SMF Studio (Soyuzmultfilm) will premiere a new animated series Coolics, based on the comic book by the Russian publisher Bubble Comics, during MIPCOM. Creative producer and director of the SMF Studio Alexandra Bizyaeva, Bubble’s editor-in-chief Roman Kotkov and one of the scriptwriters of the movie Major Grom: The Plague Doctor, creative producer Evgeniy Eronin, have created an original cartoon universe, where each of the characters have separate storylines. SMF Studio has produced seven 11-min. episodes so far, and planning to work on 45 more.
Coolics is an 2D adventure-comedy series for kids 6-8 about a team of young cadets in the Space Academy whose mission is to search for superpowered creatures on different planets to help protect the universe from the forces of evil. SMF notes it is the first Russian animated series based on a comic. “Together with Bubble we were trying to deliver a simple truth: being a superhero does not mean having superpowers at all. It is enough to be able to show kindness, courage and responsiveness, to take care of friends and the world around us. These are the core values of our classic animation films – the continuity of generations is especially symbolic for us in the year of the 85th anniversary of the legendary film studio.” said Yuliana Slashcheva, Chairman of the Board of the SMF Studio.
Monster Entertainment is back at MIPCOM in person with a slate of new titles to share:
- Noodle and Bun (13 x 3′, Kids 4-12) Produced by Cape Town-based Polycat Visual Effects, this non-verbal series first emerged on Tiktok, where it amassed millions of views. It follows the adventures of three friends, a wobbly cat called Noodle, a nervous pug called Bean, a small mouse called Bun, who has to hold the group together as they explore the world around them, learning that they have to work together to solve the problems they encounter.
- Paddles: The Huggable Bear (52 x 11′, Preschool 3-6). Produced using state of the art CGI by the Irish company Futurum, this charming series celebrates difference as it follows the adventures of Paddles, a polar bear living among a family of Irish wolfhounds on the banks of the River Shannon. The first 13 x 11′ season is completed and available to screen.
- The Bearville Buddies (26 x 7′, Kids 5-9) follows a group of bears attending a school in Bearville. Produced in Denmark by Tiny Films, with support from YLE, the Danish Film Institute, the School Service of the National Church, SVT, the Danish Film Directors Association and the Danish Writers Association. This program, in a very gentle way, deals with topics that children might find it hard to talk about, as the bears learn that it’s okay to feel sad sometimes and that everybody has to carry worries.
- Charlie the Interviewer of Things (52 x 11′ and 104 x 5′, Kids 4-8) Produced by Brazil’s TV Pinguim (Earth to Luna), the show follows Charlie, a clumsy and funny sheep who interviews a variety of everyday objects, such as a hot dog, a skateboard and a snowman. This is a hilarious and utterly original series that’s full of surprises.
- Once Upon…My Story (30 x 2.5′, Preschool 3-5) from Canada’s Media Maki is based on a very simple premise: children were invited to make up a story on the spot and that story was then animated. This charming and heartfelt series offers a unique glimpse into how children see the world and acts as a testament to the power of animation. It has already proven to be a popular series, having been picked up by Kids Street in the U.S. and TFO in Canada.
- Momo and Tulus (Ages 2-7) is a non-verbal slapstick series produced by India’s Hooplakids. The titular characters are a pair of mischievous monsters from another dimension whose attempts to understand aspects of everyday life led to hilarious and unexpected results.
Pocket.watch announced its newest partnership with Toys and Colors, the beloved children’s YouTube channels that boast a total of 65.4 million subscribers, 1.5 billion average monthly views and 49.1 billion total lifetime views. The ensemble Asian-American cast features young friends Wendy, Alex, Emma, Jannie and Andrew, in addition to a host of Aunties and Uncles familiar to the channel’s massive audience. Toys and Colors YouTube content, distributed in six different languages, helps kids become more confident, global citizens.
The partnership inspired pocket.watch’s latest global kids and family franchise, called Kaleidoscope City, which comes to life in an original live-action/animated series, consumer products, gaming, podcasts, live events and much more. Kaleidoscope City is a magical world of color where kids learn to see things from a new perspective. The franchise highlights the importance of diversity, varied points-of-view, conflict management, and empathy. Kaleidoscope City launches in Spring 2022.
Peacock announced the pickup of two CGI/live-action animated preschool series, further expanding its kid’s content.
- The Makery (25 x 15′), co-commissioned with Sky Kids and Terrific Television, is a make-and-do series that educates through play and inspires children to explore their imagination and creativity. Each themed episode inspires the host to take viewers on an arty adventure to make, bake and create. Ideas are exciting yet simple enough to get every age to engage. The Makery is an incredible place with huge personality, where imaginations can run wild.
- Babble Bop! (produced by Dark Slope Studios, coming in December) introduces a musical dance jamboree series for preschoolers comprising 72 two-and-a-half-minute original and nursery rhyme songs, delivered in half-hour themed blocks. Heroes Lily, Hugo, Miguel, Izzie and Sam will play the day away movin’ and boppin’ and havin’ a ball to awesome, catchy songs. The series holds up a magnifying glass to the little things in their life: having a snack, dressing up, drawing with crayons, watching the clouds, or playfully helping their parents (who are always around if not on camera) as best they can.
Quebec’s Squeeze Productions has debuted the first teaser for the second season of its hit slapstick comedy Cracké – Family Scramble, which will bring a revamped visual style and new characters in longer 7-minute episodes to fans around the world in 2022. The first season created by Patrick Beaulieu and Denis Doré was broadcast in more than 210 countries and territories and has over 500 million views on digital platforms.
Currently in production with Tele-Quebec and distributed by PGS Entertainment, S2 sees beloved ostrich dad Ed rushing about after his eight newly hatched babies, all of which are full of energy and imagination. While he’s always getting into crazy situations, Ed’s boundless ingenuity gets him out of trouble every time.
Sales and expansion mini-bytes:
- Portfolio Entertainment secured a raft of international deals across its slate of acclaimed series, including the first sale of its brand-new half hour family Christmas special Where Oliver Fits: A Christmas Eve Tale and series of shorts Where Oliver Fits (9 x 2.5′) to Discovery Kids Latin America. Hero Elementary (40 x 30′) will be heading to SIC (Portugal) and CTC (Russia). CTC also renewed S1-3 of hit 2D series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That! (160 x 11′).
- Milo from Planeta Junior and Fourth Wall continues to expand across the globe by landing in Australia on ABC Kids and in Latin America on Cartoonito on HBO Max / Cartoon Network. The series has also been acquired by SVT (Sweden) and YLE (Finland). The original 52 x 11′ preschool series premiered on Channel 5’s Milkshake! (U.K.) in May.
- Atlantyca Entertainment‘s Geronimo Stilton is joining Bat Pat on HappyKids, Future Today’s flagship kids & family streaming platform. Beginning October, the first season (26 x 23′) will be available on the platform throughout the U.S. and the U.K. Based on the books by Elisabetta Dami, the series follows a journalist mouse as he and his family scour New Mouse City for scoops and travel on wonderful adventures around the world.
- Superights has signed a deal with Nickelodeon International to broadcast its new catalog offering Anna & Friends (78 x 7′) — the first multi-territory deal between the French company and Nickelodeon, which will specifically bring episodes to Asia-Pacific territories (excluding mainland China), Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Co-produced by Superprod, Digital Graphics Animation and France Televisions using innovative CG animation techniques to create a hand-modeled clay appearance, the series follows the daily adventures of six-year-old Anna and her group of friends including impatient Froga the frog, thoughtful Ron the cat, overly-confident Bubu the dog, and naïve Christopher the orange worm. Due to broadcast in 2022.
- Dandelooo has garnered several sales for the Annecy Cristal-winning 2D preschool TV special Shooom’s Odyssey (26′), produced by Picolo Pictures. The charming title has found a home with Discovery Kids (Latin America), ZDF (Germany), RAI (Italy), NHK (Japan), Movistar (Spain), Periscoop (Netherlands), Hop! (Israel), Truecorp (Thailand), MomoKids TV (Taiwan) and South Korean educational pubcaster EBS.
- Novel Entertainment has partnered with Amazon Kids+ for all five seasons of its acclaimed series Horrid Henry (250 x 11′), available now. To date, Horrid Henry has sold to nearly 150 territories with broadcasters on board across the globe.
- StudioCanal has sold three seasons of the funny and moving children’s series Esther’s Notebooks to Italian pubcaster RAI. Based on the books by Riad Sattouf, the series is a Canal+, Folimage, Les Films du Futur and Les Compagnons due Cinema for Canal+.
- Animaccord extends its existing media deal with Brazilian free-to-air television network SBT, for a wide range of Masha and the Bear The channel premiered S4 of Masha’s Songs in May and launches the new 4K UHD S5 on October 12, timed to the Kids Day in Brazil. SBT renewed rights for Seasons 1-3 of the core show. Fun Kids (SBT’s preschool content app) will also offer full episodes for the first time.
- Genius Brands International announced a new Spanish-language content service for children, ¡KC! En Español, on its streaming platform, Kartoon Channel! This news follows a recent announcement that Kartoon Channel! is now available on Pluto TV.
