Los Angeles, California: September 25, 2009 - The Jim Henson Company has signed a trio of new license deals with broadcasters Nickelodeon (Australia) and Al Jazeera (Middle East) and home entertainment, television and merchandising partner in Spain, Selecta Vision, for the all-new CGI-animated series, Dinosaur Train, following recent agreements with TVO and TFO (Canada), Knowledge (British Columbia) and NRK (Norway). The announcement was made today by Sam Ewing, Head of International Sales, The Jim Henson Company.
Dinosaur Train embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking as the audience learns about natural science, natural history and paleontology. The new series premiered September 7, 2009 in the U.S. on PBS KIDS®. The Jim Henson Company will offer 40 half-hour episodes (80 x 11 minute episodes) at the MIPCOM market.
Dinosaur Train is seen through the eyes of Buddy, a preschool-aged Tyrannosaurus Rex. Buddy and his adoptive family of Pteranodons go for adventures on the Dinosaur Train to meet all kinds of dinosaurs in different eras and learn fascinating new facts about these incredible creatures.
"It is a privilege to introduce a pre-school series to the international broadcast community that exemplifies the high standard of programming that transcends cultural boundaries and gender, entertaining kids around the world while teaching valuable lessons." comments Ewing.
Created by Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), Dinosaur Train joins other top-ranked PBS KIDS preschool series including The Jim Henson Company's series Sid The Science Kid, which premiered in fall 2008. Brian Henson, Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford and Craig Bartlett are executive producers. The series is co-produced with Singapore animation company Sparky Entertainment, with the participation and assistance of the Singapore Media Development Authority. UK production and financial support is being provided by Ingenious Media.
About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include "Sid the Science Kid", and "Pajanimals." Features include "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth," "MirrorMask," and "Unstable Fables." Television productions include "Fraggle Rock" and the sci-fi cult series "Farscape." With additional locations in New York and London.
The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment.
The Company is currently in production on 40 episodes of "Dinosaur Train," an animated preschool series teaching concepts of natural science and history, set to debut on PBS KIDS in fall 2009. The Company's Henson Alternative brand continues to produce "Puppet Up! - Uncensored," a live puppet improvisational show that runs monthly at the Avalon Hollywood. The Company has also announced the creation of Jim Henson Designs, a merchandise collection inspired by Jim Henson's earliest sketches, and The Jim Henson Company: Discoveries, an acquisitions banner that celebrates outstanding third party produced independent film, television and video productions from around the globe embodying the Company's enduring legacy. www.henson.com
Dinosaur Train embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking as the audience learns about natural science, natural history and paleontology. The new series premiered September 7, 2009 in the U.S. on PBS KIDS®. The Jim Henson Company will offer 40 half-hour episodes (80 x 11 minute episodes) at the MIPCOM market.
Dinosaur Train is seen through the eyes of Buddy, a preschool-aged Tyrannosaurus Rex. Buddy and his adoptive family of Pteranodons go for adventures on the Dinosaur Train to meet all kinds of dinosaurs in different eras and learn fascinating new facts about these incredible creatures.
"It is a privilege to introduce a pre-school series to the international broadcast community that exemplifies the high standard of programming that transcends cultural boundaries and gender, entertaining kids around the world while teaching valuable lessons." comments Ewing.
Created by Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), Dinosaur Train joins other top-ranked PBS KIDS preschool series including The Jim Henson Company's series Sid The Science Kid, which premiered in fall 2008. Brian Henson, Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford and Craig Bartlett are executive producers. The series is co-produced with Singapore animation company Sparky Entertainment, with the participation and assistance of the Singapore Media Development Authority. UK production and financial support is being provided by Ingenious Media.
About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include "Sid the Science Kid", and "Pajanimals." Features include "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth," "MirrorMask," and "Unstable Fables." Television productions include "Fraggle Rock" and the sci-fi cult series "Farscape." With additional locations in New York and London.
The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment.
The Company is currently in production on 40 episodes of "Dinosaur Train," an animated preschool series teaching concepts of natural science and history, set to debut on PBS KIDS in fall 2009. The Company's Henson Alternative brand continues to produce "Puppet Up! - Uncensored," a live puppet improvisational show that runs monthly at the Avalon Hollywood. The Company has also announced the creation of Jim Henson Designs, a merchandise collection inspired by Jim Henson's earliest sketches, and The Jim Henson Company: Discoveries, an acquisitions banner that celebrates outstanding third party produced independent film, television and video productions from around the globe embodying the Company's enduring legacy. www.henson.com
