Canada’s public broadcaster announced at its annual upfront today that CBC Kids has ordered a pair of new book adaptations for its 2023-2024 programming lineup. 

First up is 2D-animated adventure series Mini-Jon and Mini-Maple (24 x four minutes), produced by CBC, Radio-Canada and Canadian studio Happy Camper Media. This spinoff of 2D-animated short series Super Agent Jon Le Bon! (80 x seven minutes), which is already airing on CBC, will premiere in the pubcaster’s kids block and also on its CBC Gem streamer at the end of July.

Mini-Jon and Mini-Maple is based on Canadian cartoonist Alex A’s Mini-Jon’s Experiments graphic novel series, which is published by Adventure Press. In the show, a miniature clone of Jon Le Bon lives in a secret spy agency and embarks on espionage-fueled adventures with his best friend Mini-Maple. 

The CBC has also greenlit a new CG-animated series called Dylan’s Playtime Adventures (pictured) from 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films. This 52 x 11-minute comedy is based on a series of Scholastic picture books by British author/illustrator Guy Parker-Rees. Its namesake hero is a multi-colored striped dog who uses his imagination and some basic props to role-play a new career (train conductor, nurse, astronaut, etc.) in each episode. The series will launch on CBC Kids next spring.