Category: Entertainment

Academy Award-nominated French animation studio Xilam Animation has secured a wave of global broadcasters for its popular titles Zig & Sharko and Karate Sheep, including new partners and renewals for both of the slapstick comedy series. Xilam’s series have also seen strong performances on Netflix, with a cumulative total of 93.5 million hours of viewing for content from the studio recorded during the first reporting window from the streamer – January to June 2023. With 114 hours available on Netflix, Xilam has the largest number of titles and hourly volume on the service than any other European animation studio. Furthermore, within Netflix’s top 15 original animated series for kids, Xilam placed two titles – Karate Sheep and Oggy and the Cockroaches: Next Generation – and was the only non-US producer within this ranking.

Nelvana, a world-leading international producer, distributor, and licensor of children’s animated and live action content, and Toikido, an innovative London based entertainment company specializing in digital design and toys, announce the highly anticipated greenlight of Piñata Smashlings, a new 2D animated children’s series (26×11). The series is available for international sale and already has confirmed placement with YTV in Canada. This comedic adventure, tailored for kids age six to nine, complements previously unveiled Piñata Smashlings shorts currently streaming on Nelvana’s ‘Keep It Weird’ YouTube channel, with more shorts to launch soon.

ZAG, the award-winning global independent animation studio, and Method Animation (Mediawan Kids & Family), announced today that Disney Branded Television has acquired seasons six and seven of the globally renowned series, Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, as well as three original animated specials. The new season and specials will be available on Disney Channels worldwide, then on Disney+ globally thereafter. The announcement was made by Jeremy Zag, Founder and CEO, ZAG, and Julien Borde, President, Mediawan Kids & Family.

Amuse Animation, a pioneering digital-first animation studio, has sold a slew of its animation series to TV Azteca and Guest Choice for Latin America, RTVC in the Canaries, and MBC for the Middle East and North Africa. The deals signal Amuse’s definitive move into distributing content starring the studio’s animated preschool heroes to mainstream broadcast channels.

Winsing is thrilled to announce the premiere of its latest animated TV series, Mega Meow, scheduled for December 22nd, 2023, in China. The first run will be broadcasted on IQIYI, major OTT platforms, national IPTV, and digital TV channels. Aimed at school-aged children, the series unfolds thrilling mecha adventures featuring adorable felines who courageously rescue humans from danger.

Following a stellar debut season, Wondery, an Amazon company, announced it is greenlighting a second season of its breakout hit ‘Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast, an original podcast series from Wondery and Dr. Seuss Enterprises. The festive variety show-style podcast features comedian James Austin Johnson (Saturday Night Live) returning as The Grinch, as he chats with celebrity guests who try to convince him to embrace the spirit of Christmas. Since its season one premiere in early November, ‘Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast has consistently held the #1 or #2 spots in the Kids & Family category on Apple Podcasts, while also becoming only one of three podcasts for families that has broken the top 50 on Apple Podcasts overall this year (Source: Chartable and Podchaser, YTD 2023). The popular podcast currently holds the #1 rank within the Kids & Family category on Amazon Music. Season two of ‘Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast will debut for the holiday season in 2024 early on Wondery+, before becoming widely available on Amazon Music and wherever listeners get their podcasts.