RTÉ Jr
Ireland’s pubcaster has picked up CG-animated series Paddles (pictured) from Spanish studio FuturumKids. The show targets four- to seven-year-olds and centers around a polar bear cub who is raised by Irish wolfhounds and has to learn that being different is worth celebrating. An air date for the 52 x 11-minute series has not yet been announced.
Hasbro
Uber Eats has partnered with Hasbro to deliver free toys in the UK. The Hasbro Toy Store is now available through the Uber Eats app, and parents can order some of the toyco’s games (such as Cluedo, The Game of Life, Play-Doh, Yahtzee and Boggle) for the price of delivery.
The store will be available in London and Manchester from February 17 to 20. This marketing push comes as families continue to spend more time at home together; many are increasingly seeking out board games as a pandemic pastime.
Penguin Random House”
The publisher’s Clarkson Potter imprint is teaming up with Netflix and the Obama’s Higher Ground Productions to launch a range of books inspired by new TV series Waffles + Mochi.
Penguin Random House is releasing first picture book title Follow That Food! on March 2, ahead of the March 6 premiere of the live-action series on Netflix. The publisher is also dropping early-reader Pickle Party! and deluxe paint box book Rainbow of Flavors this summer. In November, Clarkson Potter plans to publish Waffles + Mochi: The Cookbook, which will include recipes for meals from the show and other dishes families can cook together.
Pink Parrot Media
The Montreal-based distributor has picked up CG-animated series Butterfly Academy (working title) from Canadian studio Carpediem and Germany’s Ulysses Filmproduktion. A spinoff of the companies’ animated film Butterfly Tale, this 52 x 11-minute show is set in a high school for Monarchs, where the characters have to navigate growing up while learning to be butterflies.
Pink Parrot is seeking investors and broadcast partners ahead of the show’s Q4 2023 delivery. Broadcaster Societé Radio-Canada has already picked it up.