Classic Media

Chloe van den Berg
Executive Director, International Distribution

What are some of your top properties for MIPCOM?
Following a fantastic reception at MIPTV earlier this year, brand-new animated preschool series Tinga Tinga Tales returns to the market. Developed for boys and girls aged 3 to 5 and inspired by African folk tales, Tinga Tinga Tales brings to life the traditional art of storytelling, with tales about how all your favorite animals came to be. Based on the Tinga Tinga art style of Tanzania, this wonderfully vibrant show is produced entirely on location in Kenya by Tiger Aspect Productions, using local artists, musicians and voice talent. Expertly computer-animated using beautifully vivid imagery—hand-painted by local artists—Tinga Tinga Tales offers a totally unique visual experience. The series is set to air in spring 2010 on CBeebies in the U.K. and on Playhouse Disney in the U.S. thereafter. Quirky animal characters, beautiful locations, timeless fables, and uplifting Tanzanian music make this new show one with truly global appeal.

Mr. Magoo is finally back as you’ve never seen him before in feature- length animated film Kung Fu Magoo! When super-villain Tan-Gu invites the world’s most notorious bad guys to his island fortress to compete in the Evil-lympics, the fate of the free world hangs in the balance. There’s only one man who can help: Kung Fu Magoo! Starring the beloved Mr. Magoo and his 12-year old nephew Justin, Kung Fu Magoo follows the pair’s escapades as they dodge giant robotic spiders, ninjas on jet skis, and Tan-Gu’s mutant “Beasteens” (half animal, half teenage girl!). The new film showcases top voice talent from the U.S., including Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Alyson Stoner from Camp Rock.

Classic Media has now taken final delivery of vibrant new series, Shelldon. Set beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean, this beautifully animated 3-D TV series is due for its broadcast debut on Qubo autumn/winter ’09. Created to appeal to kids aged 4 to 8, this lighthearted show follows the exciting adventures of Shelldon, a small, smart starshell and his friends in the small reef community of Shell Land. Shelldon is an ordinary, shy and reserved shell who does his best to stay out of trouble…although trouble usually finds him! With quirky humor and endearing, unique characters Shelldon proves that no matter how small you are, if you try, you can change the world. Classic Media has recently signed a co-production deal with DQ Entertainment which will see Lassie, the world’s most famous dog, developed into an all-new animated TV series.

Lassie, a brave and loyal collie dog, first appeared in Eric Knight’s 1940 novel, Lassie Come Home. The canine heroine then went on star alongside Hollywood legends on the big screen throughout the ’40s and ’50s. Lassie made her first small screen appearance in 1954 and went on to star in 19 seasons, in total appearing in almost 700 TV episodes airing in over 100 countries worldwide.

For ghosts, werewolves, vampires, zombies, and other creatures of the night, anything goes…except making friends with humans! When Casper, the world’s friendliest ghost, befriends a human kid, his uncles decide to send him off to the one place in the world (or the underworld) that can cure him of his friendliness once and for all: Scare School. Casper’s Scare School is a new CGI-animated series co-produced by Classic Media, France’s MoonScoop and India’s DQ Entertainment, and is currently sold to broadcasters in over 60 territories worldwide.

Why will these programs appeal to buyers?

High-quality, strong brands that do not just appeal to kids but the whole family. Tinga Tinga Tales provides big, bold stories about how all your favorite animals came to be; Kung Fu Magoo is a brand-new opportunity for this all time classic hero to bring laughter to a whole new generation; Shelldon will encourage children to understand a whole new world under the oceans; and Casper is without doubt the world’s friendliest ghost, that everyone wants to befriend.

What are some of the trends you’re currently seeing in the market?

The marketplace is still very tough at the moment, but on the animation front, we are finding that high-quality, ‘must-have’ shows are still selling through. Everything is a hard sell, but we still believe that original ideas and good stories win out.

What are your goals and expectations at MIPCOM?

We are very much looking forward to sharing the first completed episodes of Tinga Tinga Tales and also presenting the first footage from the brand new animated series Kung Fu Magoo that stars the Sprouse brother’s, Cole and Dylan, from Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, as well as Alyson Stoner from Camp Rock.  We are also very much on the hunt for new shows to add to our portfolio and so will be scouring the halls for some hopefully great new opportunities.