Mojo Swoptops (52 x 11 minutes)—the CG-animated preschool series from Blue Zoo Animation and Tararaboom—is officially in production this week. And it’s a proud moment almost two decades in the making for Alison Warner, head of original content at Blue Zoo.

CBeebies commissioned the series last year, and it’s set to premiere in October. Warner also just closed deals for eight presales with TVO (Canada), RTE (Ireland), YLE (Finland), S4C (Wales), NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), DR (Denmark) and Ketnet (Belgium). 

The toon follows a truck named Mojo who can quickly “swop” her top to solve problems with help from her bestie, Bo the mechanic. Mojo’s multifunctional fixes range from donning an airplane top to deliver packages, to putting on a cement mixer to stir cake batter. 

The IP originated in the same-name ’80s book series by writer Cindy Black and illustrator Rich Ward, published by Ladybird Books. Ward, who knew Warner through his work in advertising, brought her a few copies of Mojo Swoptops in 2004. After talking to people who loved the books and discovering that the kidlit franchise was clearly a cult classic, Warner saw screen potential in its creative premise. Soon after, she took Mojo Swoptops to Contender Entertainment Group, which optioned the property.

But the timing wasn’t right for another preschool vehicle show in the late 2000s, especially since Roary the Racing Car had just launched in 2007, says Warner. So the project was shelved, and it remained so after eOne acquired Contender that same year in a US$97-million deal. “It sat in a filing cabinet for 15 years. I think many people took a look at it, but the timing was never right.”

By 2020, Charles Ogilvie and Contender’s original founder Richard Bridgwood reached out to Warner—who was now working at Blue Zoo—to share that they had once again picked up the rights to the property. They had “always felt there was something special about the IP” and wanted to revive plans for an adaptation, says Warner.

The two companies began developing the series while maintaining regular contact with Rich Ward. To make the show appeal to today’s preschoolers, the team added original elements including the setting of Swoppiton and its residents, and creating a best friend for Mojo so she’s not alone in her adventures. 

The Beeb was drawn to the franchise’s “heart” and the fact that it was a British property, as well as the camaraderie between the characters, she says. “We really focused on the fact that both Mojo and Bo help the local community.”

Buoyed by investments from Blue Zoo and Tararaboom, the series also secured funding from the BFI and triggered UK tax credits. Despite taking many years to get the property from page to screen, sometimes it’s worth waiting until the timing is right, says Warner. “Back in 2004, there were probably fewer platforms we could actually pitch to, compared to today.” 

She adds that she hopes the series will strike a chord with today’s young audience, thanks to its underlying theme of kindness—captured in one of the show’s signature catchphrases: “Helping you is what we do!”