SEÑAL NEWS KIDS 211 | KIDSCREEN 2024 by Señal News

LEONINE ANIMATION STUDIOS, A NEW GLOBAL PLAYER

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KIDSCREEN 2024

HARI FOCUSES ON PREMIUM STORYTELLING AND VISUALS

KIDSCREEN HOT50: THE MOST VALUABLE DISTRIBUTORS

#211 ∙ YEAR 23 ∙ FEBRUARY 2024

77%

ACCORDING TO MÉDIAMÉTRIE, IN 2023, ANIMATED SERIES REPRESENTED 77% OF THE TOP PROGRAMMES OVER THE FIVE MAIN MARKETS STUDIED.

2023

NEW SHOWS APPEARED IN THE NATIONAL TOP- 20 AND TOPS 3 BY CHANNEL RANKINGS.

46.8

MILLION VIEWED HOURS GATHERED “BLUEY” AMONG THE LINEAR CHILDREN AUDIENCE.

Last year, children’s blocks on generalist channels have progressed, and animated series have maintained their strong positions. In terms of content, trends evolve around creativity and learning, involvement in the community and a more sophisticated content for tweens.

DEAPLANETA TAPS ESTÍBALIZ GONZÁLEZ LIARTE AMUSE ANIMATION SECURES DEALS IN LATIN AMERICA, CANARIES, AND MENA Amuse Animation has sold a slate of animation series to TV Azteca and Guest Choice for Latin America, RTVC in the Canaries, and MBC for the Middle East and North Africa. The deals signal Amuse’s definitive move into distributing content starring the studio’s animated preschool heroes to mainstream broadcast channels. •

DeAPlaneta Entertainment appointed Estíbaliz González at the end of last November as Head of Franchise & Marketing of its Kids & Family division. González brings in extensive experience in the marketing departments of top level companies such as McDonald’s, Staples or Bizak, where she has worked over the last years, defining and implementing 360º marketing strategies in many of them. •

SERIOUS KIDS SIGNS DEAL WITH LION TV FOR “STYLE IT OUT” Serious Kids has signed a worldwide content and format rights deal with production company Lion TV for the new fashion entertainment show, “Style It Out.” The BBC Children’s & Education Commissioned the 11-part, half hour series, which has just premiered on CBBC. The new format starring nine young fashion designers aged 10-14 who compete for the ultimate prize, to put their designs on the catwalk at London Fashion Week. “Style It Out” is hosted by TV presenter Emma Willis and features stylists Ayishat Akanbi and Jorge Antonio as judges. •

NELVANA AND TOIKIDO GREENLIGHT “PIÑATA SMASHLINGS”

FEDERATION KIDS & FAMILY TO DISTRIBUTE “PIL’S ADVENTURES” ANIMATION Federation Kids & Family has struck a deal with French producer and animation studio TAT Productions to handle worldwide sales of the stunning new 3D animated series “Pil’s Adventures” (52x13’) that has already been pre-sold to France Télévisions (deal brokered by TAT). This follows on from the success of the animated feature film of the same name, which premiered theatrically in 2021, was released in 75 territories worldwide and marked the second most screened French film internationally that year. The series is directed by Benjamin Lagard and Jérémie Guneau. •

Nelvana and Toikido have confirmed the decision to greenlight “Piñata Smashlings,” a new 2D animated children’s series. The series is available for international sale and already has confirmed placement with YTV in Canada. The title, tailored for kids age six to nine, complements previously unveiled Piñata Smashlings shorts currently streaming on Nelvana’s ‘Keep It Weird’ YouTube channel, with more shorts to launch soon. In addition, fans can explore the Piñata Smashlings toy range comprising collectible figures, plush toys, and playsets. •

ZDF STUDIOS SECURES GLOBAL DEALS FOR “RISE OF BIRDS - DINOSAURS AMONG US” The company has closed a series of co-production and pre-sales deals for Pernel Media’s science feature-length documentary “Rise of Birds - Dinosaurs Among Us.” Commissioned by France Télévisions for the weekly primetime slot “Science Grand Format,” “Rise of Birds - Dinosaurs Among Us” has been co-produced by PBS GBH’s NOVA and CCTV9 in China, and pre bought by Ushuaïa TV in France, Radio Canada and NHK Enterprise in Japan. ZDF Studios has the remaining world rights and will be in charge of the global distribution. Consequently, several formats are being produced: a 90’, a 100’ and a 52’ in six different languages. •

XILAM ANIMATION SELLS “ZIG & SHARKO” AND “KARATE SHEEP” TO MULTIPLE BROADCASTERS Xilam Animation has secured a wave of global broadcasters for its popular titles “Zig & Sharko” and “Karate Sheep.” Commissioned by French broadcaster Gulli, iconic non-dialogue slapstick comedy series “Zig & Sharko” was Xilam’s most sold brand of 2023, with K+ Vietnam, Media Prima Malaysia now on board for the first seasons alongside renewals by long-standing partners of the series, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery (Africa and Italy), Viacom18 (India), ERT (Greece), and RTL (Hungary). •

OVERVIEW

KIDSCREEN HOT50: WHO ARE THE MOST-VOTED DISTRIBUTORS?

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"We were thrilled to place #1 on the Kidscreen Hot50. It has been our fourth time in the top spot within the last six years! It's a testament to our fantastic FI kids and family content and the D EL ME D · 9 STORY strength of our global team," added Joss Duffield, VP Distribution at 9 Story Media Group. JOSS

"We are hugely honored to be ranked second in the distribution category in the Kidscreen Hot 50. During the uncertain and challenging times that our industry ED KE GA is currently facing, we value the LT O N · C A support and recognition of our peers now more than ever. It is a privilege to work with our partners, clients, and talented producers on exciting projects, and we look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality content to children and families worldwide," said Ed Galton, CEO of CAKE.

"It's wonderful to be recognized by the industry for our distribution achievements over the last year. The team works incredibly hard, and despite a challenging year, we have secured significant international sales for our shows and brought in some fantastic third-party IP to complement our ever-growing catalog," Delphine Dumont, Chief Commercial Officer at Banijay Kids & Family, mentioned.

"It was an honor to be chosen by our peers for the Kidscreen Hot50 rankings. I think the distribution efforts at the company have become known for adapting and N finding new avenues for reaching N ·S E INK P ING SHI audiences. We are also lucky enough to represent exceptional children's content internationally, which has been hits with many buyers. In 2023, we sold 475 hours of programming to 40+ countries, and that success has a direct line to our ranking on Hot50," said Kate Sanagan, Head of Sales and Distribution at Sinking Ship Entertainment.

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"Being recognized by our industry peers as one of the top-ranking distributors is a great honor. We are a small team, who constantly strive for success, and so to be placed in the top 10 again means S ON RD TAY A so much to the team and the wider LOR · A studio," Alison Taylor, Director of Distribution at Aardman, stated.

"We have been selected in the ranking due to our strong, diverse, and well-curated catalog. We are a one-stop shop for broadcasters and platforms. L We implement well-designed UG S O · DI J E T PAC K and content-specific strategies in close collaboration with our partners while still remaining as friendly, flexible, and boutique as ever," added Rebecca Lugo, Head of Global Sales at Jetpack Distribution. REBEC

arly this year, Kidscreen unveiled its traditional Kidscreen Hot50 ranking, where the industry voted the top 50 kids entertainment companies of 2023 in broadcasting, production, distribution, licensing, and digital media. The top 10 distributors selected for this rating are 9 Story Distribution International, CAKE, Jetpack Distribution, Sinking Ship Entertainment, WildBrain, Sesame Workshop, Aardman Animations, Banijay Kids & Family, Guru Studio, and Australian Children's Television Foundation. Señal News talked with these companies about this relevant industry's outstanding recognition.

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IN 2024, THE TRADITIONAL RANKING INCLUDES 9 STORY DISTRIBUTION INTERNATIONAL, CAKE, JETPACK DISTRIBUTION, SINKING SHIP ENTERTAINMENT, WILDBRAIN, SESAME WORKSHOP, AARDMAN ANIMATIONS, BANIJAY KIDS & FAMILY, GURU STUDIO, AND AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN'S TELEVISION FOUNDATION.

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"TOT YouTube hit "Lucas The Spider" with Netflix, and a fourth season of stop motion series "Kiri and Lou" with Nickelodeon, as well as a second season of multi-award winning "Mush-Mush & The Mushables" with Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA. "With the market shifting and with more challenges than ever before, we focus on looking for distribution opportunities in new spaces as well as building our slate of development titles and pushing these into production," affirmed Galton. Last year, 9 Story Media Group acquired seven series and navigated the industry downturn by focusing on AVOD, launching 1700 half-hours of new content across multiple platforms. "We also had strong success on our BBC and BYUTV commissioned live-action series 'A Kind of Spark,' with sales to ABC Australia, France Télévisions, CBC Kids, RTÉ (Ireland), NRK (Norway), YLE (Finland), SVT (Sweden), TVNZ (New Zealand) and TFO (French-speaking Canada). Our animated preschool series 'Lu and the Bally Bunch' premiered in 2023 on Cartoonito (UK and Latam) and CBC Kids (Canada) and was also just launched on CBeebies," described Duffield.

CHALLENGING TIMES As many companies mentioned, 2023 was a challenging year for sales agents and distributors. Production and commission budgets are shrinking, and companies must create diverse strategies to keep their business. Even with this landscape, Aardman licensed its CGI series, "Lloyd of the Flies," as an Original to Tubi in the US. "A first for Aardman with the platform," commented Taylor. The company also acquired the new pre-school shows "Ready Eddie Go" by Hocus Pocus, an Original commission from Sky Kids, "Yukee" by Score Draw Music, and "Mitten and Shoe" created by Matinai EF "LL H (both Cbeebies) for global distribution. T OY D O F

Furthermore, Banijay Kids & Family landed major distribution deals across its portfolio for brands like preschool animation "Mumfie," the original CGI comedy "Shasha & Milo," the family sci-fi drama "Silverpoint" and For Jetpack, a significant 2023 highlight was the charming 2D animated providing content like "Jamie's Got Tentacles," adventure "Topo Gigio." "Wussywat," and "Talking Tom and Friends" for E CH In addition, the distributor the newly launched channel Moochi in the UK. "It's T " THE GAME CA expanded its catalog, securing always nice to be thought of and be part of something distribution rights to some of the most new," stated Lugo. The company has also closed a deal vital third-party shows in the kid's sector, from the with the new Dreamworks channel in the Netherlands, iconic "Moominvalley" to Tiger Aspect Kids & Family's which included the titles "Boj," "Clangers," and "Buck and "Charlie and Lola" and "The Game Catchers" from Studio Buddy." "Covering Latin America, North America, and Bozzetto and Sphere Media. "As we head into 2024, we the Middle East, we completed a deal with Vubiquity have a healthy pipeline of shows coming through from for 'The Clangers', 'The Cul de Sac,' 'Talking Tom and the production labels under the Banijay Kids & Family Friends,' 'Dennis and Gnasher Unleashed,' 'Jamie's umbrella. 'Super Happy Magic Forest,' a co-production Got Tentacles,' and 'Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty'" from Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, with Movimenti Luego added. Some other Jetpack deals were with Production, Zodiak Kids & Rai in Italy, ABC in Australia, DR in Denmark, and Family France, and 'Monello,' NPO in the Netherlands, which included the titles will be one to watch "Clangers," "DreaMars," "Katy," "Cardboard City," "Piney," out for. Plus, we have and "Biff and Chip." "This year, we are working towards several new projects commissioning our development titles and to further to be unveiled," our AVOD strategy, making our content available before anticipated Dumont. the paywall for kids everywhere," she concluded.

P " S I LV E R

During 2023, Cake reached a deal with Netflix in the US for the "Total Drama" franchise;

2023 saw the launch of Sinking Ship's highlyanticipated series "Jane" on Apple TV+ with companion museum exhibits at the California Science Center and Carnegie Museum of Natural History, along with 5

OVERVIEW

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a red carpet premiere with Jane Goodall in attendance. School drama series "Phoenix Rise" was selected as 2022 Mipcom Junior's World Premiere and landed immediate E" sales for the series within "J A N weeks of the premiere, including ABC (Australia), YLE (Finland), and NRK Norway). "Our dinosaur franchise 'Dino Dana' was sold to NHK in Japan and YouKu in China, thanks to our agent Bomanbridge Media in Asia. In 2024, we will focus on expanding our key brands internationally while also looking for new programs that fit into our niche of 6–9," said Sanagan. NA DA

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As many companies mentioned, 2023 was a challenging year for sales agents and distributors, with shrinking production and commission budgets.

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Cake highlights for Kidscreen are "The Guava Juice Show," produced by Mainframe Studios and Studio 71 and is based on the hit Guava Juice YouTube channel, and liveaction school-based comedy

Jetpack Distribution is bringing "Talking Tom Heroes Suddenly Super," the live-action comedy series "Kids on the Block," the live-action and sci-fi aimed at audiences 10+ "Snow Black," and the show aimed at kids aged P EN SE 6-12 years "The Yes AS ON" Experiment." In addition, Sinking Ship Enertainment's new series "Wordsville and Media Stamped" is currently in production and set for release in 2024, along with the first season of "Dino Dex," the third installment in the Dino Franchise series, and Odd Squad UK, the allnew format of "Odd Squad." "We are excited to attend the Kidscreen Summit in San Diego, and our team will be there in full force to meet with clients about new shows in development, new series, and new seasons on existing shows. We will unveil a sneak peek of 'A Kind of Spark' second season, along with some of our new productions like 'Open Season' and 'Dylan's Playtime Adventures," said Duffield from 9 Story Media Group. "O

Aardman is going to Kidscreen to meet with commissioners on a new pre-school series. "We're also keen to attend as many sessions as we can between us so we can take any insights back to Bristol to put into action," confirmed Taylor. Banijay " Y LE Kids & Family highlights L A "MOOMINV for Kidscreen include its new original series "Shasha & Milo," which is gathering pace internationally, with several launches under its belt. "We have four seasons of Gutsy Animations' hit animated family drama series 'Moominvalley,' and two seasons of the captivating sci-fi drama 'Silverpoint,'" Dumont stated. "There is also a fascinating project coming up from Movimenti Production and Zodiak Kids & Family H A France, which we can't wait to & MIL O" share with our buyers," she added.

"So Awkward Academy," with seven seasons on CBBC, and four-time BAFTA winner, produced by Channel X. "We will also be presenting live-action sci-fi adventure series 'Armorsaurs,' produced by MGA and Daewon Media. Showcasing exciting CGI animation and live-action/VFX with a storyline to appeal to global audiences, the new 'Armorsaurs' series is projected to premiere globally in 2025," asserted Galton.

By Romina Rodriguez

DISTRIBUTION

PREMIUM STORYTELLING, ANIMATION, AND VISUALS

"Grizzy and the Lemmings"

SOPHIE "KIDO" PRIGENT, HEAD OF DISTRIBUTION AT HARI, EXPLAINS THE STRATEGY BEHIND POPULAR IPS LIKE "GRIZZY AND THE LEMMINGS" AND "MYSTERY LANE," AND REVEALS THE NEW PROJECTS FOR THIS YEAR.

ari is experiencing exponential growth with flagship projects like "Grizzy and The Lemmings," located is among the top 10 most-watched animated kids series on Netflix, and "Mystery Lane," which has also traveled worldwide. "For many years, our strategy has been to produce premium productions in terms of storytelling, animation, and visuals. This has been rewarding indeed. The sales have been numerous and qualitative worldwide, and it has opened many opportunities with linear and non-linear broadcasters," Sophie "Kido" Prigent, Head of Distribution at Hari, told Señal News. To sustain this growth, the company has restructured its studio to produce twice as many shows per year, significantly increasing its talent pool. "Grizzy and the Lemmings" has not only rocked on Netflix but is also one of the world's most broadcasted French animated shows. The non-dialogue, slapstick comedy resonates globally with preschoolers, older kids, and families. "It's nostalgic (like Tom & Jerry!), and each episode is just the right length to hold everyone's attention and facilitate those shared family moments of fun and laughter," mentioned Prigent. The show is flexible and offers a range of programming options to suit several different broadcasters across various age groups, for 8

 Sophie "Kido" Prigent

example, Tiny Pop, Pop, and Pop Max in the UK. "Since COVID, co-viewing content is more ondemand than ever, and parents are paying more attention to what their kids are watching, and keen to be part of these moments," Prigent stated. "For kids, the show is relatable. The lemmings display an attitude that 'you only live once' and are happy and enthusiastic, so they inspire and uplift young audiences. Due to these factors, the exposure has been maximized through linear, free, and Pay-TV, video-on-demand, and YouTube, reaching kids wherever they are," she added. On the other hand, "Mystery Lane" is perfectly paced and offers the right blend of action and comedy alongside aspirational and funny characters. And a variety of villains! "The show has been praised for its aesthetic and beautiful animation, characterization, and

sound quality," said the Head of Distribution at Hari. The show follows two hamsters, Clever and Bro, who solve riddles from the basement of their pet shop that are befuddling Scotland Yard! The secret life of the two heroes echoes the imaginary life that kids invent for themselves. Small animals overcoming significant challenges are awe-inspiring for young audiences. The series offers a dual narration: Clever offers a more sophisticated narrative, and Bro a simplified version. The show works for older and young kids alike. "It reached one million views on Okoo (France Television's FVOD platform) in France in just six weeks. It's also performing brilliantly on Disney in Germany and ABC Australia, with ratings well above audience averages, and we closed deals with Rai (Italy), Youku (China), YLE (Finland), NRK (Norway), MTVA (Hungary), HRT (Croatia), SX3 (Spain) and TV3 (Latvia)," Prigent said. NEW PRODUCTIONS This year, Hari has started producing the 78x7 episode "The Weasy Family," which innovates the genre by combining slapstick comedy and a heartwarming narrative with emotional stakes at the core. "The cute and fun factor in this father-daughter relationship will resonate with a wide audience, including parents. It's been picked up by France Television, BBC, Super RTL, TeleQuebec, and more partners to be announced soon," Prigent stated. The show uniquely combines comedy action with emotional family moments and parent/child relationships. "It's the first-ever benevolent slapstick cartoon where no one gets hurt even when situations get out of hand! We have created an entirely new alchemy of characters and a unique blend of comedy and emotion," she concluded. By Romina Rodriguez

INTERVIEW

“WE HAVE TO ADAPT OUR STRATEGY AND CATER TO EACH TARGET AUDIENCE”  Danielle Raaphorst

DANIELLE RAAPHORST, CEO OF INCREDIBLE FILM, REVISITS THE COMPANY'S 15 YEARS OF EXISTENCE AND DETAILS THE OUTSTANDING PROJECTS THE COMPANY WANTS TO PLACE WORLDWIDE.

ncredible Film is a Dutch production company and worldwide sales agent that sells Dutch movie rights for international film distribution. In 2024, the company is celebrating its 15 anniversary, and its founder, Danielle Raaphorst, spoke exclusively with Señal News about the industry's changes in the past 15 years. How would you describe Incredible Film's path and how the industry has changed in the past 15 years? "I took on my role as a sales agent with Incredible Film in 2009. Before this, I worked at a Dutch distribution company, where I was responsible for local film acquisitions and was involved as a producer on these films. For the last 14 years, I have managed the international sales of an extensive range of Dutch films. This has largely been for family feature films, which began with the popular 'Sniff The Dog' movie series. This series was unique within Dutch family content and the rest of our library due to its high production value, quality scripts, and fantastic shooting locations. Family content is still a key focus within the catalog I represent, which reaches various markets and audiences worldwide. We have also invested in English dubs for many of these titles, which has extended our market to English-speaking territories. Of course, the industry and the demand for content have evolved over the years within distribution and the sales process itself. When we first began attending trade markets, our suitcases were full of DVD screeners and flyers. But digitalization has advanced across every industry area, so traveling has become much lighter! We still sell most of our new content to traditional distributors, but our wider catalog (with more than 100 titles) is increasingly popular with VOD and FAST platforms. Our presence in these markets has also changed with time. We have always focused on EFM, Cannes, and MIPTV markets. However, as our client roster expands, Incredible Film attends even more industry events, including ATF in Singapore and Kidscreen in San Diego." 10

What are your main challenges as a worldwide sales agent? "A challenge for me is finding the right content that meets the market demands. Viewing habits and content trends are always evolving, especially in this digital age, so Incredible Film must continue to be immersed and alert to viewership patterns and shifting market demands. We have to be prepared to adapt our strategy and cater to each target audience. With this in mind, a key part of our strategy is finding content with global appeal and understanding local preferences. My job as a sales agent is to identify content that can transcend regional boundaries and reach audiences around the globe. At challenging times, it remains a priority for Incredible Film to meet the demands of international markets and find content that resonates and engages with global audiences in an ever-changing industry." What are your main goals for Kidscreen 2024? "We look forward to showcasing brand new feature films and series, which span live action and animation, for various age groups. We have some exciting cross-genre content, including the fantasy adventure film 'Game On,' which centers around the gaming world and features incredible visual effects. On the animation side, we are delighted to share the first two films from the Tummy Tom collection, which caters to preschool audiences. Another goal for this market will be to showcase our wider content catalog to more VOD and FAST channels. We look forward to introducing a vast selection of crossgenre library content to new VOD and FAST buyers." What are the highlights of the catalog you will launch in San Diego? "We're excited to be kicking off 2024, our 15th anniversary year, with the fantasy adventure film 'Game On.' With incredible visual effects by artist Angelo White, this film is fascinating for us as it's the first film on Incredible Film's slate that incorporates AI and gaming themes, making for this engaging new adventure film. By Romina Rodriguez

DISTRIBUTION

THE MAGIC LIGHT WELCOMES "TABBY MCTAT," A MASSIVE HIT IN THE UK JULIA DONALDSON AND AXEL SCHEFFLER'S BOOK ABOUT A BUSKER AND HIS BELOVED CAT WAS A SMASH HIT, WITH 3.4 MILLION LIVE VIEWERS DURING ITS LIVE PREMIERE. MURIEL THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION AT MAGIC LIGHT, EXPLAINS THE GLOBAL POTENTIAL OF THIS IP.

n essential part of BBC One's holiday schedule is its animated "Christmas Special," produced yearly by UK production company Magic Light Pictures. "Christmas Day 2023" marked the debut of "Tabby McTat," an animated film based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's book about a busker and his beloved cat, which was a smash hit, with 3.4 million live viewers tuned in for its live premiere and 8 million people watched overall after the first 28 days. With several foreign broadcasters having already secured presales for the film, "Tabby McTat" is the new star of Magic Light's slate. "The Smeds & The Smoos," "Zog, Zog & the Flying Doctors," "The Gruffalo," "The Gruffalo's Child," "Room on the Broom," "Stick Man," "The Snail & the Whale," "Superworm," and "The Highway Rat" are among the past animated specials from Magic Light. Like "Tabby McTat," all of the films are based on novels by Donaldson and Scheffler and have been, and continue to be, hugely successful worldwide year after year. "While the specials can be acquired individually, there is a strong tendency to bring all the specials together as there is always a high demand for engaging stories and high-quality specials," Muriel Thomas, Magic Light's Distribution Director, stated. "On linear broadcasters, the specials are often 12

scheduled around school holidays or another main event throughout the year. They always do well as they are also ideal for co-viewing, and it is no surprise, they are regularly repeated year after year", she added. "With eleven specials now, the trend has been to keep them together, bringing a new one every year for the audience to enjoy watching back to back on either linear or on-demand and get immersed into those wonderful stories with unique and charming characters under the banner 'The Gruffalo and Friends," Thomas pointed out. That goes back to "The Gruffalo," the first special that debuted in 2009. It is now fourteen years old and still widely distributed worldwide due to its timeless nature and its reputation as a classic film. It is the bedrock that all the specials are built on. "The Gruffalo will always remain relevant in terms of story, while the quality of the animation strands are vibrant and fresh," said Thomas. "It reaches new audiences every year. This year is its 25th anniversary, so we have a whole new generation of children discovering this title from their parents who read it to them and older siblings who fell in love with the film." CLASSIC HITS The animated preschool series "Pip & Posy", which recently launched its second season on Sky Kids and Paramount-owned Channel 5's channel Milkshake! in the UK,

 Muriel Thomas

continues to be a major focus for Magic Light. The series follows the adventures of two friends whose lives revolve around friendship and play. The second season has been acquired by numerous international broadcasters, such as ZDF in Germany, RAI in Italy, and many more, launching the international rollout for 2024. Magic Light also recently finished a 26x5' miniseries to accompany the main series "Let's Learn," which debuted in the UK towards the end of 2023. "'Pip & Posy' has been a big success in the UK, and our international partners are pleased with its performance. Feedback from the first season has been solid in key territories. Friendship and play are key themes that resonate anywhere in the world and have global appeal for pre-schoolers. We're launching our master toy with Bandai this February, and the plan is to build this further in other territories," Thomas said. EXPANDING PLANS Magic Light has also expanded into cinema, a strategy that will continue to grow further this year, particularly internationally. "The opportunity to bring the specials to the audience on a big screen has built up over the years in different countries like France and the UK," Thomas said. "We always want to explore cinema distribution in other territories because it's a different experience, and the audience appreciates seeing our films on the big screen. It creates an event and an outing for kids, often creating memories and complements watching them on TV." By Romina Rodríguez

INTERVIEW

“OUR COMBINED STRENGTHS PUT LEONINE ANIMATION STUDIOS INTO A UNIQUE MARKET POSITION” HANS ULRICH STOEF, CEO AND PRODUCER AT TOON2TANGO, DESCRIBES THE NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH LEONINE AND THE CREATION OF LEONINE ANIMATION STUDIOS, A NEW VENTURE FOR THE KIDS’ CONTENT ARENA. "Littlest Robot"

ast December, Germany's independent media company Leonine Holding founded Leonine Animation Studios with Hans Ulrich Stoef and Jo Daris, and all parties will pool their animation activities in this division in the future. The three partners will each contribute their shares in Toon2Tango. Señal News spoke with Hans Ulrich Stoef, CEO and producer at Toon2Tango, to describe this new venture in the kids' arena. What does it mean for Toon2Tango to form an alliance with Leonine and create Leonine Animation Studios? "It's a perfect fit for us. We needed a partner to help us fulfill our potential in the children's and family entertainment market, and Leonine Studios was the ideal match in terms of synergies and strategic possibilities. Leonine Studios took a minority stake in Toon2Tango in 2022. After building a strong and trusting relationship over the course of the last year, we have now decided to take our partnership to the next level and launch Leonine Animation Studios. Leonine's vision and potential for growth enable us to be fast in decision-making, to aggressively follow our strategy, and to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves."

Why was Leonine Studios the perfect match for the expansion of Toon2Tango? "We wanted to build Toon2Tango into a leading European animation company. That meant we needed a growth strategy. Leonine Studios, in turn, was looking to expand into production, financing, and 360° distribution in animation on an international level. Our knowledge of the international animation industry and kids' business was exactly what Leonine Studios was looking for. For us, joining forces with the leading German independent in production, distribution, and licensing gave us a strong partner to manage our growth story." How would you define the business and growth opportunity behind creating this new enterprise? "Our combined strengths put Leonine Animation Studios into a unique market position and allow us to become the go-to-partner "Showtime"

 Hans Ulrich Stoef

in animation and kids' content in Europe and allow us to develop business by acquiring IPs and focusing on M&As." What will be the production and distribution focus of Leonine Animation Studios? "We will continue to focus on kids and family entertainment. In fact, we have numerous projects in development and production already. That includes a new animated feature film called 'Santa. com,' a CG show for 4–7-year-olds called 'Littlest Robot,' 'Showtime,' about kids setting up their theatre/ musical show, and 'Lilly of Fawonia,' which is a 26 x 22' 3D and liveaction concept, an approach that was very successful for us with 'Mia and Me' some years ago. There are also plans for a TV series spin-off of the well-known cinema franchise 'Niko.' In addition, we have a lot of productions and coproductions already on screens worldwide, like 'Monster Loving Maniacs' and 'Agent 203.' Our combined strength in distribution will massively benefit all these existing and planned shows." What are the main challenges and opportunities in the kids and family entertainment business? "The kids' business in 2023 saw lower budgets and a lot of caution. That will continue. There will also be a lot of consolidation. Strong partnerships will be the game's name, and founding Leonine Animation Studios puts us in a good position to stand out in the market." By Diego Alfagemez

PRODUCTION

THE EXPANSION PATH TO NEW GLOBAL SCREENS PABLO LACROIX, DIGITAL DIRECTOR AT EL REINO INFANTIL, EXPLAINS THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS STRATEGY FOR LATIN AMERICA, EUROPE, AND THE US, NOT JUST WITH FLAGSHIP SERIES LIKE "LA GRANJA DE ZENON" BUT ALSO WITH NEW PROJECTS SUCH AS "PILI PILOTA" AND "WADOO."  Pablo Lacroix

fter a successful experience at Content Americas, where El Reino Infantil explored new business opportunities in the Hispanic markets of the USA and Latin America, the leading kid's company embarks on an exciting year full of possibilities driven by last year's achievements. "Just as we have succeeded on digital platforms, we have devised our global strategy to expand our presence on various screens, such as Roku and Kidoodle in the USA and Latin America, covering both English and Spanish languages, Pluto TV in Spain, and VIX in the USA, Latin America, and Brazil. In all of these, we have achieved an impressive viewing time comparable to what we have attained on YouTube," commented Pablo Lacroix, Digital Director at El Reino Infantil, in an exclusive chat with Señal News. A significant milestone was the launch of El Reino Infantil on Clan TV, the children's channel of Spanish public television, which achieved excellent audience ratings. Last November, "Bartolito: Una aventura Emplumada" premiered on HBO Max with outstanding results, reinforcing the company's strategic focus in Europe, with Spain as the main entry point to continue consolidating audience growth across all platforms. In Italy, with a steadily growing audience each month, El Reino Infantil has surpassed one million subscribers on the YouTube channel: "Il Regno dei Bambini." "We are open to partnerships with key 14

European players to strengthen our presence on the continent further," he affirmed. "We are strategically expanding into the dynamic markets of Asia-Pacific. A noteworthy achievement is the recent launch of a Hindi channel in India, marking the tenth language added to our extensive catalog," Lacroix added. Drawing upon El Reino Infantil's

data intelligence expertise derived from analyzing their audience across platforms like YouTube and Social Media. "We are strategically implementing FAST channels to ensure our presence on more screens and devices, aiming to maximize our reach and meet the demands of our audience," said the executive. Furthermore, El Reino Infantil's acclaimed flagship IPs like "La Granja de Zenon," "Bichikids," and "Zoo Songs" remain in continuous production, catering to the demands of their broad audiences across YouTube, television networks, and platforms, acquiring our extensive catalog.

NEW IPS At Kidscreen, El Reino Infantil will unveil the projects of two new IPs: "Pili Pilota" and "Wadoo." "This is an exciting opportunity for industry insiders to join us in the enthusiasm surrounding these new productions. Both programs have undergone a development phase that included the creation of six pilot episodes, ensuring their suitability for all audiences and territories," anticipated Lacroix. "Pili Pilota" follows the imaginative adventures of Pili, a girl who explores different corners of the world in her imaginary plane. On the other hand, "Wadoo" is an innovative series set in a magical world inhabited by mythological creatures who attend a unique preschool center focused on environmental conservation. "We are focused on forming strategic partnerships in key territories such as Latin America, the United States, and Europe. This approach allows us to establish a strong presence in these markets, particularly for our ongoing projects, including a feature film, more consumer products (open to collaboration with other toy experts), and even a theme park. We are very interested in collaborating with companies through innovative models such as co-production, investment, distribution, and other avenues that align with our vision and goals," he concluded. By Romina Rodriguez

IN UCHEM BEA H

A PRODUCTIVE DEBUT YEAR IN THE KID'S ARENA

GRIFFITH

PRODUCTION

ANDREA GRIFFITH, VP OF CONTENT AND DEVELOPMENT KIDS AND FAMILY FOR SPHERE MEDIA, AND JUDITH BEAUCHEMIN, VP PRODUCTION & POST, KIDS & FAMILY, REVIEW A PROLIFIC PERIOD FOR THE COMPANY AND DESCRIBE THEIR MAIN CONTENT LAUNCHES.

phere Media Kids and Family is turning one year into the content industry, and during this period, the company has developed live-action and animation content across all the kids and family genre. Its slate is diversified and includes a mix of original IP and existing properties. "We like to support both points of inception because even though there's a real hunger for book-based IP, we still believe in supporting ideas that come straight from the pillow," explained Andrea Griffith, VP of Content and Development Kids and Family for Sphere Media. During this first year, Sphere Media Kids and Family completed and aired an animated series on TVOkids called 'Riley Rocket' that features a lead rockstar/superhero living with a disability. The company also completed production on an original STEM-based kid's factual series called 'Project Rube' for TVO. "It's a super fun concept with kids building Rube Goldberg machines to learn about science. Unscripted is that fast," described the executive. "Growing our scripted kids and family slate this year has been a real joy. We're working with an award-winning director/writer on a tween series that is the most unusual yet relatable concept I've encountered. We're currently developing an animated series that celebrates the Caribbean diaspora, and we just completed development on an animated series that features a blind bear. Our diversity mandate isn't solely conceptual; it's implemented and reflected in the series we develop. We also have the linguistic latitude of producing in both English and French (with Quebec-based IP), which strengthens our position in the international marketplace," Griffith anticipated. PRODUCTION CHALLENGES Sphere Media Kids and Family produces children's factual, scripted, and animation, and the ongoing and overarching challenge across each genre is how to reach kids when there is so much content and ways to consume it. For kids' factual, budgets are smaller, so the challenge is resourcing. "We have to figure out how to shoot the series efficiently while allowing the creative freedom and time for those unexpected magic moments that make the show. It's capturing lightning in a bottle for every genre, but I feel it is more scripted. Scripted is about what's happening in the world and capturing cultural and social awareness in a specific but broadly appealing story. The other challenge in scripted

is choosing the right demo. It's clearer in factual, but in scripted, live-action or animation, you can write a series up or down in age. Which one is the right one for that story? On the scripted/animation side, the hard bit is chasing the money. The budgets are bigger, so there is more money to chase after, and most of the time, we must involve multiple partners. It's akin to being a doorto-door salesman, knocking and hoping the next door will have the money. We have excellent relationships, so there's always interest, but there's not always money. You need deep patience and real comfy shoes to work in scripted," Griffith explained. Regarding finding the right partner for its project, Judith Beauchemin, VP of Production & Post, Kids & Family at the company, asserted that working on coproductions can sometimes help get a project greenlit sooner. "When our international partners come to us with a project mostly financed, it is faster for us to close the gap and start production. The challenge with coproduction is that all countries must be aligned on the creative and funding within the same timeline. We feel fortunate to have coproduction partners producing highquality animation with advantageous funding models. That being said, we're always looking to expand on who we partner with. We haven't partnered with Latin America yet, and that's on our radar this year. Same with Japan," she said. FUTURE PLANS In 2024, Sphere Media Kids and Family will RE focus on producing its IPs' second and third D KETCHUP seasons. "Developing new series is a thrilling ride, but building on the successful brands we've already established like 'Red Ketchup,' 'Riley Rocket,' and 'Project Rube' will always be our top goal. I also want to have a kids-scripted project in paid development this year. We're always looking to work with more creators from diverse communities. It's in the Sphere DNA to support and amplify voices from underrepresented communities and tell (and sell) those stories. Another goal is to ensure that our internal Sphere team feels recognized, supported, challenged, and included. That's how we stabilize, fortify, and energize a talented team that can compete in this rocky market," both executives concluded. By Romina Rodríguez