Here at Collider, we cover a lot of stuff, be itStar Wars, superheroes, or cinephile fare, and everything from movies and TV, to video games and web series. There’s something for everyone. But there’s so much stuff out there that sometimes our younger audience members get left out. So every once in a while, we’d like to shine a spotlight on some family-friendly content that parents and caregivers can confidently watch with the little ones.
In today’sCollider Kidssegment, we’ll be talking aboutMoon and Me, the new preschool series from the creator ofTeletubbies.Sutikki, the kids and family division ofBento Box Entertainment, recently announced that Universal Kids will be the U.S. television home of highly anticipated new preschool series fromAndrew Davenport(Teletubbies, In the Night Garden);Moon and Mewill premiere later this year. Inspired by well-loved tales of toys that come to life when nobody is looking, Moon and Me breaks new ground in its technical, visual and conceptual ambition, and will create an exceptional new benchmark of quality and integrity for its young, global audience.
Here’s what Davenport had to say about the partnership:
“It’s wonderful to work with Universal Kids. We jointly share a passion for creating premium programming for a global preschool audience. I can’t think of a better launch partner in the U.S. and I’m excited to begin working with the team on the launch of Moon and Me”.
Deirdre Brennan, General Manager of Universal Kids, followed up, saying;
“Andrew Davenport is truly one of the great creators of children’s content and the Universal Kids team is incredibly excited to be the U.S. home for Moon and Me. This show is totally unique - the stories, the look, the characters - combined with this level of production innovation, Moon and Me will be a spectacular addition to our preschool slate.”
The series will combine the latest production methods with traditional storytelling, comedy and music to create a beautifully constructed picture-book world especially for today’s preschoolers. It will premiere on BBC’s CBeebies in the UK in 2018 and is being produced by Sutikki and Davenport’s Foundling Bird, with Sutikki overseeing global distribution and merchandise licensing. This includes previously-announced global licensing partnerships with Hasbro and Scholastic, and a partnership with UYoung, which will bring the property to China in 2019.
Irene WeibelandAndrew Kerr, co-founders of Sutikki, commented, “Universal Kids is the ideal U.S. home for Sutikki’s first pre-school series, and we are looking forward to growing with Moon and Me for many successful years to come.”
Nickelodeon’s Noggin Adds New Spanish-Language Content
Nickelodeon’s top-ranked video subscription service for preschoolers,NOGGIN, continues to bolster its educational offerings with the addition of new Spanish-language content to its iconic and curriculum-based programming slate. Launching today on NOGGIN, is a brand-new dedicated “En Español” hub housing full-length library episodes of Nickelodeon’s hit preschool seriesPAW Patrol,Blue’s Clues,Bubble GuppiesandThe Wonder Pets!in Spanish; and popular nursery rhymes in English and Spanish from the award-winning bilingual baby property,Canticos.
Canticosbrings some of the most beloved Spanish-language nursery rhymes from all over the world to life through short-form animated videos. The songs currently featured on NOGGIN and Nickelodeon’s preschool digital platforms (NickJr.com, the Nick Jr. app and the Nick Jr. YouTube channel) are: “Los Pollitos/Little Chickies,” “Elefantitos/Little Elephants,” “La Araña Chiquitita (La Arañita)/Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “El Barquito Chiquitito/Little Teeny Tiny Boat” and “Sol Solecito/Little Sunny Sunshine.” MoreCanticoscontent will continue to roll out later this year.
Created by Encantos Media Studios, PBC (Encantos),Canticoscelebrates Latino culture by bringing popular songs to life through bilingual children’s books, interactive apps and sing-along videos. Nickelodeon and Encantos Media Studios recently announced a partnership to develop the first collection of consumer products for infants and toddlers inspired byCanticos.
New ‘Clifford The Big Red Dog’ Series to Air on PBS KIDS and Amazon Prime Video in Fall 2019
Scholastic Entertainment’s multiple Emmy-winningClifford The Big Red Dogis set to bound back onto the screen with an all-new animated series! Based on the best-selling Scholastic book series byNorman Bridwellfeaturing the larger-than-life dog and his best friend Emily Elizabeth, the reimagined show will launch on Amazon Prime Video and PBS KIDS in fall 2019.Clifford The Big Red Dogis currently in production for 39 episodes.
Although still set on Birdwell Island,Clifford The Big Red Dogwill offer fresh and colorful new locations, as well as introduce all-new designs for main characters Clifford and Emily Elizabeth, original songs and new friends. The rebooted show also will have a strong emphasis on social-emotional skills such as empathy, along with a solid curriculum designed to boost early literacy and encourage imaginative play – teaching as it entertains with Clifford-sized humor.
Clifford The Big Red Dogis produced by Scholastic Entertainment. 100 Chickens and 9 Story/Brown Bag Films are on board to help bring this great big series to life.
Inspired by the best-selling Scholastic books of the same name written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell, the firstClifford The Big Red Dogseries premiered on PBS KIDS in 2000. The standout show garnered numerous industry excellence awards, including nine Daytime Emmy nominations, two CINE Golden Eagle Awards and a New York Film Festival Award. The classicClifford The Big Red Dogseries has aired in 110 countries around the globe, and also inspired a spin-off, the Emmy-winningClifford’s Puppy Days. Scholastic published the first “Clifford The Big Red Dog” title in 1963, and today there are more than 133 million Clifford books in print in 16 different languages. A vintage hardcover edition of the original Clifford storybook was reissued in fall 2016. In addition, Clifford has his very own classroom magazine distributed by Scholastic in the U.S.
‘The Adventures of Snow White and Rose Red’ Coming to Amazon Next Month
The Adventures of Snow White & Rose Redis a live-action fairy tale show featuring two sisters, Rose Red and Snow White, from humble beginnings who live in a cottage in the woods with their parents. Snow White, a kind girl with a passion for animals and good books, is best friends with her sister, Rose Red, an outgoing girl with a curious spirit. When they’re not helping out with the family chores, they spend their days roaming the forest and playing pretend. As they embark on their adventures, the girls learn the importance of sisterhood, friendship, and kindness, and that your life can be far from ordinary, if you just believe in a little magic!The Adventures of Snow White & Rose Redwill be available on Amazon on June 15th, but you can watch theseries' trailer here!
Disney Channel has ordered a second season of animated comedy-adventure seriesBig City Greens, about a mischievous and optimistic country boy who moves to the big city with his wildly out of place family, ahead of its series debut, Monday, June 18th (9:30 a.m. EDT/PDT), on Disney Channel, DisneyNOW and Disney Channel VOD. The series hails from comic book creators and brothersChris and Shane Houghton(Harvey Beaks) and influenced by their childhood growing up in the small rural town of St. Johns, Michigan, with many of the locations and characters inspired by their real-life family members and townsfolk.
Eric Coleman, senior vice president, Original Programming and general manager, Disney Television Animation, said, “Drawing upon their personal experiences, Chris and Shane have created a ‘fish-out-of-water’ series that consistently delivers stories with big laughs and plenty of heart. We’re eager for viewers to get to know the tight-knit Green family and their endearing relationships that will be universally appealing to kids and families.”
The series premieres with a week of new episodes rolling out daily, Monday, June 18 – Friday, June 22, as part of Disney Channel’s GO! Summer that super-serves kids and families all season with new programming. Following the debut week, new episodes will premiere throughout the summer on Monday and Wednesday mornings (10:00-10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT).Big City Greensshorts will begin rolling out Saturday, June 16th, on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube. Coinciding with the series premiere, the DisneyNOW app will also unveil its first multi-player game “Big City Battle!,” where players compete against each other to earn their place as members of the Green family.
Big City Greensfollows the offbeat adventures of 10-year-old Cricket Green, whose natural curiosity and enthusiasm lead him and his family – older sister Tilly, father Bill and Gramma Alice – on epic journeys and into the hearts of his new neighbors.
The voice cast isChris Houghtonas Cricket Green,Artemis Pebdanias sweet Gramma Alice,Marieve Heringtonas quirky older sister Tilly Green andBob Jolesas hard-working father Bill Green.
The guest voice cast includes Emmy Award-winnerJon Hammas store manager Louis; Emmy Award-nominatedRaven-Symonéas news reporter Maria Media; GRAMMY Award-nominatedBusta Rhymesas a wise fish;Danny Trejoas bodyguard Vasquez; Academy Award-winnerJim Rashas waiter Ted;Paul F. TompkinsandLauren Lapkusas city hipsters Justin and Val;Andy Dalyas Officer Keys;Scott Aukermanas a radio DJ;Griffin McElroyas a pepper merchant;Paul Scheeras supermarket manager Chip Whistler;Zeno Robinsonas Cricket’s best friend, Remy;Lorraine Toussaintas Remy’s mom, Rashida;Colton Dunnas Remy’s dad; andAnna Akanaas café barista, Gloria.
The Houghton brothers serve as executive producers alongside Emmy Award-winningRob Renzetti(Gravity Falls), andMonica Ray(Harvey Beaks) andNatasha Kline(South Park) as directors.Big City Greensis a production of Disney Television Animation and carries a TV-Y7 parental guideline.
