Canadian kids and family producer WildBrain Television announced that Family Channel, its flagship broadcast network, has greenlit three new content projects across live-action and animation, in partnership with independent Canadian producers. Exclusive to WildBrain Television in Canada, the new content will begin rolling out across the company’s broadcast and digital channels this September, continuing into 2023. WildBrain has also acquired global distribution rights for all three properties.
The animation lineup features Slugterra: Ascension, produced in partnership with Epic Story Media. The shorts will premiere exclusively on WildBrainTV in Canada in a sneak peek on September 5 at 2:50 p.m. ET, with new episodes beginning September 18 at 11:45 a.m. ET, before rolling out globally across WildBrain Spark’s Slugterra YouTube channels.
Also newly greenlit is an expanded order of five half-hours to the popular new series Summer Memories, produced in partnership with A&N Productions, Aircraft Pictures and Yeti Farm Creative. The series debuted on Family Channel this summer, and the new stories will begin airing on Family Channel in 2023.
WildBrain Television’s live-action slate is headlined by Life with Luca, a 90-minute feature spun off from the long-running Life with Derek franchise, which is due to debut on Family Channel in 2023.
“We’re proud to further support Canadian independent producers with these original commissions. Family Channel, and WildBrain Television as a whole, play an integral role in our strategy to drive distinct Canadian content and stories that resonates globally,” said Deirdre Brennan, WildBrain’s COO. These shows have universal appeal, and we look forward to sharing them not only with our audience at home, but with kids and families worldwide.”
Slugterra: Ascension (20 x 4’) – coming to WildBrainTV and Family Channel fall 2022
The wait is over! For the first time in six years Eli Shane, Trixie Sting and the slugs are back with more comedy, action and exciting escapades in Slugterra: Ascension.
After a rockslide leaves them trapped alone with only a few of their slugs, Eli and Trixie have to be smart and strategic to outwit and outrun villainous twins Locke and Lode and their deadly gattler blaster — that is until they find the legendary Universal Slug! At first glance “Uni” looks like any derpy little flopper. But once transformed, this powerful creature can imitate any slug’s strongest move! Too bad it comes with a price Eli and Trixie won’t be happy about paying.
The 20 brand-new, four-minute CG-animated shorts will join the classic library of Slugterra episodes, the fan-favorite adventure series set deep underground where fierce opponents collect, train and battle it out with their arsenals of fantastical transforming slugs.
Slugterra was created by Asaph Fipke, and Slugterra: Ascension is produced in association with Epic Story Media’s Ken Faier, acting as executive producer, along with showrunner Nancy Lees. The new series was animated at Island of Misfits (IOM) in Halifax. Additional executive producers include WildBrain’s Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts and Anne Loi, and IOM’s Meaghan Clark. The series was directed by IOM’s Don Urquhart and produced by Epic Story Media’s Christine Cote and Marlene Schmidt.
Summer Memories (5 x 30’) – new episodes coming to Family Channel in 2023
Five half-hours are being added to the popular new series Summer Memories, which launched this summer on Family Channel.
The new stories dive further into the world and characters, following the adventures of best friends Jason and Ronnie as Jason looks back on the most pivotal summer of his life (which was just a few weeks ago). This is Jason’s summer of change … and he fears change. Lucky for him, he has charismatic, life adventurer Ronnie at his side. Summer Memories transcends time, space and memory — the good and the bad — as it chronicles Jason and Ronnie’s sweet, fun-filled relationship.
Summer Memories was created by veteran animator/producer Adam Yaniv and produced by A&N Productions, Aircraft Pictures and Yeti Farm Creative, with the financial support of the Canada Media Fund and Shaw Rocket Fund.
