Category Archives: Entertainment

Studio 100 Media partners with Brandloyalty on preschool animation Vegesaurs

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While the CGI-animated preschool series Vegesaurs is still in production, Studio 100 Media has joined forces with BrandLoyalty, signing a five-year agreement for international loyalty campaigns.

Claudia Mennen, CEO of BrandLoyalty commented, “We are delighted to be able to partner with Studio 100 on the upcoming Vegesaurs series. A continuing focus for food retailers is to encourage children to choose healthier options, and therefore making vegetables fun through the Vegesaurs is a perfect way to connect with kids across the globe.”

All 20 episodes, each five minutes long, will be available in autumn 2022 for linear and non-linear distribution. Due to the nature of the content, Studio 100 Media also wants to pursue an extensive digital strategy to further increase awareness among children and parents through a viral buzz.

The Vegesaurs are vegetable- and fruit-shaped dinosaurs ready to address and teach relatable themes to upper preschoolers such as getting to sleep, sharing, friendship, nurturing mealtimes, and play. Starring lead character Ginger, a young Tricarrotops (carrot) with others including P(ea)-Rex, Cornasaurus (corn), Bananaraptor, Coconutdon, Broccolisaurus, Bokchoydactyl, Tomatodon, Appleflyrus and Potatodon, Vegesaurs aims to enrich and enhance children’s imagination.

Vegesaurs is produced by independent Australian producer Cheeky Little for the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) and France TV. Principal production funding is provided by Screen Australia, with Studio 100 as co-investor. Based on a concept created by Gary Eck and Nick O’Sullivan, the series is targeted at preschoolers. ABC will broadcast the series in Australia under the title Ginger & the Vegesaurs.

Studio 100 Media is responsible for the worldwide distribution of content, and licensing and merchandising rights beyond Australia and New Zealand, where Cheeky Little Commercial is handling all rights.

Mondo TV announces the arrival of MeteoHeroes on Amazon Prime in Italy

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Mondo TV Group, one of the largest European producers and distributors of animated content, has announced that the popular environmentally focused children’s series MeteoHeroes, co-produced by Mondo TV and leading Italian weather forecasting centre MOPI-Meteo Expert, has been licensed to Amazon Prime Video in Italy.

MeteoHeroes is the only cartoon in the world dedicated entirely to climate and environmental issues. Each episode focuses on issues related to ecology and respect for nature through the adventures of six superpowered kids who can control weather phenomena. Working alongside scientists and meteorologists at their futuristic HQ based in Gran Sasso Mountain National Park in Italy, the MeteoHeroes are trained to control their powers and fulfil their mission: to save the Earth.

The first 19 episodes were made available on Amazon Prime on 15 January. The remaining episodes will premiere in April and September 2022. The series will complement the exclusive terrestrial window on Cartoonito (channel 46 DTT), where MeteoHeroes is currently on air.

The first series has already been sold into over 140 countries and 20 languages and has been among the biggest hit shows on Cartoonito in Italy since its launch in 2020.

The agreement with Amazon reinforces the property’s digital presence. Amazon’s streaming service launched in Italy in 2016 and has enjoyed strong growth.

A collaboration in December with tech giant Huawei saw the show’s six planet-protecting superheroes became the stars of numerous wallpapers for mobiles and tablets. The wallpapers are downloadable via the Huawei Themes app all over the world, excluding China.

Matteo Corradi, CEO of Mondo TV, said: “With this major Amazon deal, added to numerous overseas sales and a number of licensing agreements, MeteoHeroes has underlined its international success both as a media phenomenon on multiple platforms and as a popular licensed property. We’re expecting even more success for this entertaining, original and highly relevant title throughout 2022.”

Genius Brands to launch Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse following acquisition of Ameba TV

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Genius Brands International has announced that it will be launching its subscription-based Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse on April 15, 2022, at $3.99/month.

Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will be anchored by technology from the acquisition of Ameba TV, a rapidly growing children’s video streaming service.

Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will include all the popular programmes of Kartoon Channel!, while adding exclusive metaversal content, which will be launched in a phased rollout.

Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will feature a fully integrated design, including custom avatars and emojis for kids, exclusive games, branded Kidaverse VR goggles, immersive content and NFTs for kids (“KFT”s).

The new platform will also feature collectable digital cards based on many of the channel’s popular characters, including those from the upcoming Stan Lee Universe, debuting in Q4 2022, and a digital currency for kids called Kidaverse MetaBuck$. Additionally, the Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse is planning to introduce child-safe messaging (“Messies”), podcasts, music, and more.

“Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse is expected to revolutionise children’s entertainment, because it will include all of the popular animated programmes of a children’s channel, metaverse features and, most importantly, it will be fully curated and child safe,” says Genius Brands Chairman and CEO, Andy Heyward.

“The single strongest message we receive from parents is the concern about safety for children on screens, whether it is programme content or roaming around the internet and various apps. The premise of the Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse is to provide children with fun, positive, engaging digital media AND to provide them with a safe and parent-controlled product.”

In addition to the hit shows of Kartoon Channel! today, including Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rainbow Rangers, Peppa Pig, PJ Masks, Minecraft, Surviving Roblox, My Little Pony, and Yu Gi Oh, Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will add another 13,000 episodes under license to Ameba, including hit brands such as Casper The Friendly Ghost, Donkey Kong Country, Gummy Bears, and Rescue Heroes.

The platform will also become the home to the several thousand hours of animated content available through its recent acquisition of Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media and strategic investment in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment (YFE). The Company believes this will make it the largest single children’s portal of animation in the world, with over 20,000 animated titles under license.

“As Kartoon Channel! has grown, many of our viewers have asked for a commercial-free version of the experience,” says Jon Ollwerther, Kartoon Channel! President. “While our free, ad-supported platform will still be available to consumers, the subscription-based Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse will address that market need, while also building the 360-degree kid’s digital media platform of the future. We believe it will be a unique entertainment experience that simply cannot be had anywhere else.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chefclub announces ‘Chefclub Friends’ animation series

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Chefclub, the world’s leading ‘eatertainment’ digital brand, has announced its expansion into the world of animation with Chefclub Friends (52 x 11, TBC), an edutainment series for 5 to 7 year olds starring the animated mascots from Chefclub’s dedicated kids’ network, Chefclub Kids.

Chefclub Friends is an action-comedy edutainment series that sets out to build on Chefclub’s guiding principle – having fun in the kitchen – and follows intrepid kitchen enthusiasts Maurice, Lola, Carlton, Colette, Elvis, and the Kikitos as they set out to discover the world.

Chefclub is currently the number-one cooking brand in the world on social media. Since launching in 2016 it has amassed 100 million followers and 2.5 billion global views a month; five themed channels (Original, Kids, Light & Fun, Daily and Cocktails); licensing agents in the UK, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, and Benelux; a D2C and D2R consumer product business; a publishing division with 700,000 books sold to date; and two Licensing International Awards for Best Digital Brand in France (2019) and Germany (2021).

Marie-Laure Marchand, SVP Global Consumer Products & Business Development, Chefclub, commented: “The Chefclub Kids’ channel was created to inspire children to cook, become independent and enjoy themselves with their family in the kitchen. Now, with Chefclub Friends, our young viewers can take their culinary adventures all over the world, following their favourite characters to discover new recipes and cultures. An animated series is a natural brand extension for us given the fantastic enthusiasm we see from little chefs every day, as they learn that cooking is one of the healthiest, most sociable and fun ways to play!”

The series is currently being developed by Chefclub’s Paris-based team, in consultancy with Development Executive Maia Tubiana and industry veteran Marie-Laure Marchand. Marchand will present the bible, synopses and script at Kidscreen and Mip TV.

For more info see www.chefclub.tv

Digital food brand Chefclub signs Fashion UK for family apparel range across Europe

 

 

Nelvana and TIME Studios to develop preschool animation Leela’s Island

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Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana and TIME Studios Kids and Family, the recently announced kids and family programming division of the Emmy Award-winning TIME Studios, have teamed up to develop the new original preschool series Leela’s Island.

Marking the first development partnership between the two renowned companies, and the first preschool content deal for TIME Studios, the animated comedy-adventure series features a curious five-year-old girl named Leela who discovers she has inherited a gift that allows her to transform into any animal she wishes and see the world through its eyes, in the process gaining a new point of view on her own problems.

“Leela’s Island is a show that will help kids learn to see the world from others’ perspectives. Featuring one of the first Afro-Latina girls in an animated preschool series, Leela’s Island will go far in addressing the lack of representation in children’s content both in front and behind the camera,” says Maria Perez-Brown, Head of Kids and Family, TIME Studios. “We’re so excited to collaborate with Nelvana to bring this important preschool property to life.”

Leela’s Island is created and written by a team of diverse storytellers, including award-winning writer Fracaswell Hyman (Gullah Gullah Island, Taina, Little Bill, and The Famous Jett Jackson) and Maria Perez-Brown (Gullah Gullah Island and Taina), developed in partnership with writer Janice Burgess (The Backyardigans).

“We are incredibly passionate about Leela’s Island and believe Leela will become an icon for kids around the world,” says Athena Georgaklis, Head of Development, Nelvana. “The calibre of talent behind this project is unmatched, and is evident in the series’ perfect blend of heartwarming, magical moments and fierce, empowered storytelling. Working with the team at TIME has been a true highlight.”

 

WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences to launch most robust Batman film product collection in over a decade

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In celebration of the upcoming cinematic experience created by director Matt Reeves, WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences has revealed the largest collection of Batman film products in over a decade, with partners worldwide launching The Batman fashion, accessories, beauty products, toys and collectibles.

Batman influenced the latest style statement of French fashion house Lanvin, who for the first time in the character’s more than 80-year history, has dedicated a collection to DC’s iconic Super Hero and his on-again/off-again antagonist, Catwoman. First seen on the runway during Paris Fashion Week, the collection will be available online and in select Saks Fifth Avenue stores starting March 2 and on saks.com on March 15, in line with the film’s release on March 4 in North America and international release beginning March 2, 2022.

To celebrate the film’s debut, Saks Fifth Avenue’s iconic New York Flagship store will design custom window displays transporting shoppers directly into Reeves’ version of Gotham City. Inside, guests can peruse a bespoke pop-up shop showcasing The Batman-inspired apparel from EleVen by Venus Williams, Maison Labiche, and Lanvin as well as accessories, beauty products, toys and collectibles. The exclusive merchandise collection will also be available to shop online on saks.com.

“WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences’ mission is to engage fans with our iconic characters and stories and excite them for new content releases. The Batman is hotly anticipated and will be complemented by imaginative, authentically crafted new products and experiences for fans worldwide,” says Pam Lifford, President, WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences. “This is the first solo Batman theatrical release in more than a decade, and this powerful new story inspired even more ways for fans to engage and celebrate this iconic DC Super Hero.”

Warner Bros. Consumer Products’ expansive ‘The Batman’ collection features products across multiple categories, and includes:

  • Fashion and footwear from Lanvin
  • Apparel from Carhartt and TomboyX
  • Activewear from EleVen by Venus Williams, available from Saks Fifth Avenue, Tennis Warehouse and internationally at Zalando
  • A training collection from PUMA
  • DC Shop merchandise including apparel, sporting goods and more, available to order from 1 February
  • Fashion and footwear styles for adults, juniors and kids from national retailers and specialty stores including Target, Walmart, and others. International fashion partners include Zara, Carrefour, and Tealer
  • Accessories from Boxlunch, Fast Track, Accessory Innovation, Funko, Manly Bands, Pull & Bear, Global Junk Brands, Mobyfox and Zara. Fossil will drop The Batman x Fossil capsule collection, including collectible watches, jewellery and leather goods
  • Beauty products from House of Sillage, Emily Heathe and Dr Squatch
  • Toys and collectibles from Funko, Spin Master, McFarlane, LEGO and Hot Wheels
  • Adult’s and children’s costumes from Rubies
  • Limited edition Oreos emblazoned with The Batman emblem.

 

NFL and Nickelodeon team up for co-branded collection

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The NFL and Nickelodeon are set to launch the NFL x Nickelodeon collection ahead of CBS Sports and Nickelodeon’s special slime-filled presentation of the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend game on Sunday, Jan. 16, at 4:30 p.m. (ET). The collection celebrates both NFL and Nickelodeon fans and provides an opportunity for kids and families to showcase their fandom in a fun and elevated way.

The collection will feature designs and logos of NFL teams with a mix of ‘90s fan-favorite Nickelodeon characters from hit series such as Rugrats and Hey Arnold!, as well as pieces with the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants and Nickelodeon Slime. The NFL x Nickelodeon collection will include t-shirts from Junk Food, socks from Rock ‘Em Socks, water bottles from Tervis, and bobbleheads* from FOCO (*pre-sale only).

The collection will be available on NFLshop.com/Nick beginning Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 10 a.m. (ET). Products will also be available at JunkfoodClothing.com and Tervis.com, as well as FOCO.com and RockEmSocks.com, which will offer expanded assortments.

Tycoon Enterprises named as Latin America rep for animated Topo Gigio series

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Topo Gigio S.r.l. announced today the appointment of Latin American licensing powerhouse Tycoon Enterprises as licensing agents for the iconic Italian television character Topo Gigio’s new animated series across Latin America, including Brazil.

Produced in Italy by Topo Gigio S.r.l., with Movimenti Production as executive producer and in collaboration with Rai Ragazzi, the new animated series introduces a collection of engaging adventures based on a revamped Gigio, and an ensemble cast of delightful characters that will connect with today’s kids and touch the hearts of families worldwide.

The animated show premiered on Rai Yoyo in October last year and has expanded since to countless international markets. The series launched on Discovery Kids Latin America in November and is rapidly amassing fans.

“There is no question about the love that Latin American audiences have for Topo Gigio,” says Dalia Benbassat, head of Corporate Relations at Tycoon. “To see Gigio come back in such an amazing and up-to-date form is not only a gift for those of us who grew up with the original character, but a fresh and powerful new inspiration for kids and young families today. This transversal appeal truly sets Gigio apart from any other show on TV. We could not be happier to be part of the extended G-Team!”

Established in Mexico in 1990, Tycoon Enterprises is the leading licensing network in Latin America. It has eight offices, in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica.

For more information visit www.tycoon.mx and www.topogigio.com

Xilam Animation hits new digital content milestones

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Academy Award-nominated French animation studio Xilam Animation has reached significant milestones in its global digital content strategy, including debuting on Samsung TV Plus and securing a second YouTube Diamond Play Button.

After launching on Samsung TV Plus in Brazil – the free, ad-supported streaming service pre-installed on all 2017-2021 Samsung Smart TVs – Xilam’s unique users hit 600K. The dedicated Xilam TV channel available on Samsung TVs in Brazil features titles from the studio’s extensive catalogue, including Zig & Sharko, Oggy and the Cockroaches, Where’s Chicky?, A Kind of Magic and Floopaloo – Where Are You?.

In a further milestone, Xilam has been awarded a coveted Diamond Play Button for its Oggy and the Cockroaches YouTube Channel, which now has 10 million subscribers. This marks Xilam’s second Diamond Play Button after its Zig and Sharko channel received the award in 2020. Also on YouTube, Xilam has now reached the 50 million subscriber mark across its network of dedicated brand channels.

Across all digital platforms worldwide, Xilam cumulated 12.5 billion views for its content in 2021. Of this total, 1.5 billion views were generated from Facebook Watch, making Xilam the No. 1 provider of kids’ content worldwide in terms of views on the VOD service.

Marc du Pontavice, Founder and CEO at Xilam Animation, said: “Digital platforms continue to play an integral role in our content strategy, as we ensure that fans can access our vast library of content wherever they are in the world, and from whichever device they prefer. As one of the first French production companies to launch a dedicated ad-supported linear channel in an international market, we’re proud to be taking an innovative approach in the digital sector and look forward to hitting even more milestones in the future.”

 

Kidscreen Summit live event postponed until July

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After carefully considering the impact of the Omicron variant on the industry’s ability to travel internationally and meet in person at this time, Kidscreen has decided to postpone Kidscreen Summit 2022, which was set to take place as a live event in Miami from February 14 to 17, until July 18 to 21.

Kidscreen Summit Virtual will still move forward as planned from March 7 to 11, and all attendees who are registered for the live event will also have access to this digital companion event.

“We recognize that it’s not the same experience as meeting in person, but our hope is that it still helps people make and maintain industry connections in Q1,” says Jocelyn Christie, Kidscreen’s SVP & Publisher.

All existing live event registrations and sponsorships will be transferred to the rescheduled event in July. Kidscreen has posted an FAQ page at summit.kidscreen.com/2022/postponement to answer some of the initial questions attendees may have, and its Customer Care team is standing by at customersupport@kidscreensummit.com to provide more info.

Registration is currently open for both Kidscreen Summit Virtual and the rescheduled Kidscreen Summit live event, and more information can be found online at summit.kidscreen.com.