Fremantle builds up kids’ slate

MIPCOM NEWS: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has sewn up a number of coproduction and development deals worldwide to bolster its kids’ and family programming slate.

Following its distribution deal with Fresh TV and Canada’s Teletoon for live-action series My Babysitter is a Vampire, FME has unveiled a raft of new partnerships, including one with Josh Selig’s production company Little Airplane Productions (The Wonder Pets!, 3rd & Bird).

The coproduction agreement covers the new preschool mixed animation series Jo BG Raff, with FME handling global distribution rights.

FME is also partnering with UK preschool channel Cbeebies’ in-house production division on an undisclosed new CGI animated fantasy adventure series aimed for delivery in 2012. FME will co-develop, co-fund and coproduce the new show in exchange for global licensing and other ancillary rights and all distribution rights outside the UK. A second project with the BBC is also pending.

Further boosting FME’s children’s credentials is a three-project development deal with the Dan Clark Company – behind popular shows such as Brats of the Lost Nebula for Warner Bros, and preschool series The Save-Ums and Team Smithereen for W!ldbrain and Disney.

FME has also drafted in producer/writer Russell Marcus to pen a family-orientated animated sitcom for upcoming US cablenet The Hub, for a mid-season 2010-12 launch

FME has also formed a couple of partnerships down under. The first is with Australian prodco Sticky Pictures to coproduce a series starring Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late Steve Irwin (Australia Zoo, Crocodile Hunter). FME has also signed up with Tasmanian-based prodco Blue Rocket to develop a new animated kids’ series.

In June, FME entered into a partnership with the JAKKS and Dentsu Entertainment USA joint venture on an original animated entertainment project called Monsuno, with FME handling exclusive worldwide distribution for the show, excluding Asia.

FME will also act as master licensing agent for the Monsuno brand worldwide, excluding Asia, which is retained by Dentsu.

FME is also planning to re-make 1980s cartoon DangerMouse, to which it owns the franchise, in partnership with an as-yet undisclosed broadcaster.