ABC Australia orders children’s shows from Easy Tiger, Media World Pictures

Media World Pictures’ animated sitcom Happy House

Australian public broadcaster the ABC has commissioned two new series from Easy Tiger and Media World Pictures for its children’s content slate.

Live-action comedy Caper Crew is the first foray into the kids’ genre for Easy Tiger. The series attracted support from Screen NSW and is distributed by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF).

The 10×30′ series follows the chaos unleashed upon the lives of two children when their con-artist grandmother mysteriously turns up, teaching them the art of the grift. It is written by Keith Thompson (Lockie Leonard), Matthew Whittet (Heartbreak High), Amy Stewart (Beep and Mort), Jack Yabsley (Gold Diggers) and Erica Harrison (Gold Diggers).

From Media World Pictures, meanwhile, is Happy House (26×11′). The animated sitcom centres on a group of animals who are internet-famous content creators, following them as they bring insight to their viral digital lives.

Directed by Kelly Lynagh (The Flamin’ Thongs), the series is co-created and written by Alix Beane (Surviving Summer) and Marisa Nathar (Rock Island Mysteries), with animation by 12field Animation. Film Victoria provided funding, while is again ACTF distributing.

The new commissions were announced at the Australian Children’s Content Summit in Coffs Harbour, where industry leaders have been discussing ways to reactivate a beleaguered local sector that has suffered a sharp drop in commissions since the removal of children’s content quota obligations for commercial broadcasters in 2020.

Recent screen content reports from the Australian Communications and Media Authority revealed that the drop in commitment and investment in children’s television across all commercial networks was worsening.