Xilam and Zinkia’s Shuriken School, the 26 x 30-minute series that follows the adventures of a group of young Ninja School candidates, continues to build steam, and its producers are looking to pad out its licensing lineup.

The CGI/2-D animated action/comedy bowed on France 3 in July, and so far 15 broadcasters are on-board, including Nick US, YTV in Canada, Disney Asia and Jetix throughout Europe, the Middle East and Latin America covering some 90 countries in total. And according to ratings from France 3, the show scored a 32.4% share of four- to 10-year-olds and a 52.8% share of 11- to 14-year-olds throughout last summer.

Several French licensees are getting ready to launch product. First up is a line of Shuriken School stationery and accessories hitting retail this month. Licensee ATM is producing school bags, cell phone holders, backpacks, pencil cases, sharpeners and rulers. Video distributor CITEL is slated to release all 26 eps and a 75-minute DTV movie in the fall. Looking at publishing, Hachette Jeunesse plans to launch four 15,000-copy titles on a quarterly basis beginning in April. And French apparel manufacturer FOPEM should be churning out pyjamas and other apparel for the country’s mass retailers this coming summer.

The property’s licensing agents in Europe (CPLG), Scandinavia (Kidz Entertainment), Eastern Europe (EEMC) and Latin America (Exim) are currently on the hunt for luggage, master toy and video game deals in the coming year.