Billy the Cowboy Hamster Set for Tiny Pop

Dandelooo has sealed a deal with the free-to-air U.K. channel Tiny Pop for Billy the Cowboy Hamster.

Targeted at 4- to 7-year-olds, Billy the Cowboy Hamster is based on the series of seven books by Dutch author and illustrator Catharina Valckx. The preschool show is set to premiere exclusively on U.K. free TV in May 2023.

Commissioned by France Télévisions, the 52×11-minute series is produced by Dandelooo’s animation studio Ooolala in la Cartoucherie, Valence (France), with Belgian co-production partners Digital Graphix, Atmosphere Media and RTBF. It is directed by the Swiss illustrator Antoine Rota (Kaeloo) and Caz Murrell.

Claudia Dalley, head of programming for the POP Channels at Narrative Entertainment, said, “We are delighted to have Billy the Cowboy Hamster joining our Tiny Pop family next year. The show is an excellent adaptation of the much-loved book, with beautiful 2D animation that emulates and brings the illustrations to life. Characters and storylines are well-written, and the comedy embedded throughout gives the show that magical co-viewing appeal we are always looking for at Tiny Pop.”

Emmanuèle Pétry Sirvin, co-founder of Dandelooo, added, “I’m delighted that Tiny Pop will once again be sharing our beloved, famous French characters with British children, our young friends over the channel. Billy the Cowboy Hamster is such a special series which will, I’m sure, enthrall kids with its humor and quirkiness.”