Zodiak Kids, part of Banijay, has secured a commission from France Télévisions and Rai (Italy) to produce a brand-new animated series of the heritage property Mumfie (78 x 7’). The series, directed by the French director Daniel Dubuis, is a co-production between Zodiak Kids Studio France and Italian animation studio Animoka alongside the broadcasters. Production began this year with delivery from Spring 2021.
“Zodiak Kids and Animoka are very proud and privileged to be able to explore Britt Allcroft’s Mumfie preschool universe; made of friendship, humor and amazing characters!” said Benoit di Sabatino, Producer & CEO, Zodiak Kids. “Mumfie is a very cute and high-quality animated series tailor-made for our two prestigious partners, France Télévisions and RAI, as well as for the international market.”
Mumfie is a preschool comedy series based on Britt Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie (creator of Thomas & Friends and the film Thomas & The Magic Railroad). Told with heart and humor, the brand-new series features the optimistic young elephant Mumfie, who along with his best friends, Pinky the flying pig and Jelly Bean the color-changing jellyfish, are the helpful heroes of this whimsical series. As our trio embark on their daily adventures you’ll get to meet their eclectic bunch of animal friends: a cheeky crocodile who thinks he’s a king and his mischievous cat confidant; there’s a hermit crab mayor and a giraffe who runs a hotel on an iceberg; you’ll see a jolly yellow whale and a skateboarding zebra, as well as some pirate wolves and a Greek chorus of funny frogs. In this world, nothing is quite what it seems and no matter what challenges arise, no flop, failure or fiasco is unfixable for Mumfie and his friends.
“France Televisions is proud to welcome Mumfie in its preschool family. Mumfie will join the Okoo community, France Télévisions’ youth offer, alongside with our great heroes such as Simon, PJ Masks, Peppa Pig and many others,” said Pierre Siracusa, Head of Animation for France Télévisions. “With their positive attitude, mischievousness and altruism, there is no doubt Mumfie and his friends will enhance our children’s curiosity!”
RAI Ragazzi Head Luca Milano commented, “We are confident that the new series, for the kindness of its main character Mumfie and for the brilliant and imaginative universe created around it, will become a pivotal property for Rai Yoyo, the leading Italian children’s TV channel. We are happy to support the project since the beginning together with quality-oriented companies like Zodiak Kids and Animoka.”
Allcroft’s Mumfie was a beloved and classically animated children’s musical series, first shown in the U.K. in the 1990s on CiTV, Fox Kids in the U.S.A., and many other international channels. The series was lauded for its gentle storytelling and earned top ratings.
“I’m delighted to be working with Benoit di Sabatino, Gary Milne, and all the talented team members at Zodiak Kids and Animoka,” said Allcroft. “It’s an honor to know that France Télévisions and Rai are committed to bringing this renaissance of Mumfie to a whole new generation of children around the world.”
Zodiak Kids own international distribution rights to the series.
