Kids content distributor ramps up acquisitions with new 2D animated kids’ series from Paris-based animation studio, Samka; other recent additions to their content collection include the BAFTA Award-winning stop-motion series ‘Clangers’ in 2021 and ‘Alice’s Diary’ earlier this year.
Jetpack Distribution continues to ramp up acquisitions, bolstering its kids' content lineup with the licensing of worldwide (excluding France) rights for two 2D animated series, Viking Skool (26 x 22) and Once Upon a Time…Objects (78 x 7), in a deal with Paris-based animation studio Samka. The latest additions to the distributors' animation stable include the worldwide rights of Alice’s Diary and Wussywat the Clumsy Cat secured earlier this year, following the 2021 acquisitions of Stella & the Starlets and the BAFTA Award-winning stop-motion series Clangers.
A co-production between Samka and Cartoon Saloon, Viking Skool is an action-packed comedy adventure about a ‘Viking Skool’ that trains the very best to be future Viking leaders. The show will air on Disney Channels and Disney+ across EMEA and FranceTV in France.
In the series, Ylva, Erik, and Arni are three friends brought together at the ‘Skool’ despite their questionable chance of becoming a Viking! Bound together by their outlier status, their friendship grows as together they meet various challenges. The three unlikely heroes discover what a true Viking heart and soul look like and that bravery, while not easy, is necessary. They also learn loyalty, honesty, and friendship are the glue that gets us through life!
Once Upon a Time…Objects is a comedy edu-tainment series co-produced by Samka and Procidis, the creator of the original IP and series Once Upon a Time…, the basis for the show. Now in development, the show will air in France on FranceTV, Israel on HOT, Switzerland on RTS, and the World on TV5MONDE.
Maestro, an animated hero who first appeared on French TV in 1978, returns to the new series Once Upon a Time…Objects which feature anecdotes and historical characters combined with scientific information delivered in the same humorous tone reminiscent of the original show. The series introduces children to everyday objects, such as a football, a fork, or a mirror, and Maestro tells fascinating and often hilarious stories behind each one.
Jetpack’s CEO Dominic Gardiner said, “At Jetpack, we have been ramping up our acquisitions even further, discovering more stand-out shows that really speak to the current needs of the global market. And those we’ll be rolling out for MIPCOM.”
He added, “Viking Skool and Once Upon a Time…Objects are two brilliant additions that demonstrate what we’re all about as a business. With incredible and impressive creative leadership from Samka, Cartoon Saloon, and Procidis, we are proud to bring these to the market.”
Source: Jetpack Distribution
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
