Kids comedy series co-production set for Seven Network Australia, CBBC and Netflix.
In a pioneering move, CAKE, Cheeky Little Media and Mighty Nice have jointly announced the start of a co-producation for Seven Network Australia, CBBC and Netflix. Bottersnikes & Gumbles, a 52 x 11’ CGI comedy series aimed at 6 to 11 year olds, will be produced between Cheeky Little and Mighty Nice in Australia, CAKE in the UK and with Kickstart handling animation out of Hong Kong. Worldwide distribution of the series will be handled by CAKE.
Bottersnikes & Gumbles is a fast paced community comedy series that follows the adventures of three young Gumbles, Tink, Bounce and Willi, as they bounce about and play whilst avoiding getting tin-canned by their lazy and grumpy neighbours the Bottersnikes.
The series has been developed and adapted from the characters and world as they first appeared in the much loved Bottersnikes & Gumbles books by S.A. Wakefield, with illustrations by Desmond Digby. The books were published in the UK and Australia between 1967 and 1989.
Seven Network will premiere the series on its services in Australia, and CBBC will premiere the series on its services in the UK. Netflix, the world’s leading internet TV service, will premiere the series globally across all markets except for Australia and the UK, which will join Netflix at a later date.
Ed Galton, CCO and Managing Director, CAKE said, “CAKE and Cheeky Little Media have assembled a rock solid team to produce Bottersnikes and we could not be more proud and honored to have CBBC, Netflix and Seven Network as our partners.”
Tom van Waveren, CEO and Creative Director, CAKE said, “Every element of this series permeates the passion that the core creative team have had for this universe from their youngest age. Such a passion is infectious and makes this project feel very special indeed, while not taking away from the comedy and laughter brought to us by Tink, Bounce and Willi, our heroes, on their many and varied pranks and adventures. Not just any other series!”
David Webster, Creative Director, Cheeky Little Media said, “This is an incredible collaboration between inspired partners who are all highly motivated by the original source material to produce something very special. The world we are privileged to be creating here is truly original and is going to blow kids minds.”
Patrick Egerton, Executive Producer, Cheeky Little Media said, “The books contain such a rich, distinctive world and made an indelible mark on my mind as a kid. With the CG tools and skills now available, we knew the timing was right to develop the property for TV and really do it justice.”
Darren Price, Exec. Creative Director, Mighty Nice said, “When I met Sam Wakefield back in 1996 and I enthusiastically shared my love of his books, never would I have believed I’d later be directing an international TV series based on his characters. After Mighty Nice joined forces with Cheeky Little this project has really taken off. We can’t wait to bounce, roll and stretch through these adventures!”
Erik Barmack, Vice President of Global Independent Content, Netflix said, “We’re thrilled to be working with great international producers and animators to introduce Bottersnikes & Gumbles to our more than 50 million members worldwide. We have successfully introduced kids from all over the world to great new stories, and we know our Netflix members are going to enjoy this new show as well.”
Cheryl Taylor, Controller of CBBC said, “Bottersnikes and Gumbles is a wonderfully original and engaging book series that I adored as a child and am delighted that we are now bringing to CBBC. Gumbles are bouncy and bright, Bottersnikes are lumpen and uptight, and both creatures work really well in the magnificent and colourful animation that Cheeky Little Media have tempted us with. I’m sure that a whole new generation of children will fall in love with this brilliant new series.”
Therese Hegarty, Head of Production & Rights Management from the Seven Network said, “We’re delighted to be involved with CAKE and Cheeky Little Media. We loved the concept from the start and we couldn’t be more pleased to be the home of Bottersnikes and Gumbles in Australia.”
Source: CAKE
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
