BBC Children’s greenlights animal variety show

MIP NEWS: Create Media Ventures and Foothill Entertainment have secured a BBC commission for children’s animation Iconicles, which has been developed as a participatory TV series.

Aimed at the 4-6 audience, Iconicles features a troupe of animal characters who spring to life in their own digital world, appearing in comedic animated stories, games and musical interludes.

Akin to an animated variety show, according to Create, the show has been developed both as a participatory series (with the narrative stories linked by a live-action host) and as an interactive offline and online experience.

Iconicles is being developed and produced by Create and Foothill in association with creators Eric Radomski and Lois Lee of California-based entertainment content company Phuuz Entertainment and BBC Worldwide.

The 26×30′ series has been commissioned by CBeebies creative director Michael Carrington and will be delivered in fall 2008.

The commission was announced in Cannes by Create MD Vanessa Chapman.

Carrington said: “Iconicles will form a major element of my strategy to target four- to six-year-olds, and with its modern mix of animation and live-action filming, will bring a whole new dimension to storytelling. It is a truly inventive concept.”