Serious Kids and Channel 5 have inked a commissioning agreement for Treehouse Productions’ preschool series, Treehouse, created by Ryan Dean and Lowri Williams.
Louise Bucknole is the commissioner for Channel 5’s preschool block Milkshake! and Serious Kids will represent the worldwide distribution rights.
Narrated by Milkshake! presenter, Olivia Birchenough, the series is written by newcomer Lowri Williams, produced by Lilly Pollard and directed by Jamie Langton (Twirlywoos). The Treehouse costumes are created by Tim Simpson at Plunge Creations (The Masked Singer) whilst the live action sequences are blended with animation and special effects from Beakus (Big Lizard, Yakka Dee). The series is due to air on Milkshake! in 2025.
Treehouse is filmed in live action and features a mix of actors in costume, puppetry and 2D animation. The 30 x 7 minute preschool series is a celebration of nature, exploring the themes of kindness, inclusion and empathy, as the characters navigate the world around them.
The series stars Squiggle, a curious young squirrel who lives in a magical treehouse in the heart of the countryside, with his best friends, Fluff, a mischievous mouse and Nok Nok, the nosey woodpecker. Each episode follows Squiggle as he visits his woodland friends via the magical wall of windows encountering energetic owl, Magnus, badger and hedgehog duo, Badger and Scratch, or his dancing ladybird friend, Dotty. Squiggle learns valuable lessons or new skills with his friends which he teaches to Fluff on his return to the treehouse, from mastering the art of ballet dance to celebrating Diwali.
A friendly narrator guides the characters, prompting the action or communicating the lesson. The characters are non-verbal, and communicate physically, encouraging young children to get involved.
The series is produced at RD Studios, which is powered by zero-carbon energy harnessed from solar panels on the roof where the water for the facility is also harvested. The studio nurtures biodiverse gardens as a haven for bees, birdlife, and local flora. This environmental ethos also extends to the sets which are built from recyclable cardboard, later pulped and repurposed rather than stored.
"We were captivated by Treehouse’s blend of fantastic characters, artful storytelling, play, music and dance, all perfectly capturing the spirit of the Milkshake! brand," said Louise Bucknole, General Manager (GM), Kids & Family at Paramount UK & Ireland. "With Milkshake! presenter, Olivia narrating to bring these wonderful stories to life, we hope that our young audience will enjoy learning about the world around them alongside the Treehouse crew."
"As the co-creator of Treehouse, I am thrilled to announce the launch of this unique show," added Ryan Dean, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Treehouse Productions and RD Studios. "My vision when building RD Studios was always to establish a completely sustainable film studio, capable of producing shows that reflect those values. Treehouse is a testament to that commitment, offering children live-action content that is both educational, entertaining and sustainably produced."
"We are so pleased to conclude this deal with Channel 5’s Milkshake!," commented Genevieve Dexter, CEO of Serious Kids. "We are aware of the attraction of live action character series’ that engage the audience in a unique way and we’re delighted to produce a show full of inclusive, fun and engaging stories like Treehouse. We look forward to seeing this wonderful series launching on Milkshake! and introducing it to the international market."
About Milkshake!
Channel 5’s Milkshake! is home to some of the world’s favourite pre-school characters. Channel 5 broadcasts children’s content for 2-5 year old’s between 6am-9am everyday and is the top-rated commercial block for kids 4-15. Milkshake! features a range of stimulating, diverse and engaging programmes that include strong character-led animation, live action series, factual entertainment and presenter-led high-quality studio and musical entertainment, also available non-stop via on-demand service, My5, Paramount +, a magazine and a touring Milkshake! Live theatre show. Popular, award-winning shows include Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol, Rubble & Crew, Fireman Sam, Thomas & Friends, Milkshake! Monkey, The Adventures Of Paddington, Pip & Posy, Milo, Pop Paper City, Tweedy & Fluff, Mixmups, Odo, Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, Sunny Bunnies, Reu & Harpers’ Wonder World, Cooking with The Gills, Animal Care Club, Go Green with The Grimwades, The World According To Grandpa, Meet The Experts, Mimi’s World, Sesame Street Mecha Builders, Brave Bunnies, Oggy Oggy, and upcoming The Woohoos and Stan & Gran. For further information visit www.milkshake.tv
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Originally published: November 11, 2024.
Source: Animation UK; H/T: TV Kids.
