BRB stockpiles toons for Cannes

Spanish animation company BRB Internacional is preparing to unveil a raft of new animated series, both produced and acquired, at this year's MIPCOM Junior.

Among the new toons currently in production is Gladiator Academy (26×30'), a co-production with Telecino (Spain), which charts the adventures of a group of young gladiators.

The first 13 episodes are scheduled to wrap by July 2002, while an eight-minute promo will be shown at Cannes. BRB Internacional has worldwide TV, video and merchandising rights for the toon and is looking to secure a number of pre-sales at MIPCOM.

BRB have also acquired the worldwide rights to Zip & Zap (52×13') from Spanish publishing house Ediciones B.

This animated series traces the adventures of two terrible twins who have a habit of getting into mischief. One episode of this toon will be available for screening at MIPCOM Junior, where BRB will be hoping to secure international co-production partners.

Two other animated properties making their debut are The Invisible Man (26×30'), currently in pre-production and Toonimals – The Movie, a successor to the animated series.

Finally BRB have wrapped up production on Nico, the story of a blind boy, which is scheduled to premiere on TVE (Spain) on December 8. The 26-part series is due to air on Saturdays and Sundays at 09:00.

Again, BRB is handling worldwide distribution rights to the series and have developed a website that can be surfed by both sighted and blind people.

In April this year, BRB Internacional's financial clout was considerably bolstered by an acquisition of 25% of the company by the Iberian banking group Banco Espirito Santo de Investimiento.