Untethered as of January, when her overall deal with Netflix wrapped up, preschool content maven Nancy Kanter has reopened her Burbank-based studio Available Light Productions and has a slate of new projects in the pipeline. 

First up, she’s working with Bob Higgins at Trustbridge Entertainment on developing an animated feature film called The Circus Ship, based on Chris Van Dussen’s 2009 illustrated book (Candlewick Press) about a group of circus animals who get stranded on an island off the coast of Maine and the human inhabitants who learn to love them. Higgins has already lined up Lauren Faust (My Little Pony) and Craig McCracken (Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends) to write the film’s script. 

And on the series side of things, Kanter has partnered with singer/actor Kevin Jonas (of Jonas Brothers fame) and his Copper Cup Entertainment studio to produce an animated preschool show called Alexander the Post Fox. Amy Higgins (Wander Over Yonder, Star vs the Forces of Evil) created this series concept and is writing scripts with Brian Clark (Molly of Denali). Copper Cup president Spencer Berman will executive produce. 

Independently, Available Light is also adapting Margaret Owen’s YA-skewing book Little Thieves (Macmillan) as an animated film called Penny Phantom. This fantasy-adventure story is about a jewel thief who is cursed to slowly turn into gemstones unless she can find a way to outsmart her enemies and reverse the hex. Daron Nefcy (Star vs the Forces of Evil) is attached to direct. 

And the last project on Kanter’s slate is Wayward Girls, a live-action coming-of-age dramedy that Kristin Belka Maier (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) is writing for Kimberly McCullough (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) to direct. 

Before joining Netflix as an executive producer of kids and family projects, Kanter worked at Disney for 20 years, most recently as EVP of content and creative strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide. During her long tenure with the company, she established the Disney Junior brand and developed some of Disney Channel’s biggest animated and live-action hits, including Doc McStuffins, The Owl House and Secret Society of Second-Born Royals.