HBO Max has picked up the U.S. rights to the quirky new preschool adventure Love Monster, from Boat Rocker Studios. Episodes featuring the huggable and lovable monster are available now on the streamer.
The series follows the colorful and funny exploits of one-of-a-kind, huggable hero Love Monster as he navigates the challenges involved in being a bit funny looking in a world of cute fluffy things. Every day provides Love Monster the opportunity to embark on all kinds of big adventures with his friends in Fluffytown, where, together, they learn all kinds of little life lessons. Full of heart and helping preschoolers understand and manage different emotions, Love Monster showcases the importance of kindness, empathy, connection and instinct.
A huge hit since it premiered on CBeebies in the U.K. in late January, the animated series is based on the wonderfully warm and witty, award-winning preschool books of the same name by Rachel Bright. The #1 Publishers Weekly bestseller and USA Today bestseller is published in the U.S. by Macmillan subsidiary Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Other international broadcast partners include ABC Australia, CBC Canada, RTE Ireland, YLE Finland, TVNZ New Zealand, MBC Middle East, Canal Panda Spain and Viu TV Hong Kong. Love Monster is a collaboration between BBC Children’s In-House Productions, Boat Rocker Studios and UYoung (China).
Following a successful virtual visit to ATF, Superights announces multiple series sales across Asia:
- In China, distributor JY Animation has acquired the first two seasons of Clay Time (60 x 3′ + 60 x 1’30”), while distributor UYong has signed a deal to secure the first season of Koumi Animated Picture Book (52 x 5’).
- In Australia, the public channel ABC acquired the first season of Koumi Animated Picture Book (52 x 5’).
- In Hong Kong, Superights has struck a deal with the public channel RTHK for Puffin Rock (78 x 7’), while season one of both Pat the Dog (78 x 7’) and Kika & Bob (52 x 13’) were sold to the free channel Viu TV. Additionally, the first two seasons of Clay Time (60 x 3′ + 60 x 1’30”), as well as season one of Will (52 x 2’), Handico (12 x 3’) and Koumi Animated Picture Book (52 x 5’) were acquired by the platform Now TV.
- Superights has likewise inked deals in South Korea with the pay channel Daekyo for both seasons of Clay Time (60 x 3′ + 60 x 1’30”), and with the public channel EBS for the premiere season of That’s Joey! (52 x 13’).
- In Vietnam, Superights also landed a deal with the platform FPT for season one of the popular program Pat the Dog (78 x 7’).
- Taiwanese distributor Muse has also picked up digital rights of season one of Pat the Dog (78 x 7’), and distributor Horng en Culture has bought digital rights of the series Ralph and the Dinosaurs (26 x 5’).
Genius Brands International has licensed streaming and select video-on-demand rights to the hit family series, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss (20 x 22’), from The Jim Henson Company for Genius Brands’ Kartoon Channel! The series features the fun, music and adventures of some of the favorite characters created by celebrated children’s author Theodore Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss). These whimsical tales and well-known characters come to life using a mix of masterful puppets built by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and CG animation, helping children understand valuable lessons about friendship, imagination and much more.
The new slate of content now available on Kartoon Channel! also includes the preschool series Hi Opie! (13 x 20′), Elias: Rescue Team Adventures (26 x 22′) and children’s series including The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (65 x 22′) and The Jim Henson Company’s Construction Site (52 x 11′).
Joy Media Beijing has snagged broadcast rights to season 2 of Space Doctor Cat from Red Carpet Studio Kids, and will bring the new musical 2D/puppet adventures to Chinese audiences next spring via the country’s biggest streaming platforms. Kids in China have been enjoying season 1 on iQIYI, Xiaomi, Huahong, Huawei, Hongmofang, Watermelon, TVJOY and Fujian Provincial Cable thanks to a prior deal with Joy Media inked earlier this year.
Season Two comprises 10 episodes packed with funny and educational songs and simple dance moves easy to follow for kids of any age. The songs relate the basics of a healthy lifestyle, the importance of following the rules of hygiene and doing your morning exercises. They also help youngsters to sleep with a tender lullaby.
SMF Studio (Soyuzmultfilm) has loaded a collection of 82 artistic animated shorts produced in the last 10 years onto one of China’s largets OTT platforms, Xiaomi, in a deal made through SMF’s exclusive distributor Beijing Joy CUlture Media.
“The Chinese audience traditionally favors Russian animation, and we are very grateful for such attention and intend to develop a partnership with companies from the PRC,” said Yuliana Slascheva, Chairman of the Board, SMF Studio. “Besides, it is of the utmost importance that the first introduction of the Studio’s new content will begin with the artistic short films, which will indeed demonstrate the significant creative potential of our animation. These are the films which are very different both in genre and techniques, and each of them, without a doubt, will make a great impression.”
SMF Studio and Beijing Joy Culture Media recently signed a deal for an exclusive license for three new animated series: Mr Theo, Cat and Dog, Claymotions and The Adventures of Peter and Wolf. Beijing Joy Culture Media will distribute the series on the territory of China on TV channels, VOD and OTT platforms and other digital media broadcasters.
The much-awaited Season 3 of Beyblade Burst has debuted on Marvel HQ in India. The series follows the epic adventures of Aiger Akabane as he sets his sights on becoming an invincible Blader with the help of his Turbo Bey, Z Achilles, and claiming the title of World Champion. The 51-episode season premiered on Indian TV for the first time on Marvel HQ on Dec. 7 and will air Monday to Friday, available to watch in Hindi, Tamil and Telegu.
Originating in Japan in 1999, the Beyblade brand is currently in its third generation, with five animated seasons produced to date. The series has gained popular acclaim in India through multiple generations with beloved themes of friendship and competition that fans have formed a deep affinity with. Beyblade Burst premiered in India on Marvel HQ in 2018 and has been very well-received across many demographics, garnering fans old and new.
Dream Theatre will represent the brand for content syndication and merchandise rights, having partnered with ADK Emotions NY Inc., which manages the brand globally (ex. Asia). Much more excitement is coming in 2021 for the 20th anniversary of the first generation of the animated series!
Captain Migol, Lookout Popodom and Engineer Drod are ready to entertain children of all ages and nationalities with their wacky travels through space, as the first two seasons (36 episodes) of Space Yoghurt from Atem Entertainment are now available to stream on Playground TV.
The series follows the three friends on their interstellar journeys as they bump into unusual problems and solve every obstacle they meet in a fun and kid-friendly way. Playground is a dedicated multilingual streaming service that provides kids access to video content in their native language safely and easily.
Maurizio Distefano Licensing announced that Russian animated series Leo & Tig is now available on the Italian pay-TV children’s channel DeA Junior. It began broadcasting on December 13, guaranteeing young viewers a feast of fun and adventure right through the Christmas holidays. DeA Junior, part of major Italian publishing house De Agostini, is also available for Italian-speaking preschool viewers in Switzerland, Malta, Monte Carlo, San Marino and the Vatican.
Leo & Tig is created by Parovoz Studio for Digital Television Russia. The first season (26 x 11′) has already appeared daily throughout the summer on Rai YoYo as well as on Rai Play. Children have responded enthusiastically to the adventures of the curious and brave leopard cub Leo and his cautious friend Tig, a Siberian tiger, in the beautiful Far Eastern forest they call home. The show’s winning combination of fun with a message of respect and care for the world around us is not only popular with kids but has inspired a number of licensing deals – with more on the way – in a wide range of categories including toys, plush, apps, stationery, publishing and much more.
Your Family Entertainment AG announced the addition of its linear TV channels RiC TV and RiC International to Vision247 ONEHUBTV´s selection of 24-hour family-friendly offerings to customers in the U.K. RiC the Raven, born in Ravensburg, Germany, is not only an iconic animated series but also the broadcaster’s hilarious mascot for the family of TV networks worldwide. The launch of RiC on ONEHUBTV is a great new chapter in the channel’s internationalisation as it follows the recent successful launch of sister channel RiK in Slovakia.
ONEHUBTV (www.onehubtv.com) offers its viewers over 80 linear TV channels as well as VOD content and aims to carry over 300 linear channels internationally within the next 12 months. RiC channels offer award-winning English and German content for kids and the whole family alike, both entertaining and educational. The high-quality English and German scripts have been carefully put together in collaboration with the show’s creators over several years and most of its classic stories are based on popular children’s books and novels.
