Chorion pulls new Peter Rabbit out of the hat

UK family entertainment firm Chorion is to create a new animated series based on Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit children’s books.

Chorion has capitalised on its parent The Copyright Group’s partnership with Peter Rabbit publisher Frederick Warne, a subsidiary of publisher Penguin, and the two will develop the animated series with an eye on international distribution.

The series will feature classic Potter characters such as Jemima Puddle-Duck, Benjamin Bunny and Peter Rabbit himself.

Chorion chairman Waheed Alli said: “We are looking forward to making a new TV series of Beatrix Potter’s characters. Our aim will be to introduce Beatrix Potter to a new generation of children and make her characters as loved today as they have been in the past.”

Potter is considered an early media pioneer, taking advantage of patent laws to copyright her intellectual property. Her licensing company, The World of Beatrix Potter, is now worth US$300m a year. The Tale of Peter Rabbit has sold more than 40 million copies in 35 languages.