Brazilian production powerhouse LC Barreto is partnering with China’s CCTV Animation for a TV series and feature film featuring the popular character Panda HoHo.

Development is reportedly underway on a CG-animated preschool series called Hoho & The Sound of Brazil, budgeted at US$8.1 million as per Variety. This eco-themed toon will see Panda HoHo exploring Brazil to learn about the country’s biodiversity and cultural traditions with two local animal pals—a golden lion tamarin and a capybara. It’s planned to play out across four seasons totaling 52 x 12-minute episodes.

Also in the pipeline is CG-animated feature Amazonika – The Origin. Budgeted in the range of US$5.2 million, this film concept tags along with Panda HoHo on a quest to save the world with a young man who can communicate with nature and a brave princess warrior. The storyline will showcase the Amazon Rainforest as an ancient link between Asian and Brazilian indigenous cultures.

Director and animator João Amorim, whose credits include the Brazilian edition of Sesame Street and 2006 film Barbie Diaries, will helm both projects. 

This appears to be the latest cross-cultural franchise expansion for Panda HoHo, which represents an animal that has long been a symbolic icon of China. CCTVA, which is owned by state conglomerate China Media Group, has previously forged partnerships to team the panda up with other international animal ambassadors.

Last year, for instance, CCTVA signed a pact with T&B Media Global Thailand for a series called Panda and Little White Elephant, featuring HoHo and a counterpart representing the significance of elephants in Thai culture. And before that, CCTVA similarly co-produced CG-animated shows such as Panda and Kiwi (2023) with NHNZ Worldwide and Panda and Rooster (2019) with Stopline in Portugal.

Meanwhile, the legendary LC Barreto banner has worked on more than 80 films since setting up in the early 1960s. Some of its recent credits include teen comedy Ela Disse, Ele Disse (2019) and an upcoming adult-skewing feature called In the Name of My Parents.

Featured image: Panda and Little White Elephant