HIT Unveils Development Slate, Scores Sales on Angelina

CANNES: HIT Entertainment has signed new deals worldwide for the CG series Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, and has also made progress on its development slate, which includes Hippo’s House.

In addition to co-productions in the U.K. with Nick Jr and the U.S. with WNET, presales for Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps have been secured with 14 international broadcasters. These include ABC in Australia, Treehouse in Canada, France 5, DKLA in Latin America, Zeppelin NOS in Holland, YLE in Finland, Momo in Taiwan and DR in Denmark. Alison Homewood, the executive VP for worldwide programming distribution at HIT Entertainment, commented: "We are incredibly excited to be bringing the beautiful new Angelina to MIPCOM. To have so many presales in place before the show even delivered is a testament to the vibrant, rich world that HIT and SD Entertainment have created. Children everywhere are going to want to go to Camembert Academy!"

HIT is also presenting the new series Hippo’s House, a 52×10-minute CG series set in a colorful and magical home inhabited by wooden toys with human aspirations. Hippo’s House shows how a group of friends learn to live together, introducing social and physical skills to its preschool audience. HIT is also in talks with international broadcasters for presales on Mike the Knight. Set in the medieval land of Pendragon, Mike the Knight takes viewers to a world filled with castles, quests, dragons and friendships. The first season will include 52 10-minute episodes. The company has signed up preschool writer Dave Ingham (Waybuloo, Charlie and Lola) for The Real Mees, a cheeky, uplifting show for 4- to 6-year-olds. Each episode demonstrates that by accepting the help of friends, children’s inner confidence will grow, fears can be overcome and aspirations achieved. The Real Mees is a 52×10-minute CG series.

Chris Rose, the director of new content at HIT Entertainment, said: “It’s a very exciting time for HIT as we ramp up our new content development portfolio. We are privileged to be working with some of the world’s best creative talent on a wide range of cross-platform programming for children aged 2 to 12 years and we look forward to showcasing our new development slate to broadcasters and producers at this year’s MIPCOM.”