DreamWorks Animation expands its TV portfolio with the acquisition of the Chapman Entertainment Library, including beloved brands Fifi and the Flowertots, Roary the Racing Car,Raa Raa the Noisy Lion and Little Charley Bear.
LONDON -- DreamWorks Animation has acquired the library of Chapman Entertainment, Ltd., the highly acclaimed children’s television production and licensing company. With Chapman, DreamWorks Animation adds to its growing library Fifi and the Flowertots, Roary the Racing Car, Raa Raa the Noisy Lion and Little Charley Bear.
The Chapman U.K. produced titles add to the many iconic family entertainment brands that the Company gained through its acquisition of Classic Media last August. The Chapman programs will be distributed through DreamWorks Animation’s UK-based TV distribution operation.
Chapman Entertainment was formed in 2002 by Keith Chapman, the originator of Bob the Builder, and quickly established itself as an award-winning company specialising in the creation and production of high quality pre-school entertainment.
“We’re pleased to bring such original and imaginative programming into the DreamWorks Animation fold,” said Eric Ellenbogen, Co-Head of DreamWorks Animation International TV and DreamWorks Classics. “The Chapman acquisition reaffirms our commitment to U.K.-based productions of distinction and we look forward to delivering brand new TV adventures from these popular series.”
The Little Charley Bear television show featuresan imaginative and playful bear called Charley. Under the watchful eye of his friend the Narrator, this very cute little bear uses his imagination to play and go on adventures where he discovers new things about himself and the world around him. The series is sold in nearly 100 countries (52x7), including the BBC’s CBeebies in the UK.
Raa Raa the Noisy Lion is a very loveable little lion who sometimes forgets his words when he gets excited and can only manage a roar – Raa Raaaaa!!! With the help of his television audience, Raa Raa and his friends in the Jingly Jangly Jungle solve noisy mysteries, go on adventures and have a lot more fun when they use their fast-developing communications skills: gestures, expressions and best of all, words! The series (52x10) is sold in nearly 100 countries and is under license with the BBC’s CBeebies in the UK, where Raa Raa continues to be a ratings winner.
Fifi and the Flowertots features an inquisitive little Flowertot who lives in a colorful garden world with her friends. The television series airs in the UK on Five’s pre-school block Milkshake! – where it is the second most popular show with girls and the third most popular show with boys, and on Sprout from Nick Jr., who originally co-commissioned the show. The series is sold in over 200 countries (52x10 for the first and second seasons, and 13x10 for the third season).
Roary the Racing Car follows the adventures of Roary, a bright red, single-seat race car and his friends. Set in and around Silver Hatch Raceway, the creative stories explore Roary's relationships with his racing pals and Big Chris, the karaoke-loving mechanic. The series is sold in nearly 100 countries (52x10), and can be seen on Sprout in the US and Milkshake in the UK.
Source: DreamWorks Animation
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.
