The Koala Brothers

TV Kids
Weekly, September 4, 2007

ORIGIN: The Koala Brothers is based on an original concept by
Australian-born animation producer/director David Johnson.

DISTRIBUTOR: Spellbound Entertainment controls all
rights to the The Koala Brothers brand internationally and manages all TV distribution, home
entertainment, publishing and licensing rights for the property.

CREATOR: David Johnson of Famous Flying Films

TV SHOW: The Koala Brothers is a stop-frame, model animation
series for preschoolers that follows the adventures of Frank and Buster, two
koalas living in the Australian outback whose mission in life is to help
others. From their isolated homestead, they fly out on daily patrol in their
yellow airplane, looking for anyone in need of help. The series shows the true
value of friendship and caring for others.

A cast of
regular characters join Frank and Buster in their adventures: There’s Ned, the
little wombat who acts as ground crew for the team; Mitzi, a feisty little girl
possum who’s always out for adventure; Penny, the little penguin who travels
the outback; George, the turtle postman who loves delivering the post but
worries about being too slow; Archie, the sports-loving crocodile; Alice, the
platypus who rides her scooter everywhere; shy little kangaroo Josie who helps
Sammy the echidna in the General Store and Lolly the emu who sells the best ice
cream in the outback.

The series is
available as 78×10-minute episodes plus a 46-minute Christmas special.

“The Koala
Brothers has all the
ingredients to become a global children’s classic—charming characters,
great stories, a unique look and a strong message that it’s good to help
others,” says Peter Curtis, the executive producer for the series and joint
managing director of Spellbound.

EXECUTIVE
PRODUCERS: Peter
Curtis and Nick Barrington (for Spellbound Entertainment) and Michael
Carrington (for CBeebies).

COMMISSIONING
BROADCASTER: CBeebies
in the U.K., which launched it in September 2003.

TV SALES: Sold to 45 broadcasters covering more
than 150 territories. These include Disney Channel (U.S. and Japan); Super RTL
(Germany); ABC and Nickelodeon (Australia); TV Ontario, Tele-Quebec, Knowledge
Network, SCN and Access (Canada); Discovery Kids (Latin America); France 5 and
Canal J (France); Jetix (Holland); TVP and Mini Mini (Poland); TV2 (Denmark);
TV2 (Norway); TV4 (Sweden); TV4 Nelonen (Finland); RUV (Iceland); Modern Times
(Greece); Estonian TV (Estonia); Canal J (Hungary); RTE (Ireland); S4C (Wales);
EBS (Korea); TV12 (Singapore); ATV (Hong Kong); UBC (Thailand); Eastern
Broadcasting (Taiwan); Cartoon Network (India); Al Jazeera (Middle East) and
Hop! (Israel).

CONSUMER
PRODUCTS: Toy deals
with Hasbro, Fisher-Price and Corgi and publishing deals with Random House and
Penguin.

Spellbound is
now working with local partners in each territory to capitalize on the huge fan
base that has grown around the series. Key product categories include toys,
gifts, publishing, interactive, home entertainment, electronic learning aids,
board games, puzzles, apparel and accessories.

STRATEGY
FOR ROLLOUT: Spellbound’s
aim for the brand is now to build on the existing fan base and extend the reach
of the property to new markets. At present, Spellbound is working on television
sales for the series in the remaining territories available in Europe, Latin
America and Asia and is building on experiences gained through the placement of
The Koala Brothers
in existing markets. “We’ll be screening some of the latest episodes at MIPCOM
Jr.,” says Curtis. “The ratings and response so far have been amazing. We are
now looking for the broadest possible reach for the series internationally and
hope to conclude a number of further cable and satellite network sales as well
as terrestrial network sales shortly.”

On the
merchandising front, Spellbound is seeking international licensing partners, in
line with the potential of each market and awareness levels of the brand, as
the program rolls out across the world.

Costume
characters are available of the two lead characters, Frank and Buster, and a ‘live’
appearance from The Koala Brothers has been produced and is touring Australia as part of the ABC’s
75th anniversary.

In addition,
Spellbound is launching its own publishing program and has appointed Ragged
Bears Publishing as its new literary partner on The Koala Brothers. The joint venture covers tie-in
publishing rights for Spellbound’s upcoming offering. Ragged Bears will be
launching a range of four new titles in the fall, with more titles planned for
2008 and 2009.

The company is
also planning to launch a range of its own puzzles and games and other
cardboard-based products later this year.

The Koala
Brothers has recently
launched a brand new website that is currently being translated in various
languages. All the games and puzzles featured on the site will encourage
children to use their imagination and develop skills.

Spellbound is
also launching a new Koala Brothers online shop that will roll out across numerous territories and
will launch in the U.K. in time for Christmas. “In addition to high-street
retailers, The Koala Brothers online shop gives us our own shop window from which to sell product
direct to the consumer,” Curtis says.

To coincide
with the launch of The Koala Brothers online shop, Spellbound is launching a major marketing
campaign to search for Britain’s Most Helpful Pre-schoolers in association with
the Pre-School Learning Alliance, the largest voluntary sector provider of
childcare in the U.K.,and Waterstones, the U.K.’s leading bookseller. Britain’s
Most Helpful Pre-schoolers encourages children up and down the country to think
about helping others and to make a difference in their home, their nursery
school or in the wider community.