Leading family entertainment producer and distributor Chorion has signed a major deal with UK broadcaster Five for its brand new children's television series OLIVIA, based on the best-selling book property about a loveable pig.
In addition, Chorion has signed a number of new international pre-sales with ABC Australia, YLE Finland, SVT Sweden, NRK Norway and RUV Iceland for the pre-school animated series.
The UK deal further consolidates Chorion's relationship with Five which already airs the producer's hit kids shows THE MR MEN SHOW and MAKE WAY FOR NODDY. OLIVIA will broadcast as part of Five's Milkshake! block. The 52 x 11 minute series for a pre-school audience is currently in production with delivery scheduled for fall 2008.
Based on the award-winning books written and illustrated by Ian Falconer, OLIVIA is a 3D CG series animated by the Academy Award-nominated company Brown Bag Films. Chorion's Diana Manson is executive producing along with Pat Resnick who is also the head writer. Resnick is an acclaimed screen and television writer with credits including 9 TO 5, QUINTET, MAXIE, STRAIGHT TALK and the Golden Globe-nominated HELL ON HEELS -- THE BATTLE OF MARY KAY.
Five's Director of Children's Programs Nick Wilson said, "Olivia is a great character! And I am very fond of her -- she's also 6 and three quarters which is one of the great ages! She'll be Pig of the Year and a great addition to Milkshake."
Geraint Marsh, Senior Vice President, TV Sales at Chorion added, "Our relationship with Five continues to go from strength to strength and we are excited to be bringing OLIVIA to a UK audience as well as to children worldwide. The books are already an established brand, making OLIVIA a classic Chorion project and we are confident that her energy and imagination will appeal to a global audience."
Credited as one of the most viewed new shows at 2007's MIPCOM Jr, OLIVIA is a Nick Jr US commission and Chorion will be looking to secure further international deals for the series at MIP TV.
At 6 and 3/4 years old, Olivia is a force of nature. She is charming, indomitable, loveable, confident, strong willed, irresistible funny and extraordinarily imaginative. With an imagination like Olivia's, her everyday world is infused with fantasy: a family trip to the beach becomes a pirate adventure; a school science project becomes a journey into outer space and a piano lesson becomes a world-class concert.
