London, UK -- Union Media [1] has been appointed as international distributor for a new children’s animation series, Calamity Island.
Calamity Island is an original slapstick comedy series about two shipwrecked sailors and a mischievous penguin marooned on a desert island. It has been created by David Johnson of Famous Flying Films and will be produced in high quality stop-motion animation in the UK by Ian Mackinnon and Peter Saunders of Mackinnon and Saunders. Launching on CBeebies in 2014, the 52 x seven minute stories are told without dialogue with the primary objective of making children laugh. A pilot episode has been produced and animatics of two further episodes will be ready in January 2013.
David Johnson founded Famous Flying Films and created The Koala Brothers, winner of two British Animation Awards, an Emil award in Germany, three times BAFTA nominated and dubbed into 30 languages.
Mackinnon and Saunders have won multiple awards for their world renowned puppet making and animation production, working on features such as Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie and Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox as well as children’s series such as Bob the Builder and Pingu.
Union Media is a new international distribution business founded this year by Adam Selly, following many years in the industry in senior positions at HIT Entertainment, Entertainment Rights and LazyTown Entertainment.
Peter Saunders of Mackinnon and Saunders: “We are very happy to be working with Union Media and have the benefit of Adam’s years of experience handling some very successful children’s properties across television sales and licensing.”
Adam Selly of Union Media: “I am very excited to be working on this enchanting new show from such experienced producers. Initial reactions from international broadcasters have been extremely positive and I am sure it is going to do very well.”
Source: Union Media
Links:
[1] http://www.unionmedia.co.uk/