***This article originally appeared in the May ’21 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 310)***
MIPTV may be online this year (April 12-16), but that hasn’t stopped content producers to present fantastic new animated content to distributors and buyers all over the world. Here are several promising new toons that caught our attention. For more info about the online content event, visit www.miptv.com.
Tulipop
Package: Series 1: 26 x 7; Series 2: 26 x 7′
Animation Type: 2D
Created by: Signý Kolbeinsdóttir
Produced by: Tulipop (Iceland)
Distributed by: Serious Lunch (U.K.)
Synopsis: Tulipop is a mystical island in the middle of two seas and home to five very different, but equally loveable friends: Gloomy, a brave and adventurous mushroom girl; Bubble, her cautious, loyal brother; Fred a huggable Monster; Miss Maddy, a sassy monster bear, and the wise Mr. Tree. Growing up on an island where every day brings a surreal new adventure and nothing is quite what it seems can be challenging … but life’s small (or big) surprises are always more fun when you face them together.
Stand-Out Qualities: Magical modern day fairytales drawn from Icelandic folk stories but relatable to children everywhere.
Target Audience: Kids 4-6
Exec Quote: Helga Árnadóttir, CEO of Tulipop and the series producer, says, “Producing a high-quality TV series for global distribution has been our dream for years and we’re so happy to be bringing it to life now in partnership with such a talented team. We are also delighted to have teamed up with Serious Lunch who really share our vision for the series and for how we intend to grow the IP in the years to come.”
Delivery Date: Nov. 21 (episodes 1-13), June 22 (episodes 14-26)
Website: www.tulipop.com
Vee and the Golden Apple
Package: 13 x 2′
Animation Type: 2D
Created & Directed by: Dimitar Petro
Produced by: Dandelooo (France) and Studio Zmei (Bulgaria)
Target Audience: Kids 8-12
Synopsis: An epic comedy-adventure series about a spirited teen (Vee) who uncovers her town’s folkloric past and brings it roaring back to the present. But with the magic of old comes a primordial evil that threatens to destroy her home and all she’s ever known.
Stand-Out Qualities: The show is billed as the first animated series based on the rich and unknown universe of Balkan legends and folklore! The main characters, starting as modern teens in a seemingly modern town, discover their unknown heritage with the viewer, making this wild world easily accessible and understandable. Series offers a contemporary style and creative visual style heavy on VFX and epic creatures.
Exec Quote: “We fell in love with Zmei’s project during Cartoon Forum because of the stunning design, beautiful animation and rich storyline potential. In fact, we first wanted to distribute the series worldwide, but it turned out that Vee and the Golden Apple was such a ‘must-have’ program that we decided to co-produce it as well. The team of talent we gathered into making this wonderful universe then become a reality,” notes Emmanuèle Pétry Sirvin, Dandelooo partner and producer.
Delivery: Winter 2022 / Spring 2023
Website: www.dandelooo.com
Lloyd of the Flies
Package: 52 x 11′
Animation Type: CGI and 2D mix
Created by: Matthew Walker
Produced & Distributed by: Aardman
Synopsis: The adventures of Lloyd B. Fly, a housefly and the middle child of 453. Lloyd lives with his parents, his little sister PB and their 225 maggot siblings inside a compost bin they call home. In the series, Lloyd and PB are often accompanied by Lloyd’s best friend, Abacus Woodlouse, and eccentric tag-along, Cornea Butterfly. Together they explore the strange world beyond the compost bin, where there is no shortage of lessons for Lloyd to very nearly learn.
Stand-Out Qualities: The cross-generational appeal – it’s a quality, character-driven, animated sitcom that will be enjoyed by the whole family. Produced also with the BFI’s Diversity and Inclusion standards applied.
Target Audience: Primarily kids, but with strong co-viewing family appeal.
Exec Quote: “This is the first CGI series to be fully produced within the Aardman studio, and we’re delighted with the positive response we’ve had from the market to the unique design and the impressive storytelling. It’s exciting to be producing and distributing a series created by Mathew Walker, who is an exciting talent with a distinctive comedy outlook,” says Alison Taylor, director of distribution and business development.
Delivery Date: Episodes 1-26: July 2022, Episodes 27-52: November 2022
Website: www.aardman.com
Abigail’s Tales
Package: 52 x 11′
Animation Type: CG
Created & Produced by: One Animation
Synopsis: Abigail’s Tales playfully re-imagines fairytales, giving the stories a modern sensibility through the eyes of six-year-old Abigail. She isn’t afraid to ask questions to find out more. With the unwavering support of her best friends, Boomer and Bing (a polar bear and penguin), they travel to the faraway worlds of fairy tales where they discover a whole new side to every story. Bringing classic fairy tales into a modern era with more relevant takeaways, and greater diversity and gender representation.
Stand-Out Qualities: Abigail’s Tales encourages viewers to ask questions, seek information and learn there may be more to the story than first meets the eye. The show reimagines classic fairytales and brings the familiarity of parents’ childhoods to today’s children, with new twists and outcomes that are more relevant for our modern world. It also offers the opportunity to change the gender and ethnic representation of characters as they are traditionally portrayed in the classic tales.
Target Audience: Kids 4-6
Exec Quote: Michele Schofield, One Animation’s senior VP of content distribution, notes, “Abigail’s Tales is great for kids and parents alike, bringing brand new storytelling and surprising twists to classic fairytales. Abigail is an inquisitive puzzle-solver, serving as a positive role-model for preschoolers, reminding them to not judge a book by its cover and to see both sides of the story before rushing to judgment on the ‘baddie’ and ‘goodie’ of any situation.”
Delivery Date: Late 2022
Website: www.oneanimation.com
Best & Bester
Package: 52 x 11′
Animation Type: 2D
Created by: Joonas Utti and Anttu Harlin
Produced by: Eye Present, Gigglebug Entertainment, Nelvana
Distributed by: Nelvana (international), excluding the U.K. (Eye Present) and the Nordics (Gigglebug)
Synopsis: Best and Bester are siblings and best friends obsessed with comparing the best things of all time while enjoying the power to transform themselves into anything they want, once a day – if only they can figure out what the best thing to be actually is!
Stand-Out Qualities: Series was pre-bought by Nickelodeon International early last year.
Target Audience: Kids 7-11
Exec Quote: “The world of Best & Bester, where anyone can be anything, gives our animators and composers endless opportunities and the creative freedom to let our imaginations soar,” says Athena Georgaklis, Nelvana’s head of development. “This series is a welcome addition to our production slate and we know audiences around the world will resonate with this ragtag group of friends as their hilarious hijinks lead them to learn about self-discovery, empathy, and embracing each other’s differences.”
Delivery Date: October 2022
Website: www.nelvana.com
Alva’s World
Package: 52 x 11′
Animation Type: 2D
Created & Produced by: Kavaleer Productions
Distributed by: WildBrain
Synopsis: When Alva isn’t hanging out with her digitally connected family in real life, she loves to visit the magical land of Gizmo. Most of all, though, Alva loves visiting her friends, the Oolies – the cute elven race who live in Gizmo. Together, Alva and the Oolies have oodles of fun, but also solve problems and overcome obstacles, especially those created by mischievous Trolls.
Stand-Out Qualities: Via whimsical storytelling and magical tales, Alva’s World explores themes that have been developed in conjunction with Cyber Safe Ireland and Crandall Consulting to teach kids about appropriate behavior online, including interaction, as well as preparing them for common childhood problems they may encounter through social media. The series tackles a number of key areas, from cyber-bullying and online gaming, to identity theft and current issues around COVID tracking and home learning.
Target Audience: Upper preschool to early elementary
Exec Quote: Caroline Tyre, VP of global sales and rights at WildBrain, notes, “Alva’s World is the first series which aims to give kids a set of digital water wings to help them navigate the online world. Devised in collaboration with experts in this field, it’s also packed full of captivating characters and whimsical storylines that inspire kids to prioritize kindness, fairness and creativity in all their interactions.”
Delivery Date: Late 2021
Website: www.wildbrain.com
Galactic Agency
Package: 52 x 13′
Animation Type: 2D
Created by: Julie Chabrol
Produced by: Studio 100 Animation, Cosmos-Maya and Bardaf! Productions
Distributed by: APC Kids
Synopsis: Galactic Agency follows the adventures of a team of extreme repair specialists, featuring Dany the boss, K the hyperactive intern and the twins Apple and Zed. Aboard the Toaster, their hypersensitive spaceship, they will be called on crazy missions across the WashMash Galaxy to come to the rescue and to fix anything. From a diva-whale’s washing machine to King Cheddar the Fifteenth’s robot teddy, there’s always something to do. But in this quirky universe filled with freaky creatures of all kinds, nothing ever goes as expected!
Stand-Out Qualities: A rich, quirky and fun universe that will delight the fans of cartoon series.
Target Audience: Kids 6-9
Exec Quote: “Galactic Agency is a fun, quirky and unique project that we are really looking forward to presenting to buyers at MIPTV,” says Lionel Marty, managing director of APC Kids. “The hilarious characters and their wacky adventures are sure to capture the imaginations of young audiences around the world and provide a much-needed escape to outer space.”
Delivery Date: 26 eps. by December 2021 / 26 eps. by June 2022
Website: www.aboutpremiumcontent.com
Paddles
Package: 52 x 11′
Animation Type: 3D CGI
Created and Produced by: FuturumKids
Distributed by: Neon (Korea), Monster Entertainment (global exc. Korea)
Synopsis: The adventures of Paddles, a polar bear cub accidentally delivered by the Stork to a frozen River Shannon in Ireland – and brought up by a pack of Irish wolfhounds.
Stand-Out Qualities: Through the adventures, mistakes and discoveries of its funny and huggable star and his friends, Paddles shows its young audience that being different is something to be celebrated and enjoyed.
Target Audience: Kids 4-7
Exec Quote: “The tale of a young child trying to fit in in an unusual environment is a universal one and we are confident this funny and charming show will quickly gain fans in many markets worldwide,” says Brendan Kelly, head of sales at FuturumKids.
Delivery Date: 2021/2022
Website: www.futurumkids.com
Dragon Lizzardo
Package: 26 x 11′
Produced by: Omens Studio
Created by: Ian Milne (Monster Beach, Disney’s Stitch & Ai)
Exec produced by: Silas Hickey
Synopsis: The show follows bumbling squire Dragon Lizzardo as he accidentally transports himself and his archenemy, queen-witch Helga, from their medieval dimension to the futuristic New Zap City. Now, Dragon must defend his new home from Helga, though his fun-loving fighting style is just as destructive.
Stand-out Qualities: This is a bouncy, extreme slapstick action-comedy with an anime twist. Great anime-inspired designs, entertaining storylines and eccentric characters will keep the older kids and tweens entertained. The show is written by Adam Moriano (Big Mouth, SuperJail!)
Target Audience: Kids 11-14
Website: www.omens-studios.com
Hero Elementary
Package: 40 x 22′ or 80 x 11′
Animation Type: 2D
Created & Distributed by: Portfolio Entertainment
Produced by: Portfolio and Twin Cities PBS
Synopsis: Hero Elementary is no ordinary school. It’s where kids with superpowers learn how to use their unique gifts, and no aspiring superhero could dream of a more exciting place to train! The gym is a veritable obstacle course, festooned with a myriad of trapezes, hoops and boobytraps – and, of course, there is more high-tech gadgetry than any kid (superhero or not) could dream of.
Stand-Out Qualities: Hero Elementary is one of the world’s first series for children to prominently feature a young autistic character in a lead role. The producers believe in the importance of representation in kids’ TV, as the Hero Elementary team uses their “Super Powers of Science” to show audiences around the world that with determination and teamwork, anyone from any walk of life can contribute, have some fun and help save the day.
Target Audience: Kids 4-7
Exec Quote: Donnie MacIntyre, VP of sales and business development at Portfolio, says, “From the earliest stages of development, we knew we had something special on our hands with Hero Elementary, and I can confidently say it has exceeded our own wildest expectations. The incredibly talented creative team has built a world not only full of high-flying action and outrageous comedy that kids can appreciate, but they filled it with relatable characters in which the show’s young global audiences can see themselves and their experiences reflected – albeit through a super powered lens! Hero Elementary has been a smash hit, selling into key territories around the world, and we can’t wait to announce our next round of partnerships.”
Delivery Date: Production completed 2021. Began airing on PBS Kids in June 2020
Website: www.portfolioentertainment.com
