Animation UK spearheads the animated TV pitching and co-production special initiative where U.K. creatives will share 5 projects; event takes place September 18-21 in Toulouse.
U.K. animation returns to Cartoon Forum this year as part of a new, special initiative, ‘Animation UK Meets Europe,’ spearheaded by Animation UK in partnership with the BBC, Disney+, Warner Bros. Discovery and SKY and supported by agencies across the UK, including Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Scotland, Creative Wales and Film London. U.K. creatives will pitch a total of five new projects together with a U.K. broadcast partner in a 90-minute pitching session with each new project actively looking for collaboration with a European partner.
Cartoon Forum, a pitching and co-production forum for animated TV projects, will take place in Toulouse from September 18 – 21. For three days, producers can pitch their projects to potential partners. The event gathers approximately 1,000 professionals from 40+ countries. Since its creation, Cartoon Forum has helped 956 animation series obtain financial backing nearing four billion euros.
The five U.K. projects are:
Duck & Frog, a 50 x 7’ 2D animated series for 7–12-year-olds produced by Sun & Moon Studios with support from BBC Children’s & Education. Duck & Frog is a modern take on a classic slapstick, dialogue free comedy, about a long-suffering duck trying to live a quiet life, and his larger than life, eccentric frog flatmate.
Huggy the Hugasaurus, a 78 x 7’ stop motion animation series for preschoolers produced by Yamination Studios and Threewise Entertainment with support from Warner Bros. Discovery. The series follows Huggy, the world’s first “Hugasaurus” as she navigates her way through a world of fun, feelings and first times to make everyone’s problems a thing of the prehistoric past! If it’s not a happy ending, then it hasn’t ended yet.
The Wolfbjorns, a 26 x 11’ 2D animated series for 7–10-year-olds produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions with support from BBC Children’s & Education. Meet the Wolfbjorns-- the most outrageous Viking family you've ever met! In this animated sitcom we follow the antics of Ulf, a quiet young Viking and his loud, unconventional family as they struggle to adapt to life in modern society while holding onto their Viking roots.
Pleasure Beach, a 12 x 22’ animated series for young adults/adults produced by Nexus Studios with support from Disney+. In the formerly famous seaside town of Branbourne, pier manager Peter Gregg cooks up fantastical schemes to bring back the grandeur, and the tourists, with the help of his Gen Z deputy Jean Grover. Co-created by visionary director Laurie Rowan and acclaimed stand-up comedian Sean McLoughlin, and produced by award-winning Nexus Studios, Pleasure Beach is a surreal workplace comedy with a wicked wit and a bold animated imagination.
Magic Animal Friends, a 46 x 11’ 2D animated series (with 3 x 22’ specials) for 4-7-year-olds produced by Coolabi Productions and Paper Owl Films with support from Sky Kids. The animated adventure-comedy series, based on the global best-selling book series, follows eight-year-old besties, Lily and Jess, on their adventures into the sparkling world of Friendship Forest. They are accompanied by the exuberant and flamboyant cat, Goldie, who introduces them to his super-cute animal friends which frequently find themselves embroiled in magical muddles and mayhem.
“We are delighted that the U.K. animation industry is being provided the opportunity to profile our highly regarded sector known for its creative excellence, innovation, storytelling, iconic characters and humor,” said Kate O’Connor, Executive Chair of Animation UK. “We look forward to showcasing new projects supported by our partners, as well as our centers of excellence across the U.K., and having a renewed presence this September at Cartoon Forum where we will celebrate Animation UK with friends and partners across Europe. We are actively looking for European co-production partners for all of our animated projects which will range from preschool to family and adult.”
Source: UK Screen Alliance
Whitney is a freelance writer focusing on VFX-driven fantasy film & TV as well as preschool animation.
