Aardman Secures Timmy Time Licensing Deals

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPress Release from Aardman Rights

Bristol, 20 May 2009. Leading independent distributor Aardman Rights has concluded a number of new licensing deals for its brand new preschool series TIMMY TIME, which has made a hugely successful debut on CBeebies in the UK.

In Central and Eastern Europe, Regio is on board as toy partner for TIMMY TIME in Hungary where Minimax has the broadcast rights. Also One 2 Play is managing all rights to the property in ex-Yugoslavia.

In Scandinavia, Aardman has appointed AMO as toy partner for Finland, with Top Toy managing all other Scandinavian countries. Broadcast rights in this region are held by YLE Finland, SVT Sweden, NRK Norway and DRTV Denmark.

Sean Clarke, Head of Aardman Rights says: "TIMMY TIME has launched in the UK and is proving to be a ratings success on CBeebies. The property is proving to be hugely popular around the world and we are delighted to secure new partners for the property in Scandinavia and across Central and Eastern Europe. We are looking forward to bringing on board new partners at Licensing International."

The 52 x 10-minute stop motion animated series is currently airing on CBeebies in the UK and is proving to be a major hit. TIMMY TIME has also been picked up by Disney Channels worldwide, including the US, along with ABC TV Australia, TF1 France, SuperRTL for Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland. Nickelodeon has secured the show for Benelux and Aardman has also secured broadcast licenses with Estonian TV, Minimax for Hungary and CEE, HOP! for Israel and Romania, and Al Jazeera Children's Channels for the Middle East.

TIMMY TIME is also proving to be a major international licensing success. In the UK, Aardman has recently secured a number of key licensing partners including Golden Bear for wooden toys, joining Vivid Imaginations the master toy partner. Egmont has picked up UK and Commonwealth publishing rights to TIMMY TIME, and in a separate deal, Titan Magazines will be producing a monthly comic for the UK and Eire.

International licensing agents on board are HIT Entertainment for North America, SuperRTL for Germany, Kidz Entertainment for Scandianavia and Eastern Europe, Haven licensing for Australia, TF1 for France and Pro Entertainment for Argentina and Brazil.

Home Entertainment rights have also been secured for the show by ABC Video for Australia, Big Picture Entertainment for Spain, SF Norge for Scandinavia, 2entertain for the UK and Eire, Mediaway for Poland, LNK for Portugal and Svietco Entertainment for Russia.

TIMMY TIME combines Aardman's world-class stop-motion style with the colourful simplicity of classic pre-school animation.

Timmy made his first television appearance in Aardman's hit animated series SHAUN THE SHEEP, which has racked up television sales and licensing deals in over 150 territories and has won several prestigious awards, including the Cristal Award for Best TV Production at the Annecy Animated Film Festival 2007 and an International Emmy for Children and Young People's Award 2008.

Aimed at both boys and girls, TIMMY TIME is non-dialogue, but features a variety of animal noises, comedy, fun and strong character animation. Aardman's Jackie Cockle is Creative Producer and Supervising Director, and Miles Bullough is Executive Producer.

Timmy, age 3 (in sheep years), is adorable, but he's a little lamb with a lot to learn. Each episode will follow a day in the life of Timmy in Nursery as he learns something about himself and all his friends -- an assortment of bright young animals, some farmyard, some domestic, some wild.