Pearson purchases EVA

London-based Pearson Television has purchased EVA Entertainment for £2 million ($3.3 million). EVA, a five year-old pan-European venture, produces and distributes children's animation with a library of around 200 half-hours including SPOT THE DOG and BILLY THE CAT. The company was also one of four co-producers on BBC2's animated series, REX THE RUNT. Pearson's recently appointed director of animation John Bullivant will oversee EVA. However, the studio will continue to be run by EVA's managing director Mikael Shields, who'll function as chief operating officer. Although Pearson owns the old Cosgrove Hall library, the EVA purchase reflects their first push into animation production. Pearson, which also owns the Puffin and Ladybird publishing companies, is looking to adapt children's titles to animation from such authors as Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter as part of their aggressive push into the animation marketplace.