The real world is once again embracing the animated adventures of funny-boy Roy. Dublin, Ireland’s JAM Media has picked up a crossover commission from both CBBC and CBeebies for its younger-skewing spin-off, Little Roy, and a commission from CBBC for another new series featuring the character, The Roy Files.

In a fairly unprecedented move,  52 x 14-minute Little Roy was jointly commissioned by CBeebies controller Kay Benbow and by CBBC controller Cheryl Taylor, and it will air on both UK pubcaster channels.

Sue Nott and Michael Towner from the BBC will executive produce, along with Alan Shannon and John Rice from JAM Media, while the series is produced by Mark Cumberton.

Building on the success of the original Roy, which currently airs on CBBC and took home the award for best non-animated or mixed series at the 2015 Kidscreen Awards, Little Roy is a live-action/animation hybrid starring animated five-year-old Roy O’Brien – the son to a real-life family – as he follows a journey of self-discovery. 

In a separate deal, CBBC has also commissioned a second spin-off series The Roy Files, a 15 x 14-minute live-action/animation mockumentary that’s currently in production. The series gives new insight into the life of 11-year-old Roy. He turns his history homework into a scrapbook about himself and each ep will document a chapter,  featuring exclusive new material combined with highlights from all four seasons of  Roy.

JAM Media holds the worldwide rights to both series.