmates like the rebellious Little Red Riding Hood, the antisocial Beast and the Little Mermaid, a famous influencer princess. What’s more, she lives with a foster family made up of her airhead stepmother and awful step sisters.
Most people think Cinderella is just an insignificant young girl. Little do they know that she is really the famous masked heroine who defends the kingdom from monsters and injustice – with a little help from her pal Merlin, the young magician’s apprentice.
The producers promise thrilling and funny stories, innovative animation and evolving, growing characters will make every episode of this highly original series a must-see – and that its combination of classic fairy tale-inspired ideas and modern settings make it perfect for multiple formats and platforms as well as diverse merchandising and publishing initiatives.
“Masked Cinderella brilliantly combines two winning scenarios. It’s a relatable 21st century story about kids finding a role and being themselves. It’s also a hilarious new approach to the classic characters and fairy tales that we’ve all known since we were kids,” said Maria Bonaria Fois, Mondo Tv Iberoamerica’s CEO. “We’re looking forward enormously to previewing this wonderful new series in many important showcase events.”
“We’re thrilled at the reaction to Masked Cinderella, which, even at this early stage, is very positive,” added Ballesteros. “This is a wonderfully original project but one with a universal appeal and we’re confident that it will continue to attract enthusiastic support from the broadcasting industry wherever it is showcased.”
