Animalia Prods., PorchLight Ent. and publisher Penguin have entered into an international licensing agreement for the innovative new TV series ANIMALIA. The series is broadcast on PBS KIDS GO! in the U.S., BBC1 in the U.K., CBC in Canada and Network Ten in Australia.
Under the agreement, Penguin, which published the original bestseller by Graeme Base on which the TV program is based, will develop and publish an array of products based on the property, including storybooks, activity and coloring books, readers and novelty books. Penguin also will publish educational books that expand on the curriculum material developed for the PBS KIDS GO! broadcast. The first products of this multi-year agreement are expected to be available at retail stores in the U.S. in the Fall, and in Australia and NZ in August. In the U.S., the new line of books will be published by Grosset and Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Base's original book was first published more than 20 years ago and has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. The TV series made history when it premiered in four major English-speaking territories at approximately the same time beginning in December 2007. The program is now seen across the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K., and is already garnering stellar reviews.
ANIMALIA features two contemporary kids, Alex and Zoe, who are mysteriously transported to the sophisticated and magical world, Animalia. The land is populated with intriguing talking animals: zebras in zeppelins, hogs on bikes, media mice delivering news bulletins on blue butterflies' wings, dynamic dragons, unicorns and elephants with their own eatery! The series' leading "cast" members are the gentle Animalia ruler, Livingstone T. Lion, Keeper of the Core; enormous, teenage rock 'n' roll lovin' G'bubu Gorilla; Allegra Alligator, a swamp-dwelling pop diva superstar (in her own mind, at least!); the small, but heroic Iggy D'Iguana; and the sly, smooth-talking Tyrannicus Tiger. When a mysterious force weakens the Core and threatens the future of Animalia and its inhabitants, Alex and Zoe along with their new Animalian friends embark on a wondrous journey to restore stability to the land.
Animalia Prods. is a joint venture between Exec Producers Ewan Burnett, author Base, and Murray Pope (HAPPY FEET, BABE: PIG IN THE CITY). PorchLight Ent. President and CEO Bruce Johnson also shares Exec Producer credit, along with story editor and lead writer Tom Ruegger (TINY TOON ADVENTURES, ANIMANIACS, PINKY AND THE BRAIN). The series is directed by David Scott (HAPPY FEET, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy).
The program is being distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide and in North America by PorchLight Ent. In addition, worldwide licensing and merchandising are being handled by PorchLight Ent., excluding Australia, New Zealand and the U.K., which is being handled by BBC Worldwide.
