Jetpack

The Brit distributor has announced a bunch of new sales to Cartoon Network and several Asian broadcasters. Warner Bros. Discovery has acquired the rights to season one of Malaysian Animonsta Studios’ Mechamato (26 x 22 minutes) for broadcast on Cartoon Network, as well as the first and second seasons of Beano Studios’ Dennis the Menace & Gnasher (52 x 11 minutes) for Cartoon Network and Indian linear channel POGO. Meanwhile, Disney Japan has picked up the rights to season one of Ladybird & Bee (26 x two minutes), featuring stories of the natural world and two animal best friends, from Britain’s Paper Owls.

Nickelodeon

Nick is once again partnering with sister channel CBS to kid-ify its Christmas Day NFL game, and will use the opportunity to spotlight new preschool animated series Rubble & Crew. The “slime-filled” NFL Nickmas Game will feature special guest reporters like Bill Fagerbakke (who voices Patrick Star on SpongeBob) and Young Dylan (Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan), as well as silly animations of slime and cannons shooting snow and gifts. Audiences will also get an “exclusive look” at Spin Master Entertainment’s Rubble & Crew ahead of its February 3 premiere. This is the third collaboration between CBS and Nickelodeon for an NFL event, and part of Nick’s ongoing NFL-themed kids programming strategy.

The Media Pioneers

The UK-based distributor has closed several TV deals for kids series in its catalogue. Hong Kong’s ViuTV, operated by HK Television Entertainment, has acquired the pay-TV rights to Belli Studio’s Boris & Rufus (39 x 11 minutes), Low Film’s Mironins (pictured, 26 x seven minutes) and stop-motion preschool series Mini Town (52 x seven minutes), produced by Steam Works Animation. 

Angry Birds

The famous Finnish franchise now has reusable water bottles in its consumer products program, thanks to a deal between Rovio Entertainment and Ion8. Made of stainless steel and featuring Angry Birds characters and environments in 3D prints, the bottles are available on Amazon across Europe, as well as through Ion8’s website and the Angry Birds online store.