Grisu and MeteoHeroes from Mondo

Grisù is back and MeteoHeroes are flying high at BLE 2022!

At BLE 2022 Mondo TV is highlighting a new production that heralds the return of a classic character: Grisù the little fire-breathing dragon who wants to be a firefighter. This year will also see the return to BLE of the very popular environmentally-themed Mondo TV animated kids’ show MeteoHeroes, an innovative cartoon that can now boast a global reach.

In the coming months expect to hear a lot about a Mondo TV show starring a little fire-breathing dragon called Grisù. Does that name sounds familiar? It should. This show, due to air in 2023, is based on the classic animation created by Nino and Toni Pagot – and still fondly remembered in many countries years after his first TV appearance. Grisù was first seen on TV in the 1960s in mini-episodes for an Italian bedtime show as well as a commercial for mints which, as you might have guessed, were used to bring the little dragon’s fire-breathing under control. When his creators decided to expand the cute young fellow’s TV slot to a full-length show, they had an idea: what if Grisù wanted to be a firefighter rather than a fire-breathing dragon when he grew up? It was a promising concept and one that was ideal for the beginning of the 1970s, when new television slots dedicated to children and young people were opening up and original ideas were getting noticed. In Italy, Grisù was the first kids’ series to be broadcast on Rai Due in the new children’s slot on TV2 Ragazzi, on 3 December 1976. It then travelled across Europe and found audiences as far afield as Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. And Grisù is still fondly remembered today – he’s even become a fire brigade mascot in most of Italy, and parts of Switzerland, Austria and Germany. And now Grisù is coming back to TV screens. The little dragon is returning to delight a whole new generation in a brand-new 3D CGI TV show for 4-7-year-olds co-produced by Mondo TV, ZDF Enterprises and Toon2Tango and launching in the autumn of 2023. For Mondo TV, Grisù was ideal – a storyline that even today is still highly original and a character with a positive attitude and values that still resonate in the 2020s: determination, kindness, helping others and a concern about the environment. ZDF Enterprises will be responsible for the worldwide distribution of the audiovisual rights (excluding Italy, France, Spain and China, which will be handled by Mondo TV). Also confirmed are broadcasting agreements with ZDF in Germany and Rai YoYo in Italy. This is also a series with strong merchandising potential as part of a 360° strategy that will include multiple platforms and social media. Mondo TV holds the exclusive rights for the development of the licensing programme on a global level and is already working on the development of a network of agents. The show and character also has clear potential for promotional initiatives and, of course, educational ones: schools and fire brigades, among others, may find Grisù helpful to their work on fire prevention and care for the environment.

The character will, of course, live in the world of today’s children, but what made him popular in the first place hasn’t changed. He is still sensitive, courageous, enthusiastic and determined. The fundamental values of friendship, altruism and honesty represent the pillars of the storyline. BLE will also see Mondo celebrate the continuing success of the six stars of the popular environmentally themed animated kids’ show MeteoHeroes, co-produced by Mondo TV and the leading Italian weather forecasting centre Meteo Operations Italia (MOPI). These six superpowered kids who can control weather phenomena are undoubtedly benefiting from interest in climate and environmental issues among young people. In fact, now in its third successful year, MeteoHeroes is the only cartoon in the world dedicated entirely to climate and environmental issues. In Italy MeteoHeroes is among the most successful Cartoonito children’s series. It has enjoyed similar success in Spain on Clan as well as in Hungary on M2 and this year has arrived in Poland, in addition to multiple Latin American and lusophone markets. Meanwhile in the US, thanks to the exclusive partnership of the show’s co-producers with mega hit-maker Kenn Viselman (Teletubbies, Thomas the Tank Engine) it recently made its broadcast debut with an Earth Day Special. In April, the second season of MeteoHeroes (52 episodes x 13‘) has just had its world premiere on Cartoonito in Italy. And there’s even more big news for fans of the show: the first two (of four) 26-minute TV movies arrive on Cartoonito in September and October. The stars of MeteoHeroes and their exciting adventures have also inspired a videogame. MeteoHeroes – Saving Planet Earth has been available worldwide on PlayStation® and PC (STEAM platform) from 28 February. It is expected to start launching in retail stores in Autumn/Fall 2022. The videogame even had a major part to play in the Campus Experience Football and Responsible Gaming camp, an opportunity the Real Madrid Foundation offers boys and girls aged 9 to 12 to combine their two passions – football and gaming – in a responsible way and with a strong educational component. In fact educational initiatives – especially initiatives related to the environment – are part and parcel of the MeteoHeroes offering. As awareness grows 2023 will see significant expansion of the licensing programme, taking advantage of a reach that now extends to nearly 180 countries and 22 languages. The continuing growth of MeteoHeroes shows how its themes of respect for nature and saving the planet have enormous resonance for young viewers, as do its six relatable, diverse young heroes– one from every continent. Grisù will touch on similar themes as well as saying something about family relationships and positive values. But entertainment remains key to Mondo TV’s success, and both shows are beautifully designed and produced with the universal appeal of humour, adventure and fun underpinning the serious messages. And of course, they star a fire-breathing dragon and six kids who can change the weather. What could be better than that?