Germany’s ZDF Studios has come on board as a co-producer and global distributor for Norwegian live-action kids series Superhero Academy, which is taking its local market by storm.
Norway’s Seefood TV produces the 13 x 15-minute adventure/comedy show for kids ages six to 10 that revolves around a bunch of first-graders at a school for superheroes-in-training. ZDF will co-produce season two (20 x 15 minutes)—which is set for delivery in 2023—and distribute the entire series worldwide.
Several major Nordic broadcasters have already picked up Superhero Academy, which premiered on NRK Super (Norway) in January. It’s also currently running on YLE (Finland), SVT (Sweden), DR (Denmark), NPO (Netherlands) and LRT (Lithuania).
ZDF Studios is also a co-producer on Cottonwood Media’s Find Me in Paris, which has been bought by broadcasters including Disney, Nickelodeon and ABC Australia. Seefood TV stands to benefit quite a bit from ZDF’s experience in the kids market, given that it has primarily produced live-action comedy series for adults and families, including Forty, Fat and Finished for TV2 (Norway) and Santa in the Barn for Discovery Networks Norway.