Canada’s Independent Production Fund (IPF) has selected two animated preschool series to support through its 2025 Short Form Series Development Program. 

Both book adaptations, Getting Glam at Gram’s from Vancouver’s Eh-Okay Entertainment and Toronto-based Wildling Pictures’ Professor Goose are both book adaptations were among 21 selected projects that will each receive up to US$22,000 (CAD$30,000) for more development.

Writer Sara Weed and illustrator Erin Hawryluk are behind Getting Glam at Gram’s (pictured, published in September 2024 by Arsenal Pulp Press), featuring a non-binary protagonist who looks forward to Sunday’s at grandma’s house because it’s a chance to dress up in exuberant clothes and get glamorous.

Professor Goose (eight x seven minutes) is based on a fairytale collection from writer Paulette Bourgeois and illustrator Alex Griffiths Professor that’s published by Tundra Books. These two picture books are about a goose who humorously fact-checks famous fairytales like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, pointing out, for example, that bears live dens, not cottages. Wildling Pictures announced this short series project back in 2022 as part of its expansion into kids TV. There’s no other financial partners involved yet, and the studio is considering international co-production oppurtunities. 

More than 225 applications from creators across Canada were vying for IPF support totaling US$432,000 (CAD$600,000). The projects it selected are primarily being developed for digital platforms and channels. 

Image courtesy of Arsenal Pulp Press.