Paramount UK & Ireland is in the market for shows relating to the outdoors for Channel 5's preschool kids’ block Milkshake!, as well as girl-skewing animation for Nick Jr. that complements the upcoming reboot of Dora the Explorer.
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| Dora and the Fantastical Creatures |
Speaking to C21 Media at MipJunior in Cannes on Saturday, October 14, Paramount UK & Ireland’s General Manager (GM) for kids and family Louise Bucknole noted that content related to the outdoors is especially crucial after all the Covid-related lockdowns.
“We’re looking at content around that subject at the moment because play and the outdoors is very important to kids, particularly after the Covid years,” she said.
Also for Milkshake!, Bucknole said she is still in the market for STEM-based live-action, factual shows and slapstick comedies, echoing comments she made at the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield in July. Slapstick comedy, in particular, is a genre where the exec sees a gap at the Channel 5 programming block.
“Anything around play patterns is really interesting to us and we follow the Early Years Foundation on Milkshake! as well. That’s very important. While it’s not curriculum-based, we always have that underlining soft learning and educational focus because we’re a public service broadcaster,” she added.
Meanwhile at Nick Jr., Bucknole wants to find an animated series for girls that could complement Dora!, in addition to live-action comedy in a similar vein to The Thundermans and Henry Danger for Nickelodeon.
“On the Nick side, we’re looking for big character IP, animation particularly, for both preschool and older kids and we look at how we can have brands that expand out as well,” the exec said, citing examples like Transformers, Monster High, The Loud House and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Additionally, Bucknole is interested in book-based properties for both Milkshake! and the Nickelodeon brands, like Milkshake!’s preschool animation Pip & Posy from Magic Light Pictures.
“We also very much try to ensure we have relatable series that reflect how kids see themselves in the world. We have a ‘no diversity, no commission’ policy and that is very, very important for us in making sure we are authentic in the stories we tell and with the families and kids we represent,” she added.
More from C21 Media:
Paramount seeks STEM, slapstick shows for Milkshake!, larger-than-life stories for Nick Jr
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| Jellyfish Originals and Jolly Wise commission 'Stan & Gran' |
CMC: Paramount UK and Ireland is looking for STEM-themed and slapstick content for its UK broadcaster Channel 5’s Milkshake! kids’ block and “larger-than-life” stories for Nick Jr, according to general manager for kids and family Louise Bucknole.
Speaking at the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield on Wednesday, Bucknole said she is looking to fill slots in Milkshake! for 2025 and 2026 in both animation and live-action.
“For live-action we’re interested in shows focused around STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths]. We’re in development or production on some animal series and we’ve got something in space and [relating to] the outdoors, so those are areas we have covered.
“But slapstick, physical comedy, play patterns and messy play are some of the themes we’re looking for,” she said, adding that coproductions are attractive since Milkshake!’s budget is “quite moderate.”
For Nick Jr, Bucknole is interested in big IP-based properties and characters that will carry globally, since the channel operates around the world.
“It’s understanding kids and it’s [showing] the best of kids and their world, but better. Shows with larger-than-life characters, like Paddington, Paw Patrol and Baby Shark, are the kind of shows that really work on the platform,” she said.
“Everything must always be from a kid’s point of view: funny, broad, relatable content that is energetic. Franchises are absolutely key to our global strategy,” Bucknole added.
Bucknole’s also announced a slate of kids’ commissions and acquisitions for Milkshake! at CMC.
Stan & Gran (52×11’), from producers Jellyfish Originals and Jolly Wise, is a CG animated series following the mystery-busting adventures of Stan Breakwater, a curious and excitable young nature lover, and his fun-loving, dynamic Gran.
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| eOne Unscripted factual series 'Animal Care Club' |
Animal Care Club (25×11’), from eOne Unscripted, is a new factual series that sees pairs of young carers team up with experts at a variety of locations around the UK. One episode might see the pairs team up with a vet, in others they help a zookeeper care for amazing exotic animals, or they might help at an animal sanctuary or farm.
Finally, Chip & Potato (40×11’), from WildBrain Studios and Darrall Macqueen, is a series focusing on a curious pug puppy who carries a tiny mouse with her to help navigate life at kindergarten.
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