US networks deal for West studio series
ABRISTOL production studio has agreed a licensing deal that will see its animated series Dodo, inspired by its creator’s school days in Portishead, shown on two major US networks.
Wildseed Studios, which is based in St Nicholas House near Castle Park, has reached an agreement with entertainment giant Warner Media’s Kids and Family division for the programme to be available on HBO Max and Cartoon Network from next year.
The deal was brokered by Londonbased family entertainment brand distributor CAKE.
The 20-part series follows the story of schoolboy Joe as he navigates his first year through secondary school. The comedy features the voices of Kaiser Chiefs singer and The Voice judge Ricky Wilson and Derry Girls actor Dylan Llewellyn.
The show is based on an awardwinning short film Not The End of the
World, which was written, directed and animated by Jack Bennett while he was studying at the University of the West of England.
Mr Bennett based some of the film’s story and characters from his own experiences of studying at the Gordano School in the coastal town in North Somerset.
Wildseed Studios was originally commissioned to make the series adaptation by Sky Kids and the company’s managing director Miles Bullough said he was “thrilled” it would now be able to reach new audiences in the US.
Mr Bullough said: “Very British in both its humour and its hero, we are confident Jack’s characters and stories will resonate and amuse viewers in the US as it has done here in the UK.”
Founded in 2013, Wildseed Studios previously won a Bafta award for its work on the children’s series Lottie Bearshout.
The company is currently inviting creators to submit live action or animated projects that appeal to audiences under the age of 30, with successful entrants to receive up to £10,000 to develop their idea with the support of Wildseed Studios’ production team.
Bristol is renowned for being a hot-bed for TV and film production. Earlier this year another independent animation studio based in the city, A Productions, was jointly recognised with a national television award for the CBeebies pre-school series JoJo and Gran Gran, alongside the BBC Children’s In-House Productions.
Bristol is also home to the Academy Award-winning Aardman Animations studio, the creators of Wallace and Gromit.
Very British in both its humour and its hero, we are confident Jack’s characters and stories will resonate and amuse viewers in the US as it has done here in the UK MILES BULLOUGH