Emmy-winning producer of ‘The Electric Company’ to serve as showrunner for preschool property, ‘Flora of the Forest,’ created by Jo Rose.
LONDON -- Koko Rose Media, King Rollo Films and Bejuba! have announced the appointment of three time Emmy winning creative executive Karen Fowler as Showrunner for Flora of the Forest (52 x 11), the preschool property formerly known as Deer Little Forest, created by Jo Rose.
“As soon as I laid eyes on Jo's original art, I fell in love with the project,” commented Fowler. “Breathing life into this 7-year old animal loving, tree hugging, universe exploring adventurer girl and reimagining her world is just so satisfying."
Fowler was the widely acclaimed brain trust behind The Electric Company’s reinvention for which she won 3 Emmy Awards (Outstanding Children's Series 2010-2012) as well as three Parent's Choice Gold Awards. Her vision and originality led the iconic series to a 10 Emmy Awards and 20 nominations. Other credits include Jim Henson Production’s maverick series Dot, based on the book by Randi Zuckerberg and staff positions at Nickelodeon, CBC and Sesame Workshop.
“Karen’s ability to bring a palpable sense of fun and wonder to screen has resulted in a world of infinite possibilities and highly original, aspirational characters,” Koko Rose Media’s Managing Director, Lisa Hryniewicz commented. “From independent Flora and her awesome mom, to the domesticated boy badger, and the meditating fox, kids will undoubtedly find brand new friends in Flora’s forest.”
“A very strong production team is now even stronger with the addition of Karen Fowler,” added Leo Nielsen, Managing Director of King Rollo Films. “We at King Rollo cannot wait to work with her and see her dynamic and inspirational sense of fun become a part of Flora’s world.”
King Rollo Films is the UK production partners for Flora of the Forest, which is currently in development with first episodes planned for 2017. Bejuba! Will present the new material at Annecy this June. Flora’s UK scriptwriting team Chris Parker and Sam Dransfield add further weight to the project’s credentials, having collaborated on some of the biggest preschool hits of all time. Chris has worked on Peppa Pig, Bob the Builder, Ben & Holly, and Timmy Time, while Sam has Poppy Cat, Octonauts, Numtums, Zack and Quack, Gaspar and Lisa, and Geronimo Stilton on his credits.
Created and co-developed by Henries nominated illustrator Jo Rose, Flora of the Forest centers on a 7-year old powerhouse of a girl who lives with her research scientist mom in an enchanting treehouse in the forest, surrounded by her furry friends. Together the merry band embark on daily explorations driven by Flora’s passionate curiosity, and nurtured by the warmth and camaraderie of the animal friends. Their endless exploits are intimate and epic, inspired and silly, and always enlightening.
All rights are held by Koko Rose Media, a joint venture between Managing Director Lisa Hryniewicz, also Executive Producer of Flora, and Creative Director Jo Rose. TV Distribution partners are Toronto based Bejuba! and global Licensing Agents include: ThinkTank Emporium (US and Canada); Burda Intermedia Merchandising (Germany and GST); and Empire Multimedia (China, Korea, and South East Asia).
Other projects on King Rollo’s slate include: Winnie & Wilbur, based on the best-selling Winnie the Witch books by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul, published by Oxford University Press - currently in production with UK-based Winduna Enterprises and scheduled to air on Channel 5’s Milkshake in 2017, and McDoogle’s Monster Farm, by James McKnight, published by Top That Publishing.
Source: Koko Rose Media
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.
