Paramount eyes outdoor-themed shows for Milkshake!, girl-skewing toons for Nick Jr

Milkshake!’s preschool animation Pip & Posy

MIPJUNIOR: Paramount UK & Ireland is in the market for shows relating to the outdoors for preschool kids’ block Milkshake!, as well as girl-skewing animation for Nick Jr that complements upcoming series Dora!, the reimagined version of hit show Dora the Explorer.

Louise Bucknole

Speaking to C21 at MipJunior in Cannes today, Paramount UK & Ireland’s general manager for kids and family Louise Bucknole noted that content related to the outdoors is especially crucial after all the Covid-related lockdowns.

“We’re looking at content around that subject at the moment because play and the outdoors is very important to kids, particularly after the Covid years,” she said.

Also for Milkshake!, Bucknole said she is still in the market for STEM-based live-action, factual shows and slapstick comedies, echoing comments she made at the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield in July. Slapstick comedy, in particular, is a genre where the exec sees a gap at the Channel 5 programming block.

“Anything around play patterns is really interesting to us and we follow the Early Years Foundation on Milkshake! as well. That’s very important. While it’s not curriculum-based, we always have that underlining soft learning and educational focus because we’re a public service broadcaster,” she added.

Meanwhile at Nick Jr, Bucknole wants to find an animated series for girls that could complement Dora!, in addition to live-action comedy in a similar vein to The Thundermans and Henry Danger for Nickelodeon.

“On the Nick side, we’re looking for big character IP, animation particularly, for both preschool and older kids and we look at how we can have brands that expand out as well,” the exec said, citing examples like Transformers, Monster High, The Loud House and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Additionally, Bucknole is interested in book-based properties for both Milkshake! and the Nickelodeon brands, like Milkshake!’s preschool animation Pip & Posy from Magic Light Pictures.

“We also very much try to ensure we have relatable series that reflect how kids see themselves in the world. We have a ‘no diversity, no commission’ policy and that is very, very important for us in making sure we are authentic in the stories we tell and with the families and kids we represent,” she added.