Sara Alessi

LONDON: Zodiak Kids Studios is making staffing changes, with Gwen Hughes taking on the post of COO and Zodiak Kids CEO Jean-Philippe Randisi stepping in to lead the production entity.

HALIFAX: DHX Media and Iconix Brand Group have teamed up to co-develop and co-produce a new animated series based on the Strawberry Shortcake brand.

REDMOND: Yo-kai Watch 2, a gaming extension of the TV series, is rolling out in the U.S. exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on September 30.

PARIS: STUDIOCANAL and Autochenille Production are adapting Joann Sfar’s comic Little Vampire (Petit Vampire) into an animated feature film.

TORONTO: Groupe Média TFO has appointed former Bejuba! exec Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos to head up a new initiative that focuses on distributing its multiplatform content and tapping into international markets.

PARIS/MADRID: Cyber Group Studios has tapped Consumer Product Connection (CPC) to represent the Spanish and Portuguese licensing rights for the animated preschool series Zou.

NEW YORK: Entertainment One (eOne) has named Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing as the master publishing partner for its animated preschool series PJ Masks in North America.

LONDON: Zodiak Kids has placed the animated comedy series Get Blake! in the Middle East and Europe.

LONDON: Ludorum has named Jazwares as the new global master toy partner for the preschool property Chuggington.

ARLINGTON: PBS Kids is offering children in the U.S. free access to its learning games anytime, anywhere through the launch of a new application.