Beano takes CGI Dennis to CBBC

CBBC in the UK has come onboard the first series from the fledgling production arm of long-running children’s comic Beano.

CGI series Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed will air next year

The UK children’s pubcaster has ordered Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed (52×11′) from Beano Studios, which launched earlier this year.

The series will air in 2017 and will see the classic characters animated in CGI for the first time, having already appeared on the BBC channel in 2D animated series such as Dennis the Menace & Gnasher.

Beano Studios will work with animation firm Jellyfish Pictures on the series, which will be executive produced by Michael Elson, formerly of Moving Picture Company, alongside the recently promoted Jo Allen at CBBC.

It will be directed by Boris Hiestand, whose credits include the Harry Potter films, Asterix & the Vikings, The Angry Birds Movie and Pirates.

Since launching in June, Beano Studios has been producing original shorts for its own YouTube channel as well as a dedicated website, Beano.com. It is part of DC Thomson & Co, which has been publishing the Beano since 1938.