Toot & Puddle Watch the Clip

National Geographic Television International

National Geographic Television International (NGTI) is the wholly-owned distribution arm of National Geographic, one of the world’s leading media brands. NGTI Kids was established in 2006 as a specialist kids’ distributor, primarily licensing programming made by National Geographic Kids Entertainment. The National Geographic Society has a mission to inspire people to care about the planet and this mission acts as a touchstone for types of programming NGTI represents, helping kids explore the world around them – but always in a fun and entertaining fashion.

For Mipcom 08, NGTI is launching Toot & Puddle, a major new 52 x 11 animated, pre-school series, featuring two best buddies who share a love of exploration and adventure. Produced by Mercury Filmworks, in association with NGKE and commissioned by Treehouse, Canada, the first episodes are now available for viewing. The series premieres on Treehouse and Noggin this Fall and pre-sales have been made to Nickelodeon in the UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, YLE Finland, TV2 Norway and Minimax for Central & Eastern Europe.

Toot is a young pig-on-the-go, a globe-trotting adventurer. He loves to explore and is constantly on the lookout for any new challenge or untried experience. Puddle is the backyard explorer who, although he loves to travel, takes even greater pleasure in finding excitement closer to home. The show is designed to encourage exploration and adventure, both at home and afar, by piquing kids’ natural curiosity about the world around them.

Whether right at home exploring their own cosy, neighbourhood backyard, or travelling to new, exotic locations such as Paris, Tokyo, Tibet or the Congo, the piggy pals never know where they might end up or who they might meet! It’s their willingness to go where life leads them that gives the show its unbridled joy and sense of adventure. In contrast to international destinations, the best friends’ home in Pocket Hollow is the warm and woodsy setting for many of Toot & Puddle’s backyard adventures – which include playing in the mud!

Toot & Puddle has been based on the award-winning book series by Holly Hobbie and follows on from the successful family Special “Toot & Puddle: I’ll be Home for Christmas”. Launched in 2006, this 1 x 45 show is also available to licence, in addition to the 52-part series.

Karen Vermeulen, head of sales for NGTI Kids will be at Mipcom in October, along with Clint Eland, the executive producer of the series at Mercury Filmworks. Clint and his team have created a truly gorgeous series with wonderful imagery of all the places Toot and Puddle explore – ranging from India and Easter Island, through to their home and surroundings in Pocket Hollow.

In addition to Toot & Puddle, NGTI Kids will also be profiling the popular Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies at Mipcom, which combines animation and live-action, along with two live-action programmes – Are We There Yet? World Adventure and Wild Detectives.