Deals in Brief – March 3, 2025

MIAM!'s The Tinies and Xilam's Karate Sheep score multiple TV sales, and Netflix is gearing up to launch two new Unicorn Academy specials this year.

March 3, 2025

MIAM! Animation’s upper preschool series The Tinies (pictured) is generating more buyer interest ahead of its October 2025 debut on Canal+. The studio’s distribution arm has sold the 50 x 11-minute show and a 22-minute companion Christmas special to broadcasters in Canada (WildBrain Television), the Netherlands (NPO) and Switzerland (RTS).
Karate Sheep from Xilam Animation in France has been scooped up by Cartoon Network (Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong), beIN (MENA), Minika (Turkey), Gulli (France) and Viu TV (Hong Kong, Macau). Xilam manages the second-window linear TV distribution and merchandising rights to this 78 x seven-minute slapstick toon in all territories worldwide.
Expanding the content universe of Unicorn Academy, Netflix has ordered a pair of specials to serve up with Spin Master’s CG-animated fantasy series. Legendary Summer (60 minutes) will join the streamer’s lineup on April 9, with Winter Solstice (44 minutes) dropping on November 6. Unicorn Academy scored more than 18 million views in the second half of 2024, as per the latest Netflix engagement report.
9 Story Brands has granted Random House Children’s Books the publishing rights to its 2D-animated preschool comedy Lu & The Bally Bunch. Two lead licensed titles—Color and Play with Lu & The Bally Bunch and Bug Hugs—will launch on July 8, and future formats planned for spring 2026 will include hardcover picture books, five-minute story collections, coloring and activity sets and eBooks.
Making its first foray into licensing, Plus-Plus USA has signed deals to make versions of its signature “Puzzle by Number” boxes based on popular vintage brands Peanuts and Atari. Both products are slated to hit US retail outlets in Q4 2025, coinciding with a slew of other releases that are in the works for Peanuts’ 75th anniversary.
Cricket Australia has come on board as a key promotional partner for Xentrix Studios’ upcoming CG-animated series Snick & Willow. The sports org will help build awareness for the toon through its social media channels, as well as via activations at cricket matches and junior cricket program events. Xentrix is in talks with a number of broadcasters and distributors for this cricket-focused series, which is expected to wrap production by June 2026.