Broadcasters Nick Jr. UK and RTÉjr sign up Puffin Rock, a new animated children’s TV series featuring narration by Irish actor Chris O’Dowd.
Broadcasters Nick Jr. UK and RTÉjr have signed up Puffin Rock, a new animated children’s TV series featuring narration by Irish actor Chris O’Dowd.
The co-producers of Puffin Rock -- Oscar nominated Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, global publisher Penguin, and Northern Irish children’s media company Dog Ears -- announced that the series will be broadcast by Nick Jr. in the UK and RTÉjr in Ireland, and narrated by Chris O’Dowd. Production will commence in September 2013 and delivery will begin in October 2014.
Puffin Rock is a multi-platform brand that follows the adventures of a family of puffins living on a wild and beautiful Irish island. Pip, an adventure-loving young puffling, and the hero of the show, explores the island with her little brother Baba -- making friends, hunting for food and trying to stay off the dinner menu. The TV series will feature 39 seven-minute episodes and Penguin will produce digital and physical format books, and products, to accompany it.
As narrator, Chris O’Dowd (of Bridesmaids, Moone Boy and The IT Crowd fame) mixes amusing observations with interesting facts about the wildlife on the island. O’Dowd is excited about his first foray into children’s TV: “I love the whole idea behind Puffin Rock and the style of the artwork. I can’t wait to be involved in it, but then I do love anything with Puffins.”
Tim Patterson, VP, Director of Programming – Nickelodeon UK, said, “Puffin Rock with its beautiful art style and charming storytelling is a perfect complement to the Nick Jr. schedule. It is a rich, gorgeous show and I am sure kids and their parents will be drawn into the program’s beguiling world, but then I do love anything with rocks.”
Pauline Macnamara, Executive Producer, Animation & Independent Commissioning RTÉ Young Peoples Programmes , said, “Puffin Rock is a perfect fit for our new pre-school channel RTÉjr. We’re delighted to be bringing stories of Irish coastal wildlife and environment to young Irish children through the world of Pip, Baba and friends. We’re also excited about the creative talents Dog Ears and Cartoon Saloon have drawn together for this project. It bodes well for a very magical series which will capture the imaginations of children everywhere.”
Francesca Dow, Managing Director, Penguin Children’s Division said: “Penguin Children’s are excited to be bringing our experience of developing classic brands to creating and investing in brand new IP. At Penguin we are experts at storytelling and we love the story and the look and the feel of the characters in Puffin Rock. Of course, the fact that the show is all about baby Puffins also made this an even more appealing project for us. We are thrilled to be working with Chris O’Dowd and to have Nick Jr. UK and RTÉjr on board as broadcasters.”
Paul Young said: ‘RTÉjr and Nick Jr. are the perfect broadcasting partners for Puffin Rock, so we are delighted to add Pauline Macnamara, Tim Patterson and their teams to our production. Cartoon Saloon has worked with Chris O'Dowd on his show Moone Boy, so we're very excited to be able to bring his unique sense of humour and charming voice to Puffin Rock.”
Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon, is one of Europe's most exciting Animation Studios, credited with inspiring a revival in 2D animation with Oscar nominated The Secret of Kells, BAFTA nominated series Skunk Fu! and current feature length production Song of the Sea.
In addition to developing and producing Tomm Moore’s Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells, Cartoon Saloon also successfully developed and produced the IFTA award winning and BAFTA Nominated hit children's TV series, Skunk Fu! which has been sold to broadcasters in over 120 countries worldwide, including the BBC, Cartoon Network, Canal J, France 5, Super RTL Disney and ABC Australia.
Cartoon Saloon is currently in production of its next major feature Film, Song of the Sea and comedy animation segments for Baby Cow and Chris O'Dowd's Moone Boy series for Sky One.
Source: Cartoon Saloon
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
