Clangers land on BBC, Sprout

Broadcasters in the UK and the US are coproducing a remake of the cult classic animated preschool series The Clangers, which first aired on British television screens in the 1970s.

The Clangers

The US$8m production will air on CBeebies in the UK, 24-hour preschool network Sprout in the US and on distributor BBC Worldwide (BBCWW)’s network of international channels.

The Clangers are a group of pink, long-nosed, mouse-shaped creatures that live on a small blue planet and communicate with each other by whistling.

The toon, created by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate, first appeared on the BBC in 1969. Two seasons were created in total, narrated by co-creator Postgate.

Firmin and Daniel Postgate, son of Oliver, will exec produce the new series, with Firmin also part of the design process and Postgate, whose father died in 2008, on scriptwriting duties.

The series will be coproduced alongside UK-based production companies Coolabi (Poppy Cat) and Smallfilms (Bagpuss), the original producers of the stop-motion animated series, with Factory Transmedia and Mackinnon & Saunders also onboard.

Producers say the recurring themes within the Clangers include; the importance of community, caring for the planet and encouraging a sense of wonder. The new stop-motion series is expected to be ready to air in 2015.

“Nostalgia is a funny thing, and we always think very carefully about remakes or re-imaginings of classic children’s programmes,” said CBeebies controller Kay Benbow.

“The Clangers is a programme that has an enduring magic. The new proposition has been built firmly upon the joyful foundations of the original, and will be produced by a team of exceptional talent.”

Sprout SVP of programming, Andrew Beecham, added: “Clangers has a remarkable animation heritage, which had a big impact on my childhood in the UK, so I look forward to its reinvention for a brand new audience on Sprout in the US.”

In related news, BBCWW has struck a deal with visitor attraction operator Merlin Entertainments to create CBeebies Land, which will launch at UK theme park Alton Towers next spring. It will include rides, immersive play areas, live experiences and appearances by well-known characters from the preschool channel.