Imira Entertainment Scores new TV, Licensing Deals
Press Release from Imira Entertainment
Barcelona, 26 May 2008: Imira Entertainment, Spain's leading production and distribution company specialising in youth programming, has boosted its reputation for representing live action entertainment rights with a raft of new broadcast, home entertainment and merchandising deals for ZDF Entertainment's shows H2O: JUST ADD WATER and THE ELEPHANT PRINCESS alongside further deals from its established animation library.
In Portugal, free TV channel SIC has snapped up THE ELEPHANT PRINCESS (26x26'), and all 78x6' episodes of tween-targeted H2O: JUST ADD WATER. Both series are also airing on Nickelodeon in Portugal. In Spain, THE ELEPHANT PRINCESS (26x26') has started airing on Nickelodeon and will shortly be launched on TVE on La 2 and Clan TV. Imira has also scored two major merchandising deals for H2O with Concentra set to launch a range of fashion dolls, fancy dress accessories and electronic devices, and JF Ramos is on board for apparel. Imira Entertainment has also signed an agreement with Dracco for confectionery, collectables with Cife Spain, and a promotional campaign with Telepizza Spain for Summer 2009.
Further licensing and merchandising deals in the territory include deals for Ozie Boo for stationery and school supplies with Ambar.
Also in Portugal, LNK has taken home entertainment rights to H2O: JUST ADD WATER as well as rights for animated HYDRONAUTS which airs on RTP, while in Mexico En Pantalla has picked up home entertainment rights to THE ELEPHANT PRINCESS.
Mar Gaya, International Sales Manager at Imira Entertainment said: "There is an enormous demand for licensed products for H2O: JUST ADD WATER due to the success of the television series and new show THE ELEPHANT PRINCESS looks to be proving just as popular. We're steadily establishing a position in the live action tween rights market which is an ideal complement to our wide-ranging animation library."
H2O: JUST ADD WATER has already been licensed worldwide and airs in over 100 countries including a recent premiere on Nickelodeon in the US. Imira represents TV and licensing and merchandising rights to the live action property in Spain, Portugal and Brazil.
The series follows Emma, Cleo and Rikki, three sixteen year old girls growing up on the sun-drenched beaches of Australia's Gold Coast. The girls find themselves stranded at sea one day, where they discover an underwater channel. As they enter the pool, the light from a full moon illuminates the water, creating a mysterious glow. The girls get off the island as fast as they can and back to normal life. However they quickly discover that life is never going to be normal again: ten second after they touch water, they turn into mermaids with supernatural powers!
THE ELEPHANT PRINCESS (26x26') is a new live action series for 8-14 year olds. Alex sometimes sleeps in, she's messy and now and again she forgets to do her homework. In other words, she's a normal girl, living in a very normal suburb. Ask her want she wants from life, she'll tell you she wants her band to make it big! But one day, an exotic young man with an elephant arrives and tells her she's really a Princess of the mystical kingdom, Manjipoor. Can Alex embrace her new destiny? Because if she can't, everything and everyone she knows is in danger.
Preschool OZIE BOO (52x2' + 78x7') follows The Ozieboos, five adorable penguins: Ed, Ted, Ned, Fred and the sweet Nelly. Each Ozieboo has its own beak and feet color, character, personality and style that makes it different from the others. Each story in Ozie Boo is based on positive values like helping others, solidarity and courage.
HYDRONAUTS (26x13') is a unique combination of 2D animation and factual documentary extracts aimed at 4-7 year olds. Neptuna the extra terrestrial has been sent to planet Earth on a mission to study the marine world. The knowledge she brings back will be vital to save her planet threatened with imminent engulfment from over pollution. Neptuna crash lands in the Baltic sea where she meets Balty the seal and Ponto the seagull who decide to follow her on her voyage. From the Baltic sea to the Indian Ocean via the two poles, they discover an extraordinary world where truth often surpasses fiction. Through the exciting adventures of these heroes, the Hydronauts introduces us to the amazing richness and diversity of the aquatic universe.