Leading digital “eatertainment” brand Chefclub is adding animation to the menu with Chefclub Friends (52 x 11′, TBC), an edutainment series for five- to seven-year olds starring the beloved animated mascots from Chefclub’s dedicated kids’ network, Chefclub Kids.
Chefclub Friends is an action-comedy that sets out to build on Chefclub’s guiding principle: having fun in the kitchen! The series is inspired by the immersive universe of the Chefclub Kids’ channel, where entertaining recipes, zany kitchen characters and specially made utensils for little chefs have helped cooking become a new form of playtime that brings the whole family together.
The animated series follows intrepid kitchen enthusiasts Maurice, Lola, Carlton, Colette, Elvis and the Kikitos as they set out to discover the world. Their roadmap? A passion for cooking and a curiosity as big as their appetite! Together they discover the world through their eyes and their taste buds. In their quest for new ingredients, flavors and traditional recipes, the Chefclub friends team up with cooks – and new friends – across the globe.
“The Chefclub Kids channel was created to inspire children to cook, become independent and enjoy themselves with their family in the kitchen. Now, with Chefclub Friends, our young viewers can take their culinary adventures all over the world, following their favorite characters to discover new recipes and cultures,” commented Marie-Laure Marchand, SVP Global Consumer Products & Business Development, Chefclub. “An animated series is a natural brand extension for us given the fantastic enthusiasm we see from little chefs every day, as they learn that cooking is one of the healthiest, most sociable and fun ways to play!”
Chefclub is currently the No. 1 cooking brand in the world on social media with an unparalleled level of success since its launch in 2016: 100 million followers and 2.5 billion global views a month; five themed channels (Original, Kids, Light & Fun, Daily and Cocktails); licensing agents in the U.K., Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, and Benelux; a D2C and D2R consumer product business; a publishing division with 700,000 books sold to date; and two Licensing International Awards for Best Digital Brand in France (2019) and Germany (2021).
Chefclub Friends is currently being developed by Chefclub’s Paris-based team, in consultancy with Development Executive, Maia Tubiana (an executive & general producer previously at Ellipsanime & Dargaud Media, MoonScoop and France Animation), and industry veteran Marie-Laure Marchand (previously at Xilam, Studio 100 and Nelvana). Marchand will present the bible, synopses and script at Kidscreen and MIPTV
