Category: Television

Netherlands-based AVRO will be bringing Lloyd Entertainment's first TV production, DIP & DAP at MIP-TV. The series began airing in The Netherlands and Belgium in fall 2003. New series of episodes are already in production. The show follows baby giraffes, male Dip and female Dap, as they meet their new surroundings. The characters and animation are based on illustrations by Jet Middag. The first series of 10x5 episodes was geared for children from 2 and up.

Manchester-based animation house Cosgrove Hall will offer six new series at MIP-TV 2004 at the Granada stand R38.01.

CODEWARRIORS (26x30) is the company's first foray into CGI/live action mix. The series was commissioned by CITV. The hi-tech adventure series follows online gamers playing to save the world.

The CGI, sci-fi series BLUE DOG BLUES follows a blue dog, a biscuit and an anti-scratch cone. Starting as a short film, Cosgrove Hall is looking for co-production partners to produce a primetime family series.

Alliance Atlantis rolls into MIP-TV 2004 with three animated series. The company will be located at Stand G3.14 and can be contacted by calling 33-4-92-99-8348.

POKO (32x30) is a stop-motion animation series. The light-hearted, pre-school series follows a fun-loving three-year-old, who is just beginning to discover the world around him with his dog, Minus, and his stuffed toy, Mr. Murphy.

Colorland Animation will bring a new series and special to MIP-TV at booth 14.29. Executives attending include company founder Louis Sek.

IN SEARCH OF SANTA is an 80-minute CGI special. Colorland co-produced the project with Tundra Prods. Inc. The story follows pure-hearted penguin princess Crystal and her skeptical sister Princess Lucinda as they embark on a daring pole-to-pole search to find Santa Claus. Scheduled for completion in 2004, the film is produced by Bill Kowalchuk and Sek with Kowalchuk directing. TV and video rights, excluding North America, are available.

In what will be the first outing for the Muppets as members of the Disney family, ABC has given the greenlight on a Muppet version of THE WIZARD OF OZ, reports VARIETY. The long in the works project will be produced by Jim Henson Prods. and Fox TV Studios. Debra Frank (HOME ALONE 4) and Steven Hayes (HEY, ARNOLD) will be penning the screenplay, which will be based on L. Frank Baum's novel, not the 1939 MGM musical. The Muppet characters are set to star as the Scarecrow, Tinman and Cowardly Lion with a human playing Dorothy. Internet rumors have attached Natalie Portman as the possible lead.