Odo to Land on KiKA & Channel 5’s Milkshake!

Odo, a new preschool series from Sixteen South Originals and Letko, has been commissioned by KiKA and Channel 5 for its multiplatform preschool programming block Milkshake!

The series follows the adventures of an owl named Odo at the Forest Camp who is determined to prove that despite his small stature he is just as capable as all the bigger birds. With comedy and warmth, the series show kids how to deal with setbacks in a meaningful way while tackling such important themes as immigration, racism and respect.

Currently in production, Odo is aimed at kids aged 3 to 5. It is set to premiere in summer 2021. Produced by Sixteen South and Letko and co-produced with KiKA and Milkshake!, the show has been commissioned with support from the government-funded Young Audiences Content Fund. The series is distributed globally by Sixteen South Rights.

Colin Williams, showrunner at Sixteen South Originals, said: “I am thrilled to be in production with this very special show. When we created it in 2018, we were really concerned about the growing levels of anxiety and depression in children. After what our kids have been through in the last 12 months, now more than ever, this really is a show for its time. We’re thrilled to have lots of new voices in our writing team and we’re not shying away from telling stories that need to be told—stories addressing racism, welcoming the migrant, adoption, loneliness and friendship groups. Odo is a cheeky but lovable character with bags of self-belief. To have the opportunity to once again co-produce with our beloved partners at KiKA and Milkshake! is just wonderful.”

Jakub Karwowski, Odo executive producer for Letko, said: “Odo has a great and unique character and we wanted the style of the show to be special as well. We created it in 2D with all the theatrical beauty of traditional two-dimensional animation, but adding lots of depth to the show with special 3D lighting and shading, giving the characters a 3D feel in a 2D world. We’re using a warm earthy palette to evoke a feeling of being outside on a sunny day—full of color, light and energy.”

Sebastian Debertin, Odo executive producer for KiKA, said: “Odo is a wonderful show, warm and funny with a great big beating heart. It celebrates the square peg in a world of round holes and showcases the effectiveness of believing in oneself. We are sure our viewers are going to love it as much as we do!”

Louise Bucknole, VP of kids programming at ViacomCBS Networks UK & Ireland and Odo executive producer for Milkshake!, added: “Just like our preschool audience, the young birds at Forest Camp are all growing and developing their personalities and their voices, as they discover the world around them whilst having lots of fun. The series teaches them important life lessons while being friendship-focused, inclusive and full of curious wonder. We know our viewers will really relate to Odo and his adventures and the series will soon be flying high!”