WildBrain
EXCLUSIVE: New distribution partners have acquired WildBrain Spark’s preschool series, Caillou’s New Adventures (pictured, 120 x five minutes). Canal Infantil (Latin America) bought season one, while Semillitas (US and Central America) picked up seasons two and three and JOJKO (Slovakia) opted for all five seasons.
Poland’s MiniMini+ has acquired seasons two to four, plus five 45-minute animated Caillou specials (Caillou: Rosie the Giant, Caillou: The Bravest Wolf Boy, Caillou: Adventures with Grandma and Grandpa, Caillou’s Perfect Christmas and Caillou: The Silver Knight). YLE in Finland has also picked up all five specials.
Sky
The British broadcaster has unveiled a series of shows it’s going to air this summer. Renewed for a second season is Aardman Animations’ The Very Small Creatures (20 x three minutes), which is about five miniature kids made of clay who explore a playroom when no one is around. Sky also renewed Terrific Television’s The Makery (25 x 15 minutes) for a second season, and acquired seasons one and two of Mattel Television’s The Pingu Show (78 x 12 minutes) and season two of Studio 100 Media’s 100% Wolf: The Book of Hath Series (26 x 22 minutes).
DreamWorks
Universal Games and Digital Platforms are bringing DreamWorks Animation characters into two upcoming video games co-developed with Bamtang Games. DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing features Shrek, Boss Baby and Puss in Boots competing in kart races on tracks that are inspired by the studios’ franchises. And in DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue!, players travel through the magical world of the Trolls while solving musical challenges. Release dates for the titles have not been announced yet, but they will launch on PCs and consoles including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox.
Republic Records: Kids and Family
Actor and singer Sam Moran, a former member of The Wiggles, has signed a distribution deal with Republic Records: Kids and Family to release his first family-friendly solo album. All the Feels includes 11 songs all about emotions, such as joy, love and more difficult-to-express feelings like anger and jealousy. The first two singles—“Sunny Day” and “Biddy Bom”—are out now, and the rest of the playlist will be released on August 18 via Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music.
ZeptoLab
Berlin-based techco Wonderz has launched a new app featuring the characters and environments from video game developer ZeptoLab’s animated series Om Nom Stories (250 x three minutes). The same-name app is ad-free and offers educational videos and coloring books featuring main character Om Nom, who stars in ZeptoLab’s Cut the Rope puzzle games. Now available on the iOS App Store, the Om Nom Stories app offers kids an optional subscription for access to more content. ZeptoLab launched the Om Nom Stories series in 2011 on YouTube.
Shout! Factory
Ukrainian CG-animated film Mavka: The Forest Song will be available to North American audiences for the first time, thanks to an August 15 DVD launch orchestrated by LA-based Shout! Factory. Animagrad Animation Studio and parentco Film.UA Group co-produced the 99-minute film and released it in Ukrainian theaters last March. Just one month after its release, France’s TeamTO partnered with these studios to co-develop an animated series based on the IP.