Tag Archives: animation

41Entertainment lands first SVOD and broadcast deals for animated series S.M.A.S.H

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HBO Max has signed a new deal with 41 Entertainment that grants it the First Window Exclusive SVOD rights to the company’s new animated series S.M.A.S.H in the US. The streaming platform is joined by Super RTL in Germany who has secured the exclusive content rights for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

41 Entertainment will launch the new animated series on a global scale in 2022. Discovery Family Channel and Discovery Familia in the US has already secured the exclusive linear rights to the series.

S.M.A.S.H is set at a one-of-a-kind sleepaway camp located on Lake Sebastian in Bavaria, Germany where four kids with superpowers – Streak (St Petersburg, Russia), Rocket (Cape Town, South Africa), Flare (Glasgow, Scotland) and Vitoria (São Paulo, Brazil) – are preparing to become the next generation of superheroes.

At the center of this super heroic action team is Mei Lien, a clever and charismatic mechanical genius from Guangzhou, China. Mei Lien is a tehc whizz and inventor of many of the SMASH kids’ customised vehicles and gadgets.

Created by Allen Bohbot and based on an original idea by Kaaren Lee Brown, S.M.A.S.H has been developed for television by Kaaren Lee Brown and Kiersten Halstead, illustrated by Mel Bontrager, and executive produced by Allen Bohbot. The series is planned to launch in 2022 worldwide from the same creative and production team as the international hit Super Monsters.

“We have built a great team of writers to bring the S.M.A.S.H adventures to life, including Josh Haber (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Skylanders Academy, Spider-Man) and Eric Rogers (Skylanders Academy, Futurama, Brickelberry),” said Halstead.

“We are also fortunate to have a fantastic production team to build out the Camp S.M.A.S.H world. Each episode focuses on fun and engaging superhero adventures that require teamwork, problem solving, and a sense of humour.”

Nancy Koff, VP, sales and marketing, added: “It is thrilling to be announcing an initial line-up of such stellar international broadcasters. The response from the market to S.M.A.S.H has been very encouraging and we look forward to announcing additional broadcasters and platforms soon.

“We believe the property is attractive to customers worldwide due to the high quality CG animation, cultural diversity of characters, and earnest storylines, which revolve around the children honing their skills and powers, while realizing how much they still need to learn in order to become a superhero like their parents Torpedo, Silver Streak, Rocket Man and Flame.”

Gaumont appoints Michelle Sullivan to role of VP creative executive

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Gaumont, the film company and producer of the award-winning Narcos series and the upcoming animated series, Do, Re, & Mi, and High in the Clouds, is expanding its animation and family efforts with the appointment of Michelle Sullivan.

Sullivan most recently served as development executive for Amazon Studios, where she helped develop and oversee the production of Amazon Kids Originals scripted animated series, including Clifford The Big Red Dog, Click Clack Moo, and Bookaboo. Prior to that she led the National Geographic’s kids and family digital initiatives.

Sullivan will officially join the US team in August this year as VP, creative executive based in Gaumont’s Los Angeles offices. She will report to Terry Kalagian, SVP, creative development, animation and family and work alongside Kimberly Dennison, VP of creative development to source projects to be developed into animated and live action series.

“I am so excited to have Michelle Sullivan joining our team,” said Kalagian. “Her creative vision is aligned with Gaumont’s and the energy and expertise she brings to the group will further inspire us in our ongoing quest to develop meaningful stories and compelling characters.”

Among the upcoming series from Gaumont is the animated feature, High in the Clouds, developed together with Paul McCartney for Netflix.

Mondo TV Iberoamerica lands its first US broadcast deals for Sissi the Young Empress and Invention Story

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Mondo TV Iberoamerica – part of Mondo TV Group – has secured its first US sales of all three series of its popular animated hit Sissi the Young Empress, as well as the first series of its new action comedy Invention Story, via the English-language network, Primo TV.

Mondo TV Iberoamerica distributes Mondo TV’s animated catalogue in Spain, Portugal and both Latin America and the Spanish-speaking Americas. Its major new deal with the US Hispanic pay TV leader Vme Media grants Mondo TV Iberoamerica distribution of its series through Primo TV.

Sissi the Young Empress and Invention Story will be available for a two and-a-half-year period starting this year.The territories covered will include the United States, Puerto Rico and all US territories and possessions.

Primo TV is the first English-language network targeting US bicultural Hispanic Gen Z viewers (aged six to 16) and their families with inspirational and educational programming.

The star of Sissi the Young Empress is based on a real historical figure – a charming young empress who captured the public imagination well beyond her Austrian homeland. This animated version of her story offers its audience adventure, romance, mystery, intrigue and magic when Sissi discovers a magic bracelet, which leads to exciting and unusual adventures as she seeks to help her many animal friends.

The first two series of Sissi the Young Empress have been a big success with its target audience of young girls, and an established rating hit in over 40 countries. The third season launched this year with a new 3D 26 x 11’ format and new content, bringing more magic and adventure.

Meanwhile, Kit – an intelligent, thoughtful, footloose and creative fox – is the star of Invention Story. In each episode of this 3D CGI comedy he comes up with a new invention that impresses most of the rabbit residents of his adopted home Carrot Town – but inspires jealousy in a few.

This major pay-TV deal for the Americas will bring Invention Story to the US markets for the first time. Invention Story is also about to debut on free-to-air TV starting from April 2020 on Frisbee in Italy, Karusel in Russia and TV2 Kiwi in Hungary.

Maria Bonaria Fois, CEO of Mondo TV Iberoamerica, said: “The sale of Sissi, one of our most popular animated shows, and Invention Story, a brand-new series that is enjoying a very strong response, to Vme is a major breakthrough for Mondo TV in one of the world’s most important markets.

“Vme is recognised as a leading player in the Hispanic pay-TV market with a strong reach. We are thrilled to be able to announce this news and certain that both Sissi and Invention Story will be enormously popular with Vme’s vast audience.”

Nickelodeon ramps up Rainbow Rangers with increased broadcast of the pre-school hit

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Fans of Rainbow Rangers rejoice – Nickelodeon has upped the ante and increased the broadcast of the popular Genius Brands International original pre-school series to 26 airings per week.

Nick Jr. now airs Rainbow Rangers Monday to Friday with four airings per day, and six airings on the weekends.

The animated action-adventure series premiered on Nick Jr. in November 2018 with five airings per week and, according to the firm, has consistently achieved high ratings with its target demo of Girls aged two to five. The additional airings of Rainbow Rangers, which represents a five-fold increase (400+ per cent), are complimented by content available via video on demand platforms and the brand’s robust YouTube channel.

“From the beginning, we knew we had a special and unique new series for pre-schoolers that delivers values-based entertainment for children around the world. Needless to say, leading broadcasters like Nickelodeon don’t make schedule changes of this magnitude without good reason, and we are thrilled that they continue support Rainbow Rangers heading into year two,” said Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO, Genius Brands.

“The series is airing in the US and internationally, and we have several hundred product SKUs planned for rollout at retail in 2020. As I have said many times, we are on track to build a new heavyweight pre-school brand, which we anticipate to peak within the next two years.”

In the international market, Rainbow Rangers season one debuted last summer across Latin America on Nickelodeon LatAm, as well as  in Italy, on Cartoonito. Genius Brands is currently in negotiations with key broadcasters and licensing agents worldwide. 

Rainbow Rangers is a rescue-based series that follows the adventures of seven girls who are Earth’s first responders, protecting people, animals, resources, and the natural beauty of our world.

The series boasts a unique and highly-accomplished team of creators from the animated motion picture and television worlds, including Rob Minkoff (Disney’s The Lion King director), Shane Morris (Disney’s Frozen co-writer), Tim Mansfield, and New York Times Bestselling author and Emmy Award-nominated writer Elise Allen (Dinosaur Train, Lion Guard, Barbie specials),  who serves as head writer and co-creator.

Multiple Emmy Award-winning director Michael Maliani directs the series, and Genius Brands’ Chairman and CEO and multiple Emmy Award-winning producer, Andy Heyward, serves as executive producer.