Media News - the multimedia rundown

Talking Tom saves the day

Outfit7 and its North American global licensing partner, Epic Story Media, have announced details of a new series - The Talking Tom Heroes: Suddenly Super.

This 3D CGI animated series is a new iteration of Outfit7’s Talking Tom Heroes brand, which already has a dedicated global fanbase. The series, which will be distributed globally, will see the popular characters transform into superheroes who must unlock their superpower potential to save the day – all while keeping their day jobs!

Fans can also look forward to a new branded Talking Tom interactive product, as well as a range of consumer products at retailers across the US.

The series is just one of three deals set to deliver more Talking Tom & Friends to its fans worldwide. Epic Story Media and Outfit7 have partnered with Lukis Global Corp,, to launch a range of new Talking Tom & Friends products at US retailers in the food, apparel, jewellery, and health & beauty categories.

This autumn will see the launch of the GameBud Talking Tom – a first-of-its-kind, game-connected, interactive product. The Talking Tom GameBud, which will be released for presale in Q4 this, is the first product to launch from direct-to-fan premium play company, HUGE! Play.

Kevin Mowrer and Adrian Roche, Co-CEOs of HUGE! Play, said: “We’re incredibly excited to introduce the world to GameBud, an 3D interactive character that will live-connect to your favourite Talking Tom games, while also acting as your very own in-home streamer.’’

Shows Pop-ping up over the summer

Kids TV channel Tiny Pop! will be inviting viewers to look out for their favourite monsters and dinosaurs popping up on screen during shows such as Gigantosaurus, DinoCity, True and the Rainbow Kingdom, along with new seasons of Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck, Elmo’s World and Esme & Roy – with the chance of winning a prize.

Older kids who watch sister channel Pop, will be asked to submit their silliest selfies, as they enjoy back-to-back episodes of Total Dramarama and Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks!

Pop will also be showing new episodes of Trolls: The Beat Goes On and Grizzy & the Lemmings to keep children entertained over the long school summer holidays.

Silvergate Media has scooped more awards for the second series of its Netflix animated TV series, Hilda. The animated series won two awards at the 2021 Daytime Emmy Awards.

At the ceremony, which was live streamed, Hilda was awarded an Emmy in the Outstanding Children’s Animated Series category, alongside an award for Outstanding Editing in a Daytime Animated Series.

The series also picked up Emmy nominations in three other categories, following close behind its triumph at the Annie Awards in April where it picked up three awards. Silvergate partnered with Luke Pearson and Mercury Filmworks to coproduce Hilda, which first debuted on Netflix in 2018. Season 2 was released in December 2020, delivering fresh adventures for the fearless blue-haired heroine as she delves deeper into the vast magical wilderness of Trolberg. Through her adventures, Hilda learns that not everyone shares her openminded view of the ‘hidden world’, while her Mum worries that her growing rebelliousness will lead to more trouble than Hilda can handle.

Wildbrain reports on the Streaming Generation

WildBrain Spark, the kids and family AVOD network and digital studio, has published new research in partnership with Ipsos MORI that explores the influence of Generation Alpha (Gen A) – the first fully digital cohort of kids – and how their viewing habits and preferences impact purchasing decisions in US households.

‘THE STREAMING GENERATION: Shaping the Future of Family Advertising’ report explores key family and kids’ viewing trends, looking closely at everything from what they watch and when, to how and why they do so, and how it shapes brand preferences and purchasing decisions.

Gen As are the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century with their birth years commonly recognised as being between 2010 and 2025.

MBC scores good Omens deals

Animation company Omens Studios has secured a key deal with media conglomerate MBC for its SVOD and AVOD platforms Shahid VIP and

Shahid for a trio of its shows. The deal will see Omens’ hit series head to the platforms for MENA and Arabic dubbed worldwide.

Counting With Paula season five and season six will be available on the platforms, along with Leo the Wildlife Ranger season two and the new series 123 Number Squad. Counting With Paula season five and Leo the Wildlife Ranger season two will launch on the platforms later this month, with Counting with Paula season six at the end of the year and 123 Number Squad debuting in summer 2022.

Harry Teper, MD of Omens Studios, London, said: “This is the first presale for our exciting new show 123 Number Squad as our preschool slate continues to grow from strength to strength.