ViacomCBS & Sky Team for Preschool Show

ViacomCBS and Sky have set their first co-production partnership, for the animated preschool series Pip and Posy.

The 52×7-minute series will debut exclusively on Channel 5’s free-to-air strand Milkshake! and Sky’s on-demand service Sky Kids. The show is based on characters from Nosy Crow’s popular collection of storybooks by the multi-award-winning illustrator Axel Scheffler and author Camilla Reid.

Magic Light Pictures (The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Revolting Rhymes and recent hit The Snail and The Whale) is producing with animation services provided by Blue Zoo. Pip and Posy marks Magic Light’s first-ever preschool series and sees the continuation of the production company’s 13-year association with Axel, which has produced seven high profile animated specials based on his successful book collaborations with author Julia Donaldson.

Pip and Posy will premiere on Milkshake! and be available on-demand on Sky Kids in early 2021. It will then also air on Nick Jr. a year later.

“Pip and Posy is a delightful animation series that captures the essence of how young children play, think and feel, and fits perfectly with our portfolio of educational and fun programming,” said Louise Bucknole, VP of programming for kids at ViacomCBS Networks UK. “The series teaches preschoolers the importance of friendship and societal wellbeing through imaginative storytelling and creative play. We have a long-running and close relationship with Sky, so it’s very exciting to have commissioned our first co-production together, enabling us to bring the very best of British animation to Milkshake! from world-class producers Magic Light Pictures.”

Lucy Murphy, director of kids at Sky UK & Ireland, said: “Pip and Posy is a playful series that will be loved by young children and their families. This addition to Sky Kids, plus our recent raft of original commissions, demonstrates our ambition to feature a range of premium British programming for under 12s. We bring our customers the very best kids’ TV alongside our partner channels and this co-production with Milkshake! evolves our close relationship with ViacomCBS.”

Michael Rose, co-founder of Magic Light, said: “We’re really excited to be producing our first-ever preschool series and proud to be working with Milkshake! and Sky. Axel Scheffler creates truly enchanting worlds and we can’t wait for viewers to join Pip and Posy for their fun and adventures.”