Creative Media has announced multiple deals including a co-development deal with Bob Thompsons Good Story Prods. as well as new series announcements for LITTLE ROBOTS and HIPSTER & JACK.
Vanessa Chapmans new media and rights ownership company, Create Media Ventures, and former Create TV & Film Ltd. colleague Thompson will form a key co-development alliance.
Create Media Ventures (CMV) will center on the creation, management and commercial exploitation of intellectual properties across the broadest range of publishing, media and commercial platforms. CMV will act as parent company to Create TV & Film Ltd., which will continue to produce and manage the preschool animation series LITTLE ROBOTS.
Meanwhile, Good Story Prods. has as its focus the production, development and management of story-based productions for the childrens and youth markets. The company is continuing its pivotal role on the best-selling childrens brand, BIONICLE.
The new alliance will see Create and Good Story having a first look deal on a jointly agreed slate of properties. These will include both wholly originated ideas and projects for other media and non-media clients.
Commenting on the deal, Chapman said, This is the first of a number of exciting new ventures for Create Media Ventures. I am delighted that Bob and I will be working together again after a successful collaboration at the former Create TV & Film. We bring a strong set of skills to the marketplace and already have a range of ideas and potential clients in the pipeline.
Thompson said, Vanessa and I have worked together for five years, and we know the outcomes have been successful. There are always going to be projects we both like, so it makes perfect sense to develop and bring them to market with the strength of our combined skills.
LITTLE ROBOTS has gone into a fifth series which is already in production and will debut on the BBC, simulcasting on CBeebies and BBC2, where it consistently leads in its timeslot.
LITTLE ROBOTS features the fun-packed adventures of Tiny Robot and his friends, who are pioneers, builders and architects of a brand new world. Finding themselves abandoned by the real world on a metal scrapheap, they become little alchemists, turning junkyard treasures into a magical place they can call home.
U.K. animation house Cosgrove Hall Films is once again producing the 13x10 episodes. It will be distributed by BBC Worldwide.
Michael Carrington, CBBCs head of animation & programme acquisitions, said, LITTLE ROBOTS has really connected with our CBeebies audience in a significant way, and I'm sure children everywhere will be looking forward to seeing these brand new episodes."
Chapman said, This commission gets our new company off to a great start. We created LITTLE ROBOTS, and plan as its new owner to continue to nurture and grow the brand into an evergreen property.
Additionally, Cartoon Network in the U.S. has acquired the U.S. rights to the first 52x10 of LITTLE ROBOTS, as well as to a brand new fifth series.
The show will form part of the launch schedule for Cartoon Networks new Tickle U preschool programming block, which will premiere in August.
We are delighted to be adding LITTLE ROBOTS to the schedule, said Alice Cahn, vp of development for Cartoon Network. The characters' optimism and ingenuity, and the series pure visual silliness are a perfect fit for our humor-based curriculum.
Chapman said, This is a prestigious and important sale for us. Cartoon Network is one of the U.S.s leading childrens channels, and I am thrilled that American families will also now have the opportunity to have fun with Tiny Robot and his little friends.
As Creates partner, BBC Worldwide are actively exploring merchandising opportunities for the property in the U.S.
Create Media Ventures (CMV) and Simon Fullers internationally successful 19 Ent. will team on the development, management and production of a new childrens animation series, HIPSTER & JACK.
A musical comedy for kids 6-11, HIPSTER & JACK features an archetypal odd couple in this case, a hippo and a Jack Russell terrier. Mixing the energy and anarchy of classic cartoons with world class pop music, the stories center on the musical duos madcap adventures on the road to fame and fortune, which somehow is always just around the next corner.
The initial series, currently in pre-production and comprising 26x 13 episodes, was launched to international broadcasters and distributors at MIP-TV in Cannes.
Commenting on the co-production, Fuller said, We are thrilled to be in partnership with Vanessa, and to be launching HIPSTER & JACK together. We are convinced that combining 19's expertise in music-based programming with Create's strength in animated children's properties will lead to a successful and long-term relationship between our two companies."
Chapman said, This is CMVs first programme partnership deal, and we are delighted that it is with such an experienced and internationally renowned entertainment company. This continues our philosophy of working with successful brands, and spearheads the growth of our programming portfolio.
Create Media Ventures is the new media company and rights owner which grew out of the successful TV, film and IP management company Create TV & Film, producers of the global preschool animation hit LITTLE ROBOTS, as well as the multi-award winning DVD movies based on the best-selling childrens brand BIONICLE. Create specializes in the creation, management and exploitation of intellectual properties across a broad range of platforms.
19 Ent. is one of the most successful entertainment organizations in the world, with a broad range of interests that cover music, TV, sport, film, fashion and all forms of branded entertainment. Fuller is the creator of the internationally successful POP IDOL format, and has represented some of the worlds best known music artists, including the Spice Girls, Annie Lennox and S Club 7. He has recently entered into an exclusive global joint venture with David and Victoria Beckham.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
