M4E greenlights hybrid toon

German distribution and licensing group M4E has given the go-ahead to a combined live-action and CGI children’s series.

M4E is coproducing Yoko, Mo and Me (26×24′) through Lucky Punch, its joint venture with Hahn Film, alongside Italian studio Rainbow and Canadian animation firm March Entertainment. A German premiere is slated for 2011.

Hahn Film’s CEO Gerhard Hahn is executive producing the series, which was first reported on by C21 in February.

The fantasy-adventure series follows a 12-year-old boarding school girl coming to terms with the death of her parents by escaping into a computer game. A second 26-episode season is already being planned.

Negotiations are underway with a German broadcaster to join the project as a further coproducer, with the show then airing on that channel. Rainbow and M4E-owned Dutch distributor Telescreen will jointly handle worldwide distribution.