Eight Toons to Watch at MIP Junior

The MIP Junior market in Cannes (Oct. 14-15) is one of the world’s biggest showcases for kids’ programming. This year features keynotes by Frederator founder Fred Seibert and Netflix’s head of global kids content, Andy Yeatman, as well as a World Premiere TV Screening of Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!. Here are eight shows that are poised to make a big splash at the Junior market (in alphabetical order): Created by: Frédéric Martin ( Dude, That’s My Ghost!) Distributor: Gaumont Package: 52 x 11 Target Audience: Synopsis: This animated comedy follows the adventures of a hyperactive young sloth with oodles of drive! He’s the first of his kind to even leave his tree, and he is not stopping there! He wants to shake the dust of this town off his feet and see the world, but, before anything else, he must pass his driving test. His first stop is Racers School, because every herbivore who wants to survive out there needs to learn to drive fast! Or else, you’ll end up as a leopard’s lunch meat. Animation Style: 2D Why It’s Awesome: Given what we know about sloths, that they are the slowest animals on the face of the earth, it’s ironic and wildly entertaining that our main character André is hyperactive and driven by the idea of speed. Selling Points: Vanessa Shapiro, Gaumont’s president of worldwide TV distribution & co-pro, says, “This show is quite different to anything else available right now as it’s slapstick comedy at its best. André’s family just don’t understand this hyperactive sloth’s drive to drive! But he’s dedicated to being the fastest, and together with his animal friends at the racing academy, André gets involved in all sorts of scrapes and adventures. We’re excited for the series to premiere very soon on France 3 and Disney XD EMEA.” Created by: Calm Island Distributor: Imira Entertainment (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Latin America and U.S. Hispanic); LNC Media (France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, UK, Scandinavia, North America); Toonz Media (India and Southeast Asia); Calm Island (rest of world). Package: 52 x 11 Target Audience: Kids 4-7 Synopsis: The series introduces a team of six dynamic, creative, and intrepid heroes-intraining who must work together to protect the balance of nature in Badanamu. Combating the scheming plots and dark plans of the troublemaking Grumbles, our heroes never meet a challenge they can’t overcome, a mystery they can’t solve, or a disaster they can’t avert. Underlying STEAM and social lessons are woven into each heart-thumping adventure chock full of action, humor, and surprise! Animation Style: CGI Why It’s Awesome: The world of Badanamu was first created in 2011 as a preschool learning brand, now available in over 30 countries. A series of short videos began rolling out in 2013, available via partners including YouTube, Alibaba, Naver, Roku, and Amazon. Over 200 short videos have received over 2.5 billion views to date. This enthusiasm for the characters of Badanamu led to the development of the series, which has presold to France’s Lagardère Active for its Gulli and Tiji channels, and Cartoon Network Italy. Selling Points: David Roberts, CEO of Calm Island, points out, “We have already engaged million of fans with the characters of Badanamu, and we have spent the past two years developing and producing the TV series, which will take their engagement with the characters to a whole new level. Boasting theatrical quality animation, fun storylines, loveable characters and catchy songs, Badanamu Cadets is sure to delight kids and their families, too.” Created by: Ethan Long/Technicolor Creative Development

Producer and Presales: Package: 52 x 11 Animation Style: CGI Target Audience: Kids 4-7 Synopsis: Based on the original book series from acclaimed author Ethan Long and creator of the Emmy-nominated series Tasty Time with ZeFronk, Chamelia centers on a six-year-old chameleon, who changes color to match her feelings and embraces life with a flare and style all her own. A starburst of impetuous energy and imaginative fun, Chamelia is the best friend everyone wants, and her colorful feelings help connect the community together. Animation Style: CGI Why It’s Awesome: No other early preschool animated series clearly explains the complexity of emotions to young viewers. Selling Points: Steven Wendland, VP & creative head of Technicolor Creative Development, points out, “Chamelia is uniquely positioned to encourage our young audience to celebrate differences and express who they are. With its emphasis on empathy and the fact that Chamelia changes color to reflect her emotions, children will relate to Chamelia and the situations she finds herself in.” Created by: Nigel Stone of Platinum Films MarVista for a new generation of kids, we believe the magical quality and messaging of the series will appeal to both traditional channels and digital platforms and resonate with young children all over the world.” Created by: Ann Riley, Will Broome and Colin Williams Distributor: Sixteen South Rights Package: 52 x 11 Synopsis: The show centers on two very different friends: Doris is adopted and doesn’t look like anyone in her family, while Frankie is told that he looks just like his father—a man from Norway whom Frankie has never met. Neither has had a best friend before, but when they meet at the school bus stop, an unbreakable friendship is born. Their world is filled with a host of eclectic characters including family, friends, an enemy or two and even a psychopathic pet puggle! Target Audience: Kids 7 – 11 Animation Style: 2D Why It’s Awesome: “All the artwork in the show is made using felt-tip pens on paper—not some kind of digital felt-tip or digital paper—the real stuff with the really smelly felt-tips! Like all of our shows, it really is hand-made.” Selling Point: “In our changing cultural and political climate, Frankie and Doris is a series that celebrates difference and accepting others for who they are—no matter what,” says Sixteen South’s creative director, Colin Williams.

Producer: TeamTO Format: 52 x 11 Target Audience: 6-11 Animation Style: CGI Synopsis: Have you ever wondered how to pull a rabbit out of a hat, make someone disappear, escape from a locked safe, walk through a solid wall or even read your sister’s mind? The House of Magic, run by legendary magician and illusionist Lawrence Deweerd, is just the place to find out! Dylan, Izzy, Zach, Vincent and Veronica all have a gift for illusion, conjuring, misdirection and all things magical, so this summer they’re attending magic camp to live out their dream of becoming magicians— and friends! Based on the hit feature film from Studio Canal. Why It’s Awesome: The series is set in the original background of a Magic School for aspiring magicians, run by a world-famous illusionist. Selling Points: Corinne Kouper, TeamTO’s head of development and executive producer, “We are so happy to have director Christian De Vita working on this exciting project with his unique passion. School of Magic will undoubtedly benefit from his special touch, after having directed our movie Yellowbird, and now directing the third season of PJ Masks, the flagship preschool show he helped create.” Producer: Xilam Animation Format: 78 x 7 Target Audience: cartoon fans Animation Style: 2D Synopsis: This new take on the classic animated star of the UPA series (first introduced in 1949) offers new adventures of the dynamic, kind-hearted and helpful character, who wreaks havoc without his glasses. All of his neighbors have kindly adjusted to his uniqueness…except for one: a megalomaniac hamster by the name of Fizz whose sole goal is to have all of humanity recognize his tremendous genius. He’s determined to leave his mark on history, but somehow Magoo always interferes, thus preventing Fizz from carrying out his crazy plans! Why It’s Awesome: Who doesn’t love the amazing Mr. Magoo, who has been delighting animation lovers since he was first introduced in 1949? He has even received two Best Animated Short Oscars. Xilam has introduced various modern elements to the mix for today’s audiences, but the classic comedic elements still resonate. Selling Points: Xilam’s founder and president, Marc De Pontavice, notes, “Bringing Mr. Magoo back to life is a wonderful opportunity to reach a new generation of viewers and to creatively build on the innovative original series. We look forward to bringing back the heart and humor as only Mr. Magoo can deliver, but also adding new strong characters such as Mr. Cat (his dog!) and his opponent, Mr. Fizz (a lunatic hamster), to make the show rich in both the cute and comedy factors. Visually spectacular and featuring a brilliant hip-hop soundtrack, the series has gathered the best story artists and animators from Xilam studio to make the show perfectly pitched for wide international appeal.” Package: 52 x 11 Created by: Icelandic Kolbeinsdottir Distributor: TBC Target Audience: Kids 7- 12 Synopsis: This action-comedy show is set in fantasy world filled with flawed but loveable characters. The island of Tulipop, drawn from an eclectic Icelandic heritage, is an absurd and surprising universe where nothing is quite what it seems. The quirky characters may appear cute and adorable, but they are all flawed in different ways and face problems and challenges that create conflict. Like any family, they love each other, but they don’t always like each other. Animation Style: 2D Why It’s Awesome: After seven years as a successful design-led character brand with a range of cool and colorful products, Tulipop has now been developed for animation with a top-notch creative team, which includes Tobi Wilson, lead writer on The Amazing World of Gumball, and award-winning directors Simon Cartwright ( Manoman) and Nina Gantz ( Edmond) in a co-production with Londonbased Blink Industries. Selling Points: Helga Árnadóttir, CEO of Tulipop, points out, “Ever since the launch of Tulipop in 2010, we’ve been asked when the animated show was happening, so we are thrilled to now be presenting an original TV series which is authentic and true to Signy’s beautiful Tulipop. This original world, which has already gained so many fans around the world, is based on Signy’s family and friends and inspired by people’s flaws, eccentricities and quirks.”