Bastei to give Wissper global push

MIPCOM: Bastei Media, part of German publisher Bastei Lübbe, has come onboard to coproduce CGI animated series Wissper in a push to turn the property into a global multimedia brand.

Fellow German producer distributor M4E is also a partner in the project, along with UK animation studio Absolutely Cuckoo, Ireland’s Telegael and India’s Discreet Art Productions.

The 52×7’ series, targeting girls aged 4-7, centres on a young girl with the ability to communicate with animals.

Developed and coproduced by Dan Good, it was commissioned by the UK’s Channel 5 this year for its preschool block Milkshake!.

Under the expanded copro partnership, Bastei Lübbe has taken over a large part of the international publishing rights as well as the development, production and distribution of related apps and games.

Bastei has already brought in German game publisher Deadalic and established a Bastei subsidiary in the US earlier this year.

M4E is handling worldwide distribution as well as licensing merchandising for the production, which will be ready at the end of 2015.