+ Magic Light Pictures, the U.K.-based company behind the success of film and licensing properties The Gruffalo and Room on the Groom is building up its operation with two key appointments. Daryl Shute, who joined the company in 2006 and oversaw the marketing and merchandising of Magic Light’s flagship brands, has been promoted to Brand Director, while Muriel Thomas, formerly of Entertainment One, has been moved from her consulting position to the newly created role of Head of International Distribution.
+ Toronto’s Breakthrough Entertainment has received a futher order of 26 half-hour episodes for its animated space comedy-adventure Rocket Monkeys from TELETOON Canada. The announcement of Gus and Wally’s further digital 2D escapades was made by Breakthrough’s co-managing director Ira Levy and TELETOON Canada’s director of original content Alan Gregg. The re-up comes at a time when the series is also enjoying a good response from U.S. audiences tuning in on Nickelodeon. The show is produced by Breakthrough in association with TELETOON and Atomic Cartoons. Mark Evestaff will continue to serve as showrunner.
+ France’s Gulli TV has selected animated monster-battling series Redakai: Conquer the Kairu (52 x 26), co-produced with Zodiak Kids’ Marathon Media, for the launch of its first ever broadcast-synchronized, second-screen app for a cartoon in the country. “The Big Redakai Challenge” will utilize Civolution’s SyncNow technology to offer fans an expanded viewing experience. By accessing it through the Gulli TV app, audiences can interact with the show’s plot, win prizes and collect virtual trading cards as the program is being broadcast through the app’s recognition abilities. Redakai first aired in the country on Canal J in 2011 and launched on Gulli in February, 2012–the second season debuted earlier this year and ranks as the channel’s No. 1 afternoon show. The Marathon/Spin Master co-pro also airs on Cartoon Network (U.S., LatAm, EMEA exc. France and Spain), CITV (U.K.), Network Ten (Australia), Clan TV (Spain), Panda Biggs (Portugal) and YTV (Canada) among over 100 territories.
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