German brand-management and media company m4e AG has appointed international toy manufacturer Simba Dickie Group as the master toy licensee for upcoming CGI preschool series Wissper.

Simba will develop, distribute and manufacture a range of plush, figures, dolls, puzzles, play sets and board games for Europe, CIS, North Africa and the Middle East.

With Simba on-board, the second piece of the licensing puzzle is now in place for the preschool property. In the fall of 2014, a deal was reached with Bastei Media (a subsidiary of Bastei Lübbe AG), which made the German publishing house a co-producer of the series. In addition to books, Bastei will work with the property to develop apps.

The 52 x seven-minute series for girls aged four to seven features Wissper, a little girl who can communicate with animals and travel to different worlds through secret portals in her parents’ house.

Co-produced and developed by London animation studio Absolutely Cucko’s  Dan Good (Waybuloo), the first episodes of the series are expected to be ready this fall. UK-based Channel 5’s Milkshake block is the broadcast anchor for the series.