Bejuba! Picks Up Two Series from Pencilish Studios

Bejuba! Entertainment has acquired the first two series from crowd-funded Pencilish Studios, launched in 2020 under 35-year animation veteran Tom Bancroft.

Among the titles is Bjorn the Last Unicorn, created for the 6-plus audience, which sees the titular character return to society after hiding away for centuries. He is allured by the belief that the internet has turned the world into a wonderful place based on the social media clips he stumbled upon and sets out to be an influencer with the aim of spreading happiness and positivity.

JuJu Brain, also for the 6-plus audience, centers on a 10-year-old girl on a mission to be both different and accepted. The challenge is that she has OCD, but through the love of her family, best friend and a new level of understanding, she prepares to take on the world one guitar solo at a time.

Pencilish Studios raises investment through crowd-funding to develop properties, produce their pilot episodes and launch them on YouTube. Both Bjorn the Last Unicorn and JuJu Brain already have pilot episodes and are looking for broadcast and production partners.

“I’m excited about these two series and the clever steps Pencilish has taken to develop and move these projects along,” said Tatiana Kober, president of Bejuba! “Their crowd-funded investor base is also a research arm, and they have gleaned valuable creative feedback from their work. They’ve also produced their pilot episodes as shorts, which they launched on YouTube. We’re excited to take these series to the market.”

Bancroft said, “I’m thrilled to partner with Bejuba! Entertainment and Tatiana. Our properties are backed by almost 5,000 passionate investors and thousands of fans online! We can’t wait to get the stories of Bjorn the Last Unicorn and JuJu Brain into the world to bring some much needed fun and edification back to screens and lives!”