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Magma and Trixter enrol at Pirate School Irish/German-based producer Magma Films and German animation house Trixter Films have signed up to develop, coproduce and distribute kids animation series Pirate School.  The new recruits will join forces with US companies, Foothill Entertainment and Red Sky Entertainment, to adapt Colin McNaughton's popular kids book of the same name. The series has been pre-sold to CBBC and Australian network ABC.“Because Magma and Trixter already are working together (on animated series Lilly the Witch), they represent an ideal partnership for Pirate School,” said Foothill’s svp Jo Kavanagh-Payne. “They already have a production structure worked out and can bring substantial creativity and production efficiencies to this great series.” With book rights acquired by LA-based Red Sky, Pirate School follows the adventures of Maisy, a girl who lives aboard a galleon, The Golden Behind, belonging to Captain Adbul and his crew of wannabe pirates. It is aimed at kids aged 6-9. Foothill will also be at Mipcom looking for copro partners for several other properties in development: Special Delivery (26x25') and Kid Kaiju (26x25') from the Emmy-winning team at Phuuz Entertainment. Special Delivery is billed as a boys action toon following six rogue delivery couriers as they dispense unlikely packages around the world. Phuuz has also developed the property for the video game and licensing markets. Futuristic anime-style Kid Kaiju follows a normal boy in a not-so-normal world where giant monsters attack cities and alien invasions are commonplace. Foothill is also looking to find coproduction partners for preschool series Snapper, created by UK-based Phew!!TV. The series follows the adventures of little Snapper, a young alligator who cannot swim. Another Phew!! series, Food Chain, has been optioned and a pilot produced by Warner Bros for its showcase channel Cartoon Monsoon. Foothill has also expanded its slate for Mipcom, having signed a multi-series rep deal with UK-based Splash Consumer Products for Animal Stories and Little Monsters. Animal Stories (52x5’) is a Bafta-winning animated series produced by Collingwood O'Hare and voiced by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. The US company also has picked up North American rights to the animated cult classic Batfink and preschool series The Dress Up Box from New Zealand's Papageno Films. Batfink (100x5’) was produced by the Hal Seeger Studios. Joining these animated series, The Dress Up Box (52x5’) is a live-action preschool series that has just finished its fourth season in New Zealand. In the show a child opens up a chest, they put on a costume and are propelled into a fantasy adventure. Christian Sadler 20 Sep 2004 © C21 Media 2004 
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