Fremantle & Nippon TV Team for Physical Game Show

Fremantle has acquired the global distribution rights to the hit Japanese competition format Ants, originally created and produced by Nippon TV.

Inspired by the coordination of real ant colonies, the feel-good format proves that when people work together, no challenge is too big. Ants has already launched in Japan for Nippon TV. Fremantle North America has further developed the show for global expansion.

Fremantle picked up the format for co-distribution, with Nippon TV distributing in Asia (excluding Indonesia, India and Singapore) and Fremantle distributing in the rest of world.

In the format, contestants are transformed into the size of ants and must navigate a super-sized world to complete physical challenges that necessitate strategic thinking. From individual to group games, contestants experience larger-than-life obstacles, such as transporting mega-sized food items across a giant kitchen as fast as possible to win the cash prize while racing against the clock. The more items the contestants collect, the bigger the prize. While some ants will make it, others will not, to tragic results.

Jimmy Fox, executive VP and head of development and sales for unscripted at Fremantle, said: “We have always admired Nippon TV’s legacy of innovative and genre-defining format creation, whether it is Dragons’ Den, which brought American audiences Shark Tank or Sokkuri Sweets, which sparked the ‘cake or not cake’ phenomenon. It is so rare to find a format that makes you say to yourself, ‘I have never seen anything like this.’ Ants is one of those formats.”

Vasha Wallace, executive VP of global acquisitions and development for global entertainment at Fremantle, added: “We are excited to bring Ants to the global stage. This show is absolutely laugh-out-loud, hilarious and compelling viewing, and as a result, we have had a lot of interest in it already. Ants blends humor with physical challenges in a way that is both engaging and fun for audiences of all ages. Its unique premise makes it a perfect addition to Fremantle’s growing portfolio of innovative concept formats. We look forward to working with our global partners to bring this one-of-a-kind show to viewers internationally.”