Cecilia Persson, Managing Director of BBC Studios Kids & Family, announced new plans and upcoming projects for the newly-created division as she delivered the keynote speech at the MIP Junior market in Cannes, France. She said the Kids & Family unit has now doubled its development slate after the recent restructure.
“BBC Studios Kids & Family is home to some of the most successful international franchises around and is now ready to invest in the next generation,” she said. “The new division seamlessly unites our brilliant production capabilities with our outstanding commercial expertise, enabling us to increase the reach of our in-house hits, invest in and co-produce with independent partners, develop global brands and be a ‘best-in class’ commercial partner….We already produce, develop and distribute hundreds of hours of critically acclaimed, award-winning content that delights millions of children and families around the world and we now have the capacity, creativity and capability to do more”.
During the keynote Persson announced a number of projects in development.
- A partnership with Big Deal Films to develop an animation series based on the hilarious Little Bad Man books about a mischievous wannabe rapper and his crazy friends and family, penned by best-selling authors; YouTube sensation Humza Arshad MBE and his writing partner Henry White.
- Flip, Flap and Zip – Currently in development with Finnish production company Haruworks this new preschool series, inspired by unboxing videos, taps into children’s unbridled curiosity. The world of Flip Flap and Zip is a warm world of discovery where three friends open up and explore the world around them one flip, flap or zip at a time. Flip, Flap and Zip looks at the why’s the how’s and the what’s and makes the ordinary extraordinary. Haruworks will present the show as part of the Finland Showcase on Wednesday at MIPCOM.
- Best-selling author Eoin Colfer, who has sold over 25 million copies of his hugely popular Artemis Fowl series, is working on his first live action original, written in collaboration with screenwriter Viko Nikci. Combining a gripping high-stakes mystery with a fun gang of unlikely young heroes, this will be a binge-able sci-fi series full of action, comedy and satisfying plot twists.
Among the other BBC shows to premiere at the market:
- Phoenix Rise – Follows a group of teenagers taking their first tentative steps back into mainstream education after exclusion, and promotes uniqueness, diversity and authenticity. Commissioned by the BBC, and due to air on CBBC next year, this Kids & Family drama distributed by Sinking Ship Entertainment, has its World Premiere Screening at MIPCOM JUNIOR later today.
- Supertato – this new comedy follows the world’s greatest potato superhero as he battles Evil Pea among the supermarket aisles. Produced by Kids & Family production the series was commissioned by the BBC and co-produced with Tencent Video with animation provided by Brighton Zoo. It launches on CBeebies this month and is being presented to the international market for the first time.
- Popularity Papers – BBC Studios Kids & Family is co-producing and distributing Aircraft Pictures and Wexworks Media’s forthcoming comedy drama about an epic middle school rights of passage, which is currently in production in Canada.
Noting that the BBC is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Persson also paid tribute to the corporation’s 100-year history of pioneering children’s broadcasting. She pointed out that it was this spirit of innovation which spurred her team on to find today’s hits to become tomorrow’s classics.
