The Jim Henson Company has appointed children's television industry veteran Sam Ewing to handle the international sales of its newest property SID THE SCIENCE KID.
In his new position, Ewing will be responsible for overseeing the international sales effort of the acclaimed 3D animated pre-school series, SID THE SCIENCE KID, debuting in the U.S. on September 1, as part of the popular PBS KIDS preschool destination, the hosted two-hour morning block and online destination at pbskids.org.
Ewing's distinguished career in children's television spans program development and production to sales and marketing, working with many of the industry's most respected companies. Most recently, Ewing launched the Cartoon Consultants Group, consulting on productions and distribution for companies including EM.TV Munich, Saban Capital Group and Starz Media/Bolder Media.
Prior, Ewing served as SVP, World Wide Distribution and VP Development, for Cookie Jar Ent. Ewing also served as VP, International Co-productions and Acquisitions at Saban International. Ewing's earlier career involved roles with Ruby-Spears Productions, Worldvision Ent., Hanna-Barbera Productions and NBC Ent.
SID THE SCIENCE KID is a new educational animated television series using comedy to promote exploration, discovery and science readiness among preschoolers. This landmark production of 40 half-hour episodes, co-produced by The Jim Henson Company and KCET/Los Angeles for PBS KIDS.
SID THE SCIENCE KID, The Jim Henson Company's first series for PBS KIDS that features a practical in-school science curriculum, uses music and humor to celebrate children's natural curiosity about science in everyday life. The energetic and inquisitive Sid starts each episode with a new question ("Why are my shoes shrinking?" "Why do bananas get mushy?") and embarks on a fun-filled day of finding answers with the help of family and friends.
The series is created using the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, a proprietary technology that allows the company's world-class performers to puppeteer and voice digitally animated characters in real time creating a unique, more spontaneous and fresh result. SID THE SCIENCE KID continues the Company's legacy of creating successful preschool programming such as FRAGGLE ROCK, BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE and MUPPET BABIES.
Sid and his school friends also host an online interactive Website at pbskids.org/sid, which features three discovery zones, each with numerous games and activities that together encompass all of the series curricular themes. The site also features a child-friendly video player, and a book of printable activities.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
