Germany visits StoryZoo

StoryZoo first aired on RTL Telekids

Studio 100 Media-owned pay TV network Junior in Germany has picked up a Dutch animated series designed to help young children learn English.

StoryZoo (13×11′) follows a trio of animals: a monkey, an English-speaking parrot and a storytelling bear.

The series is aimed at children aged between two and six and is designed to teach them English, with the parrot repeating phrases said by the monkey in the local language.

It began airing every weekday morning on Dutch children’s channel RTL Telekids in 2016. The German version made its debut in Austria on ORF last year.

StoryZoo is produced and distributed by the Amsterdam-based company of the same name, which was founded by Johannes Gropp, formerly of Sony Pictures Entertainment and 2waytraffic International, in 2015.

The property was developed by a group of children’s book authors and animators who had previously collaborated on Sesame Street, Het Zandkasteel (The Sand Castle) and Pim & Pom.

“StoryZoo fits in well with Junior’s programme, which offers non-violent entertainment with added value for young and old alike,” said Petra Keil, director of TV channel and programme management at Junior.