WildBrain TV builds out Family channels slate with commissions

Family drama Ruby & the Well revolves around a mystical wishing well

Canadian kids’ network WildBrain Television has commissioned a raft of new projects for its suite of Family-branded channels.

On the live-action front, WildBrain Television greenlit Ruby & the Well (10×44’), a family drama following a group of girls who unravel the mysteries behind a mystical wishing well. Produced by Canadian production company Shaftesbury, the series will debut on Family Channel this winter.

Also premiering on Family Channel this winter is musical comedy Take Note (10×22’), which was commissioned earlier this year by Wildbrain along with US streamer Peacock.

The show, produced by Toronto-based Lambur Productions, tells the story of a teenager with musical talent who competes in a Hollywood reality show. Both projects are financially supported by the Shaw Rocket Fund.

WildBrain Television also ordered a third season (10×22’) of tween series Holly Hobbie, which is produced by Canada’s Aircraft Pictures in association with Cloudco Entertainment and WexWorks Media.

Commissioned initially by Hulu in 2018, the show is a contemporary take on the story of a teenage singer-songwriter who plans on saving the world one day, but is happy to start in her own small town. In Canada, the third instalment will launch this autumn on Family Channel.

In animation, WildBrain commissioned five special episodes of its CG franchise Caillou. The 45-minute episodes, scheduled to air on Family Jr in summer 2022, represent the first new longform content associated with Caillou in almost a decade. Launched initially in 1997, the preschool show follows the daily life of an imaginative four-year-old boy who does his best to learn from his mistakes.

WildBrain has also lined up CG-animated series Lucas the Spider (26×22’) for Family Jr, where it will air this autumn. The series was commissioned last year alongside Cartoon Network and Boomerang and is produced in association with Fresh TV and WexWorks Media. On YouTube, a channel dedicated to the eight-legged character has amassed more than 3.6 million subscribers.

Four new 11-minute episodes of Denis & Me, produced by Headspinner Productions, will air on Family Channel in 2021.

The green light for the new episodes comes after WildBrain commissioned the series earlier this year. Season one (10×3’) launched on Family Channel over the summer, with season two (20×3’) set to premiere this autumn. Aimed at kids aged six to 11, the series follows an eight-year-old boy and his cat sidekick Sir Meows A Lot.

WildBrain also greenlit Summer Memories (22×22’), a 2D-animated comedy created by veteran Adam animation producer Yaniv. Produced by A&N Productions, Aircraft Pictures and Yeti Farm Creative, the project follows two best friends as they reflect on a pivotal summer.

Previously announced additions to Family Channel’s 2021/22 programming slate include Malory Towers (26×22’), produced by WildBrain and King Bert Productions in association with CBBC, and The Fabulous Show with Fay & Fluffy (26×11’), produced by Lopii Productions.