Plug-in Media is eyeing potential toy partners for its popular pre-school property, Tee and Mo, an animated monkey duo that made its return to CBeebies last month with the premiere of Big Boots Birthday: A Tee and Mo Mini Musical.
The animated property’s tenth musical special to launch on the channel, Big Boots Birthday: A Tee and Mo Mini Musical featured three new songs and once again starred the voice talent of BBC Radio 6’s Lauren Laverne.
The Tee and Mo Mini Musical launched with the aim of re-imagining the musical genre for pre-schoolers, aged two to five. The 11-minute episode is designed to help young children feel understood, and focuses on the theme of what it feels like to grow up.
Released on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, November 21st this year, alongside an EP of the songs it featured on Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon Music, Big Boots Birthday: A Tee and Mo Mini Musical has already been watched 160,000 times on BBC iPlayer, all within the first seven days of its launch.
The popularity of the special episode, along with previous episodes and series of Tee and Mo, has given encouragement to producers Plug-in Media, who is working with licensing stalwart Valerie Fry to build out a consumer products programme for the IP. The plans kick off with a current focus on appointing a toy partner for the brand.
Fry said: “Fryday Brands is proud to work with the fantastic and creative team at Plug-in Media to develop Tee and Mo products for its huge fan base. With over 185 million YouTube views and a 50 per cent increase in iPlayer views to over 15 million in 2020, we know from our social media engagement that fans are clamouring for products.”
Written and Directed by Plug-in Media’s creative director, Dominic Minns, Big Boots Birthday sees yet another successful collaboration with BAFTA-winning composers Ellie Wyatt and Joss Peach.
The Tee and Mo Mini Musical was produced entirely through remote-working, due to the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Plug-in’s team of exceptionally talented production staff and animators rose to the challenge of developing new workflows for efficient collaboration under unique circumstances.
Big Boots Birthday takes place on the morning of Tee’s birthday, who wakes up a whole year older and a whole inch taller. To mark the occasion, Mo has given him a brand new pair of Big Boy Boots to wear. However, a chance encounter with his old favourite Froggie Wellies gives him pause for thought. Does being big mean that he can’t be little anymore?
As ever, Mo is on hand to listen to his worry and reassure him that no matter how big he gets, she’ll always be his Mum. Cue the best birthday party ever.
