Preschool hitmaker Keith Chapman boards Carlichauns toon as exec producer
Carlichauns is based on The Last Leprechauns of Ireland brand
Paw Patrol and Bob the Builder creator Keith Chapman has come on board Carlichauns, the preschool IP developed by kids’ TV veteran Tim Patterson based on The Last Leprechauns of Ireland brand.
Keith Chapman
C21 reported earlier this year that former BBC, Disney and Nickelodeon exec Patterson had teamed up with Kevin Woods, owner of the Carlingford Leprechaun & Fairy Cavern & Folklore Park, to develop the CG-animated series Carlichauns (26×11′).
Successful children’s TV writer, producer and creator Chapman, who as well as Paw Patrol and Bob the Builder was behind preschool shows including Mighty Express on Netflix, is now attached to the project as an executive producer and brand ambassador.
Carlichauns is a portmanteau of Carlingford, the town on the Cooley Peninsula on the East coast of Ireland, and leprechauns, the diminutive supernatural being in Irish folklore, classed by some as a type of solitary fairy.
Aimed at children worldwide aged four to seven, the series follows a group of young leprechauns as they embark on funny and magical adventures travelling via portals around the world to grant children’s special wishes.
The media brand launched on St Patrick’s Day in March with a free immersive gaming app that used augmented reality (AR) to allow kids to search for the Carlichauns during St Patrick’s Day parades in Ireland. The AR app has since been made available in Los Angeles, with more locations in the US plus Dubai and Melbourne to be added.
Patterson and Woods are among the co-founders of Enterprise Ireland-backed, Carlingford-based start-up Carlichauns Entertainment, alongside CEO Niall Watters and are aiming to turn Carlichauns into a major global brand.
The team recently launched a YouTube channel for the IP where shortform videos will be uploaded featuring Woods introducing characters featured in the show.
Chapman said: “I was immediately drawn to the Carlichauns: a world of myth, magic, mystery and mirth. I love the colourful and entertaining cast of characters and the simplicity of the idea, where a hero team of Carlichaun friends go on exciting and magical adventures to grant special wishes to children from around the world. They must overcome challenges along the way, but always with a smile.”
