China’s leading online entertainment service iQIYI has teamed up with global kids’ & family powerhouse WildBrain to create Jonny Jetboy, a new action-packed kids’ series from hitmaker Keith Chapman (PAW Patrol, Bob the Builder). The 40 x 11’ series is targeted at kids aged 4-7 and is currently in production, with delivery slated to begin in 2023.
Jonny Jetboy will be produced by iQIYI, in collaboration with WildBrain as its supervisor, and the animation production will be done by China’s Winsing Animation Studio (GoGo Bus, Team S.T.E.A.M.). Chapman and Michael Vogel (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic) serve as executive producers, heading the project’s creative leadership alongside Jinming Lu from Winsing, chief director for China’s popular animation franchise GG Bond.
Jonny Jetboy marks the first global partnership for original China IP struck by WildBrain’s China team, based out of Shanghai. The project, which was initiated by iQIYI in concert with WildBrain China, brings together two of the kids’ entertainment industry’s leading players, leveraging their considerable mutual capabilities across production, distribution and consumer products.
Xiaoxuan Yang, iQIYI’s Vice President, stated, “Previously, iQIYI and WildBrain mainly collaborated over content acquisition. As for Jonny Jetboy, it marks collaboration from creative stage for both parties. Together with first-class teams from both international and domestic, as well as WildBrain’s strength in international distribution and licensing in global market, this is a key step for iQIYI in building an internationally recognized IP.”
Chapman added: “I’m thrilled to be working with Mike and Jinming and the talented teams at iQIYI and WildBrain to build Jonny Jetboy into a global super-brand. It’s going to be an awesome ride!”
WildBrain Studios in Vancouver and Winsing in China are working together to create the exciting new series, which follows the adventures of 10-year-old Jonny, the youngest member of his family — who are secretly the “superteam” known as JetForce.
“Jonny Jetboy marks a major milestone for our dedicated China team as we join forces with iQIYI, a leading player in media and entertainment, to launch this thrilling new kids’ brand for the international market,” said Jianbo Wei, WildBrain’s Managing Director for China. “With the combined creative genius of the team behind the show, coupled with high-energy storylines and heroic characters, we’re certain Jonny Jetboy has the right stuff to speed into the homes and hearts of families around the world.”
Winsing’s Lu stated, “WinSing will be fully dedicated to the quality of production on Jonny Jetboy through innovative technologies and our deep experience in the animation industry. We are excited to be working on this series and look forward to delivering the highest quality animation to global audiences.”
WildBrain’s China team is focused on bringing new and exciting content and brand experiences to kids and families within and outside of China. Not only does the team develop new original IP with local partners through WildBrain’s global infrastructure of production, distribution and consumer products licensing, it also strikes local partnerships for notable WildBrain IP such as Peanuts, Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies and others, while also supporting existing third-party Chinese properties for international trade.
iQIYI is committed to become a technology-based entertainment company. In recent years, iQIYI has continuously expanded its global resources and partners, exploring new collaborations with world-renowned animation studios. iQIYI has provided premium kids’ content for both local and international audiences. iQIYI has also made an effort in promoting Chinese original animation to meet a wider global audience. iQIYI original animation series Deer Squad is the first Chinese original animation to land on Nickelodeon’s U.S. platform.
About Jonny Jetboy – Learn what it takes to be a true hero! Every kid dreams of being a hero, but becoming a hero doesn’t happen overnight! It takes years of practice, training and dedication. Jonny Jetboy follows the adventures of Jonny Jones, the youngest member of the Jones family, who are secretly the “superteam” known as JetForce, committed to protecting their home, the high-tech city Calamity Canyon, from its many villains.
Jonny is the FASTEST member of the force, wielding a one-of-a-kind JetGlove, which he uses to power up anything to go super-fast – his family’s awesome jets, boats, scooters and even a blender! Sometimes this leads to mishaps (like exploding smoothies) but hey, he’s still learning! Like every family, the Joneses don’t always get along, but when they work together, nothing in the world can stop them! In each episode, Jonny will learn valuable lessons from his parents, his sister – and even the family’s pet tortoise – about what it takes to be a true hero!
