Sprout Bolsters Original Programming Slate

NEW YORK: NBCUniversal’s 24-hour preschool channel Sprout has given the go-ahead to Remy and Boo, a new CGI-animated original series.

Set in the near future, Remy and Boo centers on the friendship between a 5-year-old girl and a robot, who can learn and feel real human emotions. The 26-episode show was created by Matt Fernandes and will be produced by Industrial Brothers and Boat Rocker Studios. It is set to premiere next year. Boat Rocker Rights will internationally distribute Remy and Boo and will handle the property’s L&M on all platforms.

In addition, Sprout has ordered sophomore seasons of the popular series Floogals and Nina’s World, which are produced by Nevision and Pipeline Animation Studios, respectively.

The channel is also investing in the development of Little Shaq, inspired by the childhood of Shaquille O’Neal; Ivy and Bean, a book-based show about two best friends; Make + Do, a crafting-themed live-action program set in a studio; Norm of the Forest, an animated comedy about a woodland superintendent; Powerbirds, led by two pet parakeets leading double lives as superheroes; and Wombat and Rabbit, which follows two boys who are aspiring magicians.

“We know that moms and kids are coming to Sprout in large part for our original programming—and our 21-percent growth rate in women 18 to 49 tells us it’s resonating,” said Amy Friedman, the senior VP of programming and development at Sprout. “Our mission is simple: we help kids grow into good people. We focus on compassion, curiosity, courage and challenge in every bit of content we create—and we feel very lucky that we get to do this every day.”

Matt Fernandes and Arthur Spanos, co-founders of Industrial Brothers, added: “We are delighted with Sprout’s incredible commitment to this show and we look forward to beginning production immediately with our partners at Boat Rocker to bring this unique and timely story to life—Remy and Boo reminds us that love is the shining light at the foundation of our shared humanity, no matter our age, gender or background.”