WotWots Spin-off from Pukeko & Chinese Animation Company

WELLINGTON: New Zealand's Pukeko Pictures has inked a development deal with China's Guangdong Huawen Century Animation Company to produce Kiddets, a sister series to the animated preschool hit The WotWots.

Kiddets is being developed as an official TV co-production under the treaty guidelines signed by New Zealand and China in 2014. The agreement allows approved projects to gain official co-production status and gives production companies access to funding and incentives. Clive Spink, the CEO of Pukeko Pictures, commented: "It's all about finding good partners to work with, which takes time and commitment from both sides. We want Kiddets to be the first of many business ventures with Guangdong Huawen Century Animation Company over the next ten years or more."

"We are very excited to be going on this journey with our colleagues from China," stated Martin Baynton, creator of The WotWots and the creative lead at Pukeko Pictures. "The WotWots has sold to over a hundred countries including many Asian territories. With that proven universal appeal it’s time to grow and expand the franchise with a sister series that has an eye on the growing Chinese market."

Wang Bing, CEO and executive producer of content at Guangdong Huawen Century Animation Company, noted: "We are very thrilled that Martin and [Pukeko Pictures co-founder] Richard Taylor will be in charge of producing all the creative elements of scripts and design in Wellington and our team will handle the animation in Beijing. This is a very exciting opportunity for our company."

"We are very excited to be working with Pukeko Pictures," said Wen Jianfeng, the managing director of Guangdong Huawen Century Animation Company's licensing and distribution. "In the last year we have successfully introduced the BBC show Waybuloo to little children all over China with a big launch last April which Clive and Martin attended with us. We want to make Kiddets loved by millions of children in China."

"I am delighted to witness the signing of this agreement," added Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown. "The potential for our two countries in this screen sector has become very evident in the last few years. It is particularly exciting to see how these screen partnerships are looking to include tourism and educational business opportunities into their broader strategic discussions."