Hollywood, CA -- The Jim Henson Company has made the first international sale of its dynamic, imaginative, preschool CG-animated series DOOZERS, a co-production with DHX Media, to Turner Broadcasting in EMEA. The engaging new series, consisting of 52 x 11 minute episodes, will air in most territories across Europe, the Middle East and Africa on Turner Broadcasting’s preschool channel, Cartoonito, beginning in fall of 2013. The announcement was made today by Richard Goldsmith, Executive Vice President of Global Distribution, The Jim Henson Company, and Cecilia Persson, Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, EMEA, Turner Broadcasting.
“DOOZERS represents the quality programming that is synonymous with both The Jim Henson Company and DHX Media,” said Goldsmith in announcing the agreement with Turner Broadcasting. “Turner Broadcasting recognized the appeal of this adventurous and colorful animated series that celebrates invention, imaginative play, friendship and living green.”
“In a year which marks the 30th anniversary of Fraggle Rock, we’re delighted that spin-off series DOOZERS is set to make its debut on Cartoonito,” added Persson. “Originating from a much loved show with iconic brand heritage, DOOZERS is a wonderfully charming series in its own right and is sure to gain new legions of fans to this latest creation from The Jim Henson Company and DHX.”
“We have enjoyed a successful history of creative collaboration with The Jim Henson Company, and our development of the DOOZERS animated series demonstrates a shared vision for the series production,” said Steven DeNure, President and COO DHX Media Ltd.
The DOOZERS series will be unveiled to the global broadcast community at MIPJunior.
The DOOZERS are only three inches tall, green, and live in communities (just beyond the view of humans) all around the world! This new animated series focuses on Doozer Creek, a Doozer community that is a high-tech enchanted forest melding nature with innovation. It’s a self-sustaining community, in harmony with nature, generating zero waste, and green.
In every eleven-minute episode of DOOZERS, viewers will follow the adventures of four brand new Doozer kid characters: Spike, Mollybolt, Flex, and Daisy Wheel. Together they make up the bright, bold, and fun “Pod Squad” who share a passion for inventing. With their different personalities and skills, the four Doozer friends make a most exceptional and productive team when it comes to adventure and fun. Playing gets their minds and bodies creating, imagining, brainstorming and building! Each episode of this groundbreaking series incorporates concepts that enhance creative thinking abilities, physical skills and knowledge of tools and materials.
The DOOZERS series is a co-production of The Jim Henson Company and DHX Media Ltd. Serving as Executive Producers for The Jim Henson Company are Lisa Henson, CEO, and Halle Stanford, Executive Vice President of Children’s Entertainment. Steven DeNure and Anne Loi will Executive Produce for DHX Media Ltd. Craig Martin will serve as the Executive Story Editor and Head Writer; and Phillip Stamp will serve as Producer/Director). Stephen Brand, The New Enterprise Factory, will serve as educational consultant.
The original DOOZERS were first introduced to television audiences through Fraggle Rock, which aired from 1983 to 1987 in the U.S. on HBO. That series garnered several awards including the 1983 International Emmy Award and a 1987 CableACE Award and currently airs in the U.S. on the Hub. In the international market, Fraggle Rock aired in more than 80 countries around the world including the UK, France Germany, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and Russia.
Source: The Jim Henson Company