The LEGO Group

The LEGO Group and National Geographic are building on an existing partnership to develop new LEGO City and LEGO Friends (pictured) sets and create awareness about exploration and the protection of endangered species.

LEGO and Nat Geo are also launching a campaign that encourages kids to learn more about the world and think of ways they can help protect nature. LEGO has rolled out an educational campaign website with details about endangered species, and the brickmaker will contribute funds towards the National Geographic Society to support grants in ocean exploration and species conservation.

Guru Studio

Toronto-based producer Guru Studio has appointed bRAND-WARD as its exclusive licensing agent for True and the Rainbow Kingdom in the UK and Ireland. The London-based agency will represent the brand across all categories, including toys, apparel, food and drink, and live events. Dates for new product launches have not been announced yet.

Cross River Productions

French animation studio Cross River has signed a development agreement with the Canal+ group for a new hybrid series called Virtual Past. The live-action and animated show tracks a family that starts playing a virtual reality video game together, only to be sucked into its Middle Ages narrative.

Aimed at kids eight and up, the 13 x 26-minute series is in early stages, with no delivery date scheduled yet. Yann de Préval (50/50 Heroes) crafted the art and character designs, and Jean-François Henry and Jacob Henry (Trolls of Troy, The Pirate Family) are attached as writers.

CTC Media 

Russian media company CTC Media has appointed Beijing Joy Culture Media as the exclusive distributor of TV, digital and licensing rights for its animated series Little Tiaras in Mainland China. The preschool show revolves around the adventures of five princesses (with an upcoming third season) as they learn magic. Little Tiaras will launch in China on Tencent and IQiYi this summer.

It is produced by Russia’s Melnitsa Animation Studio and owned by CTC Media and CTB Film Company.

Pocket.watch

California-based prodco Pocket.watch has sold its live-action preschool series Ryan’s Mystery Playdate to Amazon’s FreeTime Unlimited subscription service in Germany. The deal marks the first time the series will be available on a platform other than Nickelodeon. The first two seasons (40 x half hours) will premiere on Freetime Unlimited starting in July, while the third 20 x half-hour season will launch in October. The series revolves around YouTuber Ryan Kaji (25.5 million subscribers) and his family as they take on challenges and solve puzzles to reveal celebrity playdates.

Growing the brand beyond the small screen, Pocket.watch’s p.w Games division will launch a new Ryan’s Mystery Playdate-themed mobile game called Blast this fall.  It will allow players to solve puzzles and unlock new characters.

Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon Latin America is letting the dogs out and teaming up with Mexican pet food manufacturer Ganador for PAW Patrol dog food. The campaign includes a series of interstitials featuring the PAW Patrol characters and in-store displays at grocery stores and convenience stores throughout Mexico.