ViacomCBS and Sky have commissioned London-based Magic Light’s first animated series Pip and Posy. This is the first time ViacomCBS and Sky have partnered on a co-production.

The preschool CG-animated series will premiere on Channel 5’s preschool block Milkshake! and Sky’s on-demand service Sky Kids in early 2021. It will then air on Nick Jr. a year later.

The 52 x seven-minute series is produced by Magic Light Pictures, which is best known for its award-winning shorts such as The Gruffalo, Revolting Rhymes and the Snail and the Whale. Kidscreen first reported on the animated series last year.

With animation services provided by Blue Zoo, Pip and Posy tracks a mouse and rabbit whose lives revolve around a world of play. It is in production and based on a popular collection of books by illustrator Axel Scheffler and author Camilla Reid.

It’s executive produced by Michael Rose and Martin Pope and produced by Vici King for Magic Light Pictures. The showrunner at Magic Light is Jeroen Jaspaert and Blue Zoo’s director is Matthew Tea.

Magic Light retains the global distribution and merchandising rights for the series, excluding publishing, and is developing a full licensing program to go with the new show.

Last year, Milkshake! committed to raising its UK originated programming to 50 hours, up from 29, by 2021.