By: Ryan Tuchow and Sadhana Bharanidharan

Despite a year that can best be described as challenging, the kids content industry is doing its best to be a model of optimism and determination. Undaunted by the economic climate, creators continued to create this year, and their heroic efforts to get projects off the ground against all odds are worth showcasing. 

In Part One of this series, we looked at shows for preschool and bridge audiences. And today we’re shifting gears to showcase some new concepts for a slightly older viewer. 

TWEENS

5 Worlds
Producer: Andarta Pictures (France)
Format: Eight x 26 minutes
Style: 2D animation
Budget: US$6.4 million
Status: A pitch bible and a teaser are ready. The team is seeking broadcasters, financing partners, co-producers and a sales agent.
Delivery: Q1 2028

Based on a series of YA books by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel, this sci-fi fantasy concept is looking to bridge the appeal of Star Wars and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Three kids (a clumsy student, a boy from the slums and a star athlete) team up on an epic quest to save multiple worlds from a villain called The Mimic.

A Raven in the Woods 

Producer: Artists Animation Studio (Canada) 
Style: 2D animation, with an anime influence 
Format: 10 x 22 minutes
Budget: US$400,000 per episode 
Status: A pitch deck and pilot script are available, and the studio is looking for broadcasters, distributors and financing. 

Delivery: Q1 2026 

This spooky series retells the classic stories of Edgar Allan Poe for kids and families. Accompanied by a talking raven, brothers Edgar and Alan Poe set out on a quest through the woods to break a curse that has been put on Alan, encountering a variety of specters and haunts along the way. Screenwriter Jake Curtis (Dumped) created this kids take on Poe’s work. Formerly operating as Yeti Farm Creative until it was acquired by Rick Mischel in January, Artists Animation Studio has previously done service work on Pete the Cat and Dorg Van Dango. 

Aries 1 

Producer: Toon Pocket (USA) 
Style: Live action 
Format: 12 x 44 minutes 
Budget: US$8 to US$10 million 
Status: Toon Pocket is seeking co-production partners, broadcasters and financiers, armed with a pitch bible outlining the series arc. 
Delivery: Q1 2026 

A young space station crew watches helplessing as a mysterious ship appears and blows up Earth. At the same time, they realize they’re stuck in a time loop, which means they have a chance to go back and investigate the mystery behind their mission and figure out how to save their planet from destruction. This sci-fi series is described as a more dramatic Groundhog Day set 200 years in the future. 

The Space Between

Producer: JODR Creative (Canada)
Style: 2D animation
Format: 26 x 22 minutes
Budget: US$6 million to US$8 million
Status: A bible and animated teaser trailer are available. The next step is finding production partners and financing.
Delivery: 24 months from greenlight

Created by writer Joan Digba (Beyond Black Beauty), this series follows along with five kids who travel into their minds in every episode to befriend their mental health monsters.