Spotlight: Guru Studio

Guru Studio, the powerhouse animation company behind hit shows such as True and the Rainbow Kingdom, Pikwik Pack and Justin Time, recently unveiled its newest original series: the comedy-adventure Big Blue.

Created by Ghanaian-Canadian artist Gyimah Gariba, who was named on Forbes magazine’s list of Young African Creatives Rebranding Africa, Big Blue follows sibling underwater adventurers Lettie and Lemo who lead a quirky submarine crew with a magical fairy stowaway named Bacon Berry.

Big Blue premiered on CBC Kids in Canada late last year and on Nicktoons in the U.K. this January. The show “drops young viewers deep into a wacky world of comic adventure, and shows kids why caring for each other and their planet is the most important thing of all,” says Jonathan Abraham, VP of sales and business development. Other broadcasters on board include ABC in Australia, CTC Kids in Russia and CIS, EBS in South Korea, NRK in Norway and Boing in France, Africa and Israel.

Pikwik Pack continues its global rollout on Tiny Pop in the UK, Super RTL in Germany, Rai Yoyo in Italy, YLE in Finland, Canal Panda in Portugal and Spain, HOP in Israel, Minimini+ in Poland and Channel 5 in Singapore. “The show’s themes of working together and sharing joy with those in our community are really resonating with families today,” notes Abraham. A line of toys by Playmates Toys and books by Scholastic are all debuting this spring in the U.S., with international markets set to roll out next year.

The studio’s flagship preschool series, True and the Rainbow Kingdom continues to be a breakout success with broadcasters around the world. The show encourages “children to be mindful, courageous and respectful of all living things,” Abraham says. True demonstrates heroism through her kindness and compassion throughout the series’ four seasons, which includes several seasonal and holiday specials. A full line of toys inspired by the series has already started to hit shelves in select markets.

“Guru’s roster of originals are continuing to travel the globe,” notes Abraham. “We’re excited to share some exciting new shows with broadcasters very soon.”