One of the great draws of the MIP Junior market in Cannes (Oct. 5 and 6 at the Carlton Hotel) is that buyers and execs can take a look at the kids’ entertainment crystal ball and find out which toons are being prepared by creative content producers around the globe:
Here are eight new shows that landed on our toontastic radar only weeks before the market.
Kate & Mim-Mim
Format: 26 x 22 or 52 x 11
Type of Animation: 3D
Producing studios: Nerd Corps Entertainment with FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment, which holds the exclusive worldwide distribution and licensing rights to the property outside of Canada.
Created by: Award-winning husband and wife team Scott and Julie Stewart
Target audience: Preschool
Synopsis: The colorful toon follows the adventures of Kate, a spirited little girl who, together with her toy bunny Mim-Mim, travels to a fantasy world where Mim-Mim comes alive as a larger than life playmate! In each episode, Kate and Mim-Mim and their group of loveable friends discover exciting new places and set off on adventures, all in the hope of solving a puzzling problem Kate has encountered in the real world. When the adventure ends, Kate returns to the real world to tell her parents all about her amazing adventures and how she and Mim-Mim have saved the day.
You’ve got to check it out because: Bob Higgins, exec VP at FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment, points out, “This is a show all about imagination and fun: In a market segment where so much focus has been placed on core-curriculum learning and interactivity between viewers and the screen, what makes Kate & Mim-Mim so unique is that it is a laugh-out-loud buddy comedy that focuses squarely on telling wonderful, adventurous stories. Period. We want preschoolers to love these characters as much as Kate and Mim-Mim love each other, to laugh themselves silly and to want to be part of the magical ride that Kate and Mim-Mim go on in each episode.”
Delivery date: Will air on CBeebies in 2014
Q Pottle Five
Format: 52 x 11
Type of animation: CGI, HD
Production partners: Snapper Productions, BBC and ZDFE, ABC Australia
Created by: Nick Butterworth
Target Audience: Kids 3-5
Synopsis: The series is based on popular children’s author and illustrator Nick Butterworth’s best-selling books. The friendly little alien Q Pootle 5 and his friends, Oopsy, Eddi, Stella, Ray, Groobie, Bud-D and Planet Dave, find fun and adventure wherever they go, with inventive and engaging stories that will spark children’s imaginations everywhere! The toon is produced in the U.K. by Snapper Productions with animation by Blue Zoo.
Why the show stands out: According to Snapper Productions’ Nick Butterworth, “Q Pootle 5 is an exciting show with friendship at its heart. The series has diverse, strong stories and rich, nuanced characters that people can identify with. Fun and laughter also run alongside some very tender moments. We wanted to bring these core values together and create something that really resonates with children and parents.”
Debuted: CBeebies in July
Dr. Dimensionpants
Format: 26 x 30
Type of animation: 2D
Producing partners: DHX Media, Teletoon Canada
Created by: Brad Peyton
Target audience: Kids 6 -11
Synopsis: Kyle Lipton is… Dr. Dimensionpants, a cosmic superhero with powers of space, time and a moustache. Kyle was your everyday go-with-the-flow, somewhat average kid. But all that changed when an inter-dimensional portal opened in his backyard and dropped a strange pair of glowing pants in his lap: The Dimensionpants. Thanks to this cosmic clothing, young Kyle now has all the crazy-weird superhero powers he ever wanted–and a rocking mohawk. Helping him on his mission is the talking unicorn mentor named Philip … of course, he still has to deal with all his day-to-day kid issues: homework, girls and his annoyingly smart seven-year-old sister. Now, if he only could figure out how to use those darn pants!
Why you should check this show out: “One of the major standout elements of this series, which is produced entirely out of our Vancouver studio, is the fantastic creative team,” says Josh Scherba, senior VP of distribution at DHX Media. “We have a high level of talent across all elements of the production process. There is a real demand in the market for quality animation for 6-11 years and this is a boisterous, funny comedy that we think will really hit that mark with this demographic.”
Delivery date: Spring 2014
PAW Patrol
Format: 26 x 30
Type of animation: CG
Production partners: Nickelodeon & Spin Masters Ent.
Synopsis: This brand new action-adventure series stars a pack of six heroic puppies who are led by a tech-savvy 10-year-old boy named Ryder. With a unique blend of problem-solving skills, cool vehicles and physical humor, the PAW Patrol works together on high-stakes rescue missions to protect the Adventure Bay community. Each pup has a unique, individualized, high-tech dog house that transforms into a super-cool, one-of-a-kind working vehicle. Whenever there’s trouble in Adventure Bay you know you can always count on Ryder and his heroic, hard-working PAW Patrol Pups
You must seek the show out because: Caroline Beaton, senior VP of international program sales at Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), tells us, “PAW Patrol is distinctly Nickelodeon through and through, with loveable characters, strong production values, engaging storylines and cleverly crafted humor that we’re quite sure will capture and delight the imaginations of our youngest fans around the world. PAW Patrol, with its abundance of creativity, imagination and magical storytelling, is a fantastic addition to Nickelodeon’s portfolio that we’re delighted to launch in collaboration with Spin Master Entertainment at this year’s market.”
Premiere date: Fall 2013
Super Wings!
Format: 52 x 11
Type of animation: CG
Production partners: FunnyFlux (Korea), QianQi Animation (China), Little Airplane Productions (U.S.)
Created by: Funnyflux Ent.’s Gil Hoon Jung (Tickety Toc)
Target Audience: Kids 3-6
Synopsis: This colorful CG-animated series follows the adventures of an adorable jet plane called Jett who travels the world delivering packages to children. In each episode, Jett encounters a new problem, which he and his friends—the Super Wings—must work together to solve. But the Super Wings aren’t ordinary planes, they have the ability to transform into extraordinary robot heroes who can run, lift, dig and even dive deep under the sea! The series takes viewers on a high-flying, fast-moving journey of cultural discovery. The writing of the series will be overseen by Josh Selig at Little Airplane Productions (Wonder Pets) and the animation will be created by QianQi Animation.
Worth seeking out because: Little Airplane president and founder Josh Selig tells us, “Super Wings! combines great storytelling with the kind of CGI animation that is typically seen only in theatrical releases. This show is hot-wired to work internationally and it’s hands down the most high-energy, adrenaline-filled preschool show I have ever seen or worked on. Fasten your seat belts!”
Tashi
Format: 52 x 11
Type of Animation: CG with 2-D elements
Producing Companies: Flying Bark Productions, Telegael Teoranta, Discreet Art Productions India
Distributed by: Studio 100
Created by: Barbara and Anna Feinberg
Target audience: tc
Synopsis: When Jack’s parents bundle him off to stay with his distant cousin Tashi, the two boys become swept up in a series of wild adventures exploring a fantastical land far, far away and protecting Tashi’s village from a host of creatures and villains. Luckily for city slicker Jack, his new best friend Tashi is the perfect guide through this exotic topsy-turvy world. The boys can also always depend on warm and whimsical Lotus Blossom to help them navigate a tricky situation! Giants, ghosts, witches, bandits, demons, dragons… Tashi, Jack and Lotus Blossom are ready for anything!
Why the show is a stand-out: “Tashi is about a world filled with characters and creatures derived from myths and legends, albeit twisted in weird and wonderful ways,” says Jim Ballantine, managing director of Flying Bark. “But one thing’s for sure: you can always expect the unexpected! It’s a series filled with comedy and high action, anchored by the engaging buddy dynamic between Tashi and his friend, Jack. Enhanced by cutting-edge techniques in 2D/3D animation, Tashi stands out both visually and dramatically with its exuberance, chaos and surreal nature.”
Delivery date: Late 2014
Bat Pat
Format: 52 x 11
Type of animation: 2D
Production partners: Atlantyca Ent., Imira Ent., Inspidea, Rai, GD Entertainment Fund, RTVE
Created by: Atlantyca Entertainment/Roberto Pavanello
Target audience: Kids 6-11
Synopsis: The show is described as a spooky animated adventure comedy that proves the supernatural isn’t always evil—just misunderstood! Bat Pat and the Silver siblings defend their town of Fogville from a range of creepy characters. Rebecca, Leo and Martin team up with their winged companion, who combines his terrible memory for supernatural facts with a keen nose for nocturnal mischief.
Reasons to check it out: “Bat Pat is a massively popular publishing property which looks at a group of misfits in a suburban town with a motley crew of unusual inhabitants,” says Sergi Reitg, Imira Entertainment’s CEO. “Their adventures in Fogville form engaging and entertaining stories which children keep coming back to.”
Delivery date: Fall 2014
Zack and Quack
Format: 52 x 11
Type of Animation: CG
Producing studios: The Foundation in partnership with creators QQD Limited and South Korean animation studio High 1 Entertainment
Created by: QQD Limited
Target audience: Preschool
Synopsis: The preschool show follows an adventurous boy named Zack and his best friend, an impulsive young duck called Quack, who live inside the most amazing pop-up book ever! It’s a place full of fantastical surprises, where pulling pop-ups makes exciting and unexpected things happen. They’ve got plenty of quirky friends to share in the fun. While not all of their friends come on every adventure, they’re always close by when needed.
What makes the show standout? According to Nigel Pickard, CEO of Zodiak MEAA/UK Family and Kids, “Zack and Quack‘s whole world revolves around and is unique to the concept of pop-up and paper—so that pulling a tab or lifting a flap can spin the story in a totally different direction. Zack is essentially a superhero who sees the world differently from everyone else and so he’ll come up with solutions to problems such as how to lasso a cloud by tearing a strip of paper from the book. This makes the character and the show unique. Paper drives the story–it is the concept of the show and not just symbiotic or a visual style.”
Delivery date: Spring 2014
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