As COVID-19 continues to affect the industry, a lot of deals have been placed on the back burner to deal with the ever-evolving situation. But business hasn’t stalled completely. Here are some of the important ones from this week.

Mondo TV

Italy’s Cartoonito has picked up prodco Mondo TV’s animated series MeteoHeroes (52 x seven minutes), to premiere on the WarnerMedia-owned free-to-air channel beginning April 22. The show is about a group of superheroes who use their powers to protect the world from environmental crisis and pollution. The four to seven-skewing series (pictured) joins a growing number of environmentally-focused shows being made by the kids industry.

ADD Content

ViacomCBS’s Israeli channel Nickelodeon Hot has commissioned Tel Aviv-based studio ADD Content to make YA drama Ziggy. Created by Shahar Segall and Oren Yaakobi (HaTachana), the 40-episode live-action series revolves around 16-year-old Dori who hides from the world because of a skin condition (vitiligo), which has stolen his confidence. He dreams of singing on stage, so he invents the masked alter-ego Ziggy to help him conquer bullies and perform. No delivery date for the series has been announced yet.

Ameba

Canadian-based VOD service Ameba has picked Indian animation studio Toonz Media Group’s entire catalogue comprised of 300 episodes of kids programming aimed at kids four to 10. Animated series including Cat and Keet (92 episodes), Darwin and Newts (40 episodes), Chai Chai (50 episodes) and YouTube series Gummy Bear (39 episodes) are now available on the platform across North America.

Beano

UK licensing agent Rocket has inked five deals in the UK and Ireland for Beano’s Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed series. The new partners include Smiffy’s (party decorations, paper plates, napkins and straws), Rachel Lowe (puzzles, board and card games), Great Gifts (confectionary, gift boxes, jars and advents calendars), H&A (play cosmetics, health and beauty accessories and hair care) and Park Agencies (apparel). Set to roll out in Q4, the new products are part of Beano’s efforts to grow the brand’s CP presence ahead of its 70th anniversary next year.