Kidscreen Summit starts in less than a week, and the deals are coming in hot and fast now. Here’s the news making headlines leading into the event.
Netflix
The global streamer is teaming up with Australian First Nations pubcaster NITV for the first time to co-commission Eddie’s Lil Homies. Aussie prodco Highly Spirited is producing the 10 x 12-minute animated series, which is based on a same-name book series for early readers authored by former Australian Football League player Eddie Betts. The show sees eight-year-old Eddie and his best friends using their imaginations to create epic adventures and solving every problem with a clever rap song. The Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) will distribute Eddie’s Lil Homies internationally.
PBS International
China’s UYoung has picked up a package of animated series from the US pubcaster’s distribution arm, marking its first multi-series, multi-format deal with a Chinese buyer. Work It Out Wombats! (which debuts today on PBS KIDS), Elinor Wonders Why, PEEP and the Big Wide World, Molly of Denali and Arthur will all start running soon on UYoung’s UKids SVOD platform.
WildBrain
ABC Australia, Showmax (Africa) and Prime Video in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are the first international broadcasters to pick up WildBrain’s 2D-animated series Summer Memories. This 40 x 12-minute series is about two best friends who look back on the highs and lows of their most important summer ever. A&N Productions, Aircraft Pictures and Yeti Farm Creative are co-producing the toon for six to 12s, with WildBrain handling international sales.
Beyond Entertainment
The Banijay subsidiary has signed on to co-produce three new animated series for kids with Silas Hickey’s Custom Nuts prodco. Jock and Sunny (52 x seven minutes) is an anime sci-fi comedy about two kids stranded in a futuristic version of Tokyo. Shape & Shapers (26 x 11 minutes) is a factual anime for over-13s about surfing. And Classical Chaos (26 x 11 minutes) will feature tales from classic books retold through anime and vaudeville-style cartoons. The partners’ Beyond Custom Nuts joint-venture is headed up by Melinda Wearne, Beyond’s scripted development and production exec.
9 Story Distribution International
The 9 Story sales division has acquired worldwide distribution rights to new preschool series Atom Town, an Irish co-pro from Treehouse Republic and Turnip + Duck. The 26 x five-minute series premiered domestically on RTÉ in November 2022. It revolves around a community of characters based on elements from the periodic table, who impart chemistry lessons as they—literally—interact with one another.