Programming Profile

Qing Fan
Producer, content investment and coproductions, Kids IP Development & Programming Center
Tencent Video

 

Can you tell us about your main objectives at Annecy this year?
We are on the lookout for good content to add to our kids’ originals slate. Although we are developing a great portfolio, we need to fill in some gaps – particularly comedy shows for 4-6s, magic-themed shows or ones that explore themes of growing up for 7-9s, and content that appeals to girls.

 

We’re seeking compelling stories with universally relatable characters and wide-ranging appeal, that not only will engage and entertain children, but also will help them to learn and grow. We’re interested in edutainment, adventure, magic, comedy and daily life stories that will assist our viewers in growing up.

 

We also have a portfolio of homemade originals that we look forward to collaborating on with platforms and distributors worldwide.

 

What new shows are coming down the line that you’re particularly focused on?
We’ve currently got an exciting selection of shows, including live-action and animation aimed at kids of varying ages. The highlights include Shasha & Milo (52×11′), a CGI action animation coproduced with Zodiak Kids & Family and Pingo Entertainment. It features 12-year-old twins as they juggle school and home lives with a secret new role as the Crescent Island Guardians. Imbued with the power to transform between human, cat and a formidable hybrid form, Shasha and Milo are tasked with protecting Crescent Island from the dark forces that lurk beneath it, while navigating the daily complexities of preteen life.

 

Our coproduction with the BBC and BBC Studios Kids & Family, Supertato, is about to launch on our platform. A 52×7’ 2D-animated comedy series based on a bestselling book series of the same name by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, it revolves around the world’s first potato superhero and his supermarket battles against the villainous Evil Pea.

 

Fast, farcical, feathery and wildly funny, The Coop Troop (52×11’) is an animated series aimed at 5-9s coproduced with Sixteen South, France Télévisions and Mikros. Its heroes are an unlikely bunch of farmyard favourites who use friendship and teamwork to help other animals in trouble – while also relieving the boredom of life in their mobile chicken coop.

 

Rainbow Bubble Gem (52×11’), a coproduction with Live Fun and Campfire Aniworks, is a delightful 3D animated fantasy aimed at children aged 6-9 following the magical adventures of seven mermaid princesses who must go to school on land to search for enchanted jewels to save their undersea realm from an evil witch.

 

What have been your most successful shows of the past six months?
The Creature Cases is number one on the kids trending list and in the top three trending content list across all genres on Tencent Video during the updating time. This animated action-comedy series follows the adventures of a unique detective duo who specialise in solving animal mysteries. The brilliant animal sleuths travel a world populated exclusively by animals, solving mind-boggling animal mysteries that mix real zoological facts with wild detective action in storylines that have a vibrant, universal appeal.

 

The award-winning Monsters in the Forbidden City (78×10′) is a new original IP for kids, produced by top Chinese animation studio Original Force. The live-action and animated series has brought a significant number of new subscriptions through two seasons currently available to view, while retaining this group of new users.

 

The series immerses viewers in a wonderous world of mythical monsters where an ordinary girl named Rain gains access to a parallel realm after discovering a mysterious gem in the Forbidden City. She is tasked with helping these extraordinary beings solve tricky problems to save this world of sacred beasts.

 

The Story of Mi, a live-action show on Tencent Video, is performing exceptionally well. It’s a comedy series aimed at kids aged over seven following the amusing and engaging story of Mi Xiaoqian and his friends in the third grade at Qiushi Primary School. Based on a book with an impressive IP audience of over 100 million primary school students, the drama has achieved the number one spot on the kids and family show list and reached the top five on the drama (live-action) list. Additionally, it was number two on the drama search list during the updating period.

 

What is the biggest issue facing the animation industry and what is your company doing in response to it?
In China, new content tends to be similar to well-established hit shows, especially for preschoolers. These big hit IPs, like Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, have cornered the market and diminished the audience appetite for new shows with originality. This makes it challenging to create the next hit IP.

 

Instead of aggressively expanding the volume of shows, we focus on producing and partnering on a smaller number of high-quality titles with the potential of longevity so they might become evergreen hits. For shows that do perform well, we invest in the content and develop a long-term strategy to support its growth over the next five to 10 years.

 

How is the current economic crisis impacting the animation sector?
It reflects the current global trend – people exercising greater caution, tightening their budgets and reducing spending. We currently have some inventory and aim to showcase a few representative case studies. Meanwhile, we’re still looking for contents that has potential to become an IP or franchise.

 

What are your thoughts on the use of artificial intelligence in animation?
It’s possible that certain animation tasks could benefit from automation, particularly in the more mundane areas, freeing up more time for creativity. However, as it’s still early days, the verdict is still pending.