Caillou

TV Kids Weekly, July 8, 2008

ORIGIN: Based on the bestselling children’s books by writer Christine L’Heureux and illustrator Helene  Desputeaux. More than 10 million books, published by Chouette Publishing, have been sold around the world since 1987.

DISTRIBUTOR: Cookie Jar Entertainment

CREATORS: Christine L’Heureux and Helene Desputeaux

TV SHOW: Caillou is produced in 2-D animation, with 66 half-hour episodes available.

SYNOPSIS: The series is celebrating 11 years on the air by continuing to show children how the first experiences of life can be perceived with wonder and a sense of discovery. Caillou focuses on family values and pro-social messages that have generated a strong following with toddlers, preschoolers and their parents. An evergreen in the U.S. and Canada with successful worldwide expansion, Caillou helps children feel empowered and inspired; what Caillou does in the episodes reflects what every child does in their day-to-day lives.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Michael Hirsh, the CEO of Cookie Jar Entertainment

MAIN BROADCASTER: Caillou first aired on TELETOON in Canada in 1997. In 2000, it made its U.S. debut on PBS, which produced several seasons with Cookie Jar Entertainment.

TV SALES: The show can be seen on a host of networks worldwide, including TELETOON (Canada—English and French), PBS and PBS Sprout (U.S.), TVE and Boomerang (Spain), RTP and Panda (Portugal), Super RTL (Germany), Cartoonito (U.K.), TiJi and France 5 (France), RTE (Ireland), YLE (Finland), NRK (Norway), ABC (Australia) and Discovery Kids (Latin America). Caillou currently ranks number one on Super RTL’s Toggolino preschool block and is a top-rated show on TVE in Spain and RTP and Panda in Portugal. It was recently sold to Brazil’s TV Cultura, Korea’s Tooniverse, Thailand’s Cineplax and New Zealand’s TVNZ.

MAJOR TOY LICENSEES: Cookie Jar has numerous international licensees for Caillou. In Europe, Cookie Jar works with well-known toy companies like Majora, Simba, Famosa, Alday, Play by Play and Giochi Presiosi. In Canada, Cookie Jar has had long-term toy relationships with Danawares and Gladius and is now working with Dynatech. Caillou toys run the gamut, from electronic learning toys to plush to games to puzzles to playsets and more.

OTHER PRODUCTS: Caillou consumer products cover all lifestyle product categories for toddlers, including books, DVDs, CD-Roms, live shows, apparel, towels and even food and drinks. Caillou is currently the top-selling children’s DVD in Spain with more than 5 million sold to date.

STRATEGY FOR ROLLOUT: The series demonstrates familiar situations that preschoolers worldwide can relate to. Caillou offers through demonstration the means to master these every day situations like tying a shoelace, riding a bike or finding the joy in discovering a caterpillar’s cocoon that will soon turn into a butterfly. Once children have fallen in love with the show, Cookie Jar’s next phase is to release DVDs and books so that kids can relive their favorite episodes. Caillou products, meanwhile, focus on lifestyle needs like playing, bathing, dressing, tabletop and more. This rollout starts 9 to 12 months after the television series has launched.

“After 11 successful years on the air, Caillou is still going strong and continues to expand, not only in North America, but throughout the world,” said Kelly Elwood, the senior VP of international consumer products at Cookie Jar. “As with all Cookie Jar brands, we aim to provide kids with a complete entertainment experience, through television, online and a wide range of consumer products.”

Elwood continues: “With a host of new broadcast partners, a growing list of consumer products, numerous licensees, a popular website, VOD sales through PBS Sprout and a live show in Spain, Portugal and Canada, there’s no end in sight for Caillou.”