CBBC Renews Art Ninja

CBBC has recommissioned Dot To Dot Productions’ live-action series Art Ninja for a fifth season.

Hosted by animator Ricky Martin, Art Ninja inspires kids aged 6 to 12 to get creative with paint, pens, pixels and more. The 15-episode season is expected to transmit in winter 2018-19. Art Ninja is distributed worldwide by Serious Lunch.

Regular features of the show include a segment in which the host interacts with kids via Skype. The children challenge Martin to make art from strange household items. The program also features cameos from animated real-life artists such as LS Lowry, Barbara Hepworth and Gustav Kilmt, as well as a tiny figure called the Grand Master who shows kids how to make quick art like a spinning ghost, kitchen roll projector or a giant pencil. At the end of each episode, Martin creates a giant piece of art.

The series was commissioned by Cheryl Taylor, controller of CBBC, and will be executive produced by Hugh Lawton for CBBC and Jo Killingley for Dot To Dot. Richard Hunt is series producer.

Lawton said, “Art Ninja is a fantastic brand—inspiring both the creative viewers and those with less paint in their veins to get up and have a go. It’s uplifting to see how vital an impact art continues to have on children’s lives in the U.K.!”

Killingley, who created the format with Alan Robinson, commented, “We hope Art Ninja inspires a new generation of Ninja Apprentices to see there’s art absolutely everywhere. Art is about ideas, and ideas are what will shape the future.”