News

‘Peppa Pig’ Writer Part Of Kartoon’s ‘Winnie-The-Pooh’ Team

Just days after unveiling a $30M, multi-year Winnie-the-Pooh plan, Kartoon Studios has unveiled its writing, directing and commercial team. Sam Morrison, who was part of the writing team for Nickelodeon’s Peppa Pig, has been named Head Writer, with Emmy winnner Michale Maliani the director. Kids TV industry veteran Paul Robinson, who was former Managing Director of Disney Channel Worldwide and is the current President of Kartoon Channel! Worldwide & Head of International Sales, will handle international distribution and former Paramount Pictures, Electronic Arts and Dic Entertainment exec Ryan Gagerman has been appointed Head of Global Licensing. He’s known for rolling out Strawberry Shortcake, on which he previously worked with Kartoon Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward. As part of Kartoon’s plan to make several feature films and a series based on A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books, a retail deal was...

Streaming

Amazon miniTV, the free streaming service available on the Amazon Shopping app in India, is dubbing a raft of Korean, Turkish, Mandarin and Spanish dramas into the Hindi language for local consumption under the MiniTV Imported banner. The first set of shows, which streams from July 7, are all Korean and includes “Cheer Up,” “Heart Surgeons” and “Doctor Detective.”

Amogh Dusad, head of content, Amazon miniTV, said: “In recent times, the viewing preferences of digital video consumers in India have changed significantly. They love diversity in content offering and are looking for unique stories & captivating characters from across the world. We have curated a list of blockbuster shows, from Korean, Turkish, Mandarin, Spanish and many more languages, that we believe will resonate with Indian viewers.”

Understanding

U.K. producers alliance Pact has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the U.K. Business Centre (Ukbc) Lille to facilitate cooperation and...

Gaumont UK Options Tm Logan’s ‘The Mother’

Gaumont UK has picked up rights to Tm Logan’s The Mother and will develop the thriller as a returning drama series. Released earlier this year, The Mother starts from the shadows, as a woman attends her own funeral after serving 10 years in jail for the murder of her husband. With two grieving sons in mourning, it’s evident she will stop at nothing to clear her name and reconnect with her children. Gaumont UK President Alison Jackson said she was “instantly fascinated” by the story, calling it a “tantalising addictive read with a brilliantly complex female protagonist.” Gaumont also has rights to Sixteen Horses, Dog Rose Dirt, and Dressed For War: The Story of Audrey Withers. It was most recently behind Netflix thriller Obsession starring Richard Armitage with Moonage Pictures along with Channel 5 thriller For Her Sins. The UK hub opened five years ago.

Netflix has handed Chris Nee’s animated preschool programs Ridley Jones and Ada Twist, Scientist Season 2 renewals.

Created and executive produced by Nee, Ridley Jones will return for Season 2 in November 2021. Ridley and her friends, Peaches, Fred, Ismat, Dudley and Dante will continue their nightly adventures when the lights go out, the doors lock shut, and all the exhibits come to life at The Museum of Natural History.

Ada Twist, Scientist developed by Nee and showrun and executive produced by Kerri Grant, will return in 2022. The series follows a pint-sized scientist with a giant-sized curiosity, who aspires to discover the answer to absolutely everything. Ada, along with her best friends Iggy Peck and Rosie Revere will be back to explore more ways science is a part of everyday life. Additional executive producers are Wonder Worldwide’s Mark Burton, Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis and Priya Swaminathan, author Andrew Beat and illustrator David Roberts.