Santa Barbara, California-based Foothill Entertainment and its UK affiliate Foothill Europe have secured co-production deals for its animated preschool series Boy and the Dinosaur with UK-based Shooting Star Animation and Canadian prodco Echo Media.

Worldwide distribution for the Canada-UK treaty co-production will be handled by Foothill outside of the co-pro territories, and scripting and storyboarding on the series will begin immediately.

The 52 x 11-minute series, which was the third-most viewed show at MIP Junior for two consecutive years, has also been pre-sold to several yet-to-be announced international broadcasters.

Boy and the Dinosaur follows the unique relationship between an ordinary boy and a dinosaur, who happens to be his best friend and mentor. It blends broad physical comedy with original music and a simple educational philosophy.

On the British side, Paul Couvela (Bob the Builder, Chuggington) has been tapped to direct the series. David Bunting (Shaun the Sheep, The Tigger Movie) is on-board to produce and Davey Moore (Octanauts, Thomas & Friends, Rastamouse) will serve as writer.

In Canada, Dominique Mendel of Montreal-based Echo Media (Toopy and Binoo) will executive produce.

Shooting Star was established earlier this year by its MD Russell Dever, who also founded the company’s affiliate 1461 Productions (Rollie and Friends).