Spoilers: Velma Likely Cancelled On Max Following Season 2 Finale

Velma is an American adult animated mystery television series based on the character Velma Dinkley from the Scooby-Doo franchise. Developed and created by Charlie Grandy for HBO Max, it stars executive producer Mindy Kaling as the voice of the titular character, with Sam Richardson, Constance Wu and Glenn Howerton in supporting roles. 

The series revolves around Velma Dinkley and the other human members of Mystery Inc. before their official formation, making it the first television series in the franchise to not feature the character Scooby-Doo.

Since its inception, Velma had received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the voice acting and animation, but were divided towards the humor and criticized its meta storytelling , characterization, writing, and departures from the traditional Scooby-Doo format. 

Despite the massive backlash that the show has taken, Velma was Max's most-watched animated original show in 2023. The [hate] streaming was probably what contributed to a second season and the fact most programs from the Scoobiverse are two seasons long.

Max released the second season of Velma which too was dismayed by Scooby-Doo fans for its directionless storyline and puns inserted throughout but what caught the attention was the season 2 finale which welcomed back a classic character, Scrappy-Doo.

SPOILERS

Like the other characters that first got their start in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, Scrappy isn't like the original iteration of the talking puppy. In Velma, Scrappy is created as a part of "Project Scooby" by the military in an effort to infiltrate "meddling kids".  

Unfortunately for the government, their experiment falls out of their control and Scrappy begins going on a murder spree for all those responsible for the project. For those looking for more spoilers, season two ended with quite the bang. 

Scrappy attempts to kill Velma and company, only to be killed himself as the titular character becomes a ghost and takes control of his body. Velma is left deceased when the season two finale comes to an end with no third season confirmed.

But judging by the finale, it wouldn't seem far fetched if the show had concluded with this episode. Considering all the hate Velma got, Scrappy-Doo kind of redeemed himself after serving as one of the most disliked characters in the franchise. 

Development Alert: New Care Bears Specials To Debut On WBD EMEA & LatAm Platforms

Six new animated specials for Cloudco Entertainment’s Care Bears: Unlock the Magic are set to premiere on Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) Cartoonito and HBO Max/Max across EMEA and on Max in Latin America.

Individual EMEA country launch dates will vary, but both Cartoonito and HBO Max/Max are planning to begin rollouts this summer. In Latin America, Max debuted the first special in mid-March, with plans to release the others in April, July, September, October and November.

The Care Bears: Unlock the Magic specials have already launched on POP in the U.K., Family Channel in Canada, Channel 9 in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand. They have begun their rollout in the U.S. as well, with future releases continuing into November.

The six new specials are titled “The Quest for the Rainbow Stone,” “Grumpy’s Ginormous Adventure,” “The Star of a Thousand Wishes,” “The Mystery of the Snickering Ghost,” “The Bad Crowd Strikes Back!” and “The No Heart Games.”

“We’re excited to see the ongoing storytelling journey of Care Bears: Unlock the Magic unfold in an exciting new format and are thrilled to go global with these specials via our fantastic partners at Cartoonito, HBO Max/Max in EMEA, and Max in Latin America,” said Ian Lambur, senior VP of content at Cloudco Entertainment. “With the help of these broadcasters, these mini-movies will build upon the success of our season one episodes, enhance the overall Care Bears experience and make for multiple must-watch events.”

Press Release: Warner Bros. Discovery To Launch Max In Europe Beginning May 21

Warner Bros. Discovery announced today that Max, its enhanced streaming service, will launch in the first European countries beginning May 21. Max brings together HBO Max’s can’t-miss programming, Discovery’s engaging real-life entertainment and all the world-class action from Eurosport’s premium subscription service to create a complete viewing experience for the whole household with premier TV shows, fresh and iconic movies, unmissable sports, and flagship TV networks in select countries, in a single destination for the first time.

On May 21, Max will become available across the Nordics, Iberia, and Central and Eastern Europe. Launches will follow closely after in Poland, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium*. France and Belgium are the first new countries where WBD has launched its streaming service in over two years. These launches mean Max will be available in 25 countries in Europe and 65 countries and territories worldwide after launching in the U.S. in May 2023, and launching in Latin America and the Caribbean earlier this year.

JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming & Games at Warner Bros. Discovery announcing the rollout of Max at the TV festival Series Mania said: “Max is the streaming home of Warner Bros. Discovery and builds on our long heritage in Europe, bringing together an incredible breadth and depth of culture-defining entertainment from our services and networks, all in one place. The unrivalled content we’ve got on Max from ‘House of the Dragon’ to Olympic Games Paris 2024 and beyond means whatever your mood or the occasion, Max has something great for everyone, every time.”

Content offering

The launch of Max in Europe is marked by the return of the highly anticipated HBO Original “House of the Dragon,” which premiers on Max in Europe on June 17. Max will bring a new streaming experience to Europe with more than double the amount of content currently available on HBO Max. This summer, Max will be the only place to stream every live moment of Olympic Games Paris 2024 in the 25 European countries where Max will be available. Paris 2024 will be included in all subscription plans, ensuring all customers will gain complete access to the biggest sporting event in the world.

Max stands out as distinct amongst streamers by uniquely combining unrivalled breadth and its new and improved app with iconic franchises and a strong product experience. Subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of quality entertainment with Warner Bros. movies such as Barbie, Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, and Wonka, HBO Originals The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Euphoria, True Detective: Night Country, The Regime, The Sympathizer, The Jinx - Part Two and the upcoming new comedy The Franchise.

A new slate of Max Originals based on popular Warner Bros. Pictures’ entities will be coming to Max including The Penguin and Welcome to Derry (Stephen King’s IT). Films from WB’s extensive library including the Harry Potter franchise, Paddington, The Matrix, The Dark Knight, Joker, and The Lord of the Rings, as well as fan favorites like 90 Day Fiancé, Gold Rush and Fixer Upper from Discovery will also be offered.

A Sports Add-On will bring fans extensive coverage of major international and European sports including every tennis Grand Slam – Australian Open, Roland-Garros, The Championships, Wimbledon and the US Open, cycling’s three Grand Tours – Giro d’Italia, La Vuelta a España, and the Tour de France in addition to the Tour de France Femmes, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and every major winter sports World Championship and World Cup events. Rights vary between countries.

A selection of flagship live linear networks will also be available on Max in some countries in select plans including CNN International in France and Poland, TVN in Poland, TV Norge in Norway, Kanal 5 in Sweden and Eurosport in all countries.

Plans

Max will offer a choice of different plans, plus a Sports Add-On which may be added to any base plan**. Full details about pricing will be announced in the coming weeks and will vary country by country.

Basic with Ads Plan:

• This plan will allow users to enjoy Max at a lower price and will include advertising.

• It will be available first in nine European countries, before expanding to others.

• The first countries where the Basic with Ads plan will be available are Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Romania, Poland, France and Belgium.

• Users will be able to stream content on 2 devices simultaneously. 

• Content will be available in Full HD resolution.

 

Standard Plan:

• Users can stream content on 2 devices simultaneously. 

• Content will be available in Full HD resolution. 

• This plan will allow up to 30 downloads of available content to watch offline.

 

Premium Plan:

• Provides the best consumer experience.

• Users can stream content on up to 4 devices simultaneously. 

• Full HD or 4K resolution and with Dolby Atmos sound (as available).  

• This plan will allow up to 100 downloads of available content to watch offline. (Limits apply)

 

Sports Add-On:

• The Sports Add-On will provide coverage of top sports events including Grand Slam tennis, cycling’s Grand Tours, 24 Hours of Le Mans, the live linear networks Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 and much more.

• Customers should check local listings for rights availability in their countries.

• The Sports Add-On is sold as an add-on to any base plan.

• Users can stream sports content on 2 devices simultaneously (of their available base plan streams).

 

Existing HBO Max subscribers will be able to discover the new experience on Max while keeping their current profiles, and viewing history, continuing their Max journey where they left off. In some cases, depending on device or operating system, the HBO Max app will be automatically updated to the Max app. In other cases, when users open their HBO Max app, they will be prompted to download the new Max app, allowing them to begin exploring the new platform in just a few clicks. discovery+ and Eurosport premium SVOD subscribers will be given details in due course about how to subscribe to Max.

*WBD’s enhanced streaming service will be called HBO Max in the Netherlands and Belgium.

**Channels and live content in Standard and Premium plans, and the Sports Add-On may contain ads. On-demand content in all plans may include sponsorship and product placement.

News Shorts: Epic Mickey Getting Remade For The Nintendo Switch Later In The Year, Arch Nemesis Coke And Pepsi To Face Off In Standalone Film And Harry Potter TV Series To Stream On Max In 2026

Disney is doing another remake

Developer Purple Lamp and publisher THQ Nordic announced that their 3D platformer remake dubbed ‘Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed’ will be coming to PC via Steam, PlayStation, Xbox consoles, and the Nintendo Switch later this year. Previously a Nintendo Wii exclusive by Warren Spector many moons ago, this beautiful remake sends Mickey Mouse on an epic journey through Wasteland, a realm of forgotten Disney characters. As Mickey, you will dive into a fantastical world and, armed with paint and thinner, shape your adventure and the fate of this alternate world.

Cola Wars greenlit by Sony

Sony has stepped up with a seven figure bid to uncap Cola Wars, a movie pitch that tells the true story of Pepsi’s attempt to challenge Coca-Cola’s century-long reign as the world’s top cola, sparking the unforgettable “Cola Wars” of the mid-1980s. This behind-the-scenes account, from Michael Jackson’s fiery mishap to the New Coke debacle, tells the ultimate underdog tale of history’s most iconic second-place contender vying for the No. 1 spot. Sources said it was around $1.5 million while Sony said it was $1 million, still a whopping deal for a pitch.

It falls into place alongside films about products like the Ben Affleck-directed Air, about the battle by Nike to win Michael Jordan for a shoe line that transformed the company. There were rival bids massing with elements attached, but Sony stepped up. Maia Eyre, the exec who oversaw the hit Anyone But You, will shepherd this one.

Harry Potter remake coming in 2026

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed Friday that a long-planned Harry Potter series is aiming to debut on Max in 2026.

This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years,” said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content about the project, which he also assured fans would be “a faithful adaptation.

Possible Termination??? As Cartoonito USA Is Being Reduced Into A 1 Hour Timeslot With Further Content Likely To Be Folded Under Cartoon Network And Max

With Craig Of The Creek set to be bowing out on Cartoon Network with a new movie, Craig Before The Creek. Jessica's Big Little World would serve as a follow-up to preschool audiences on Cartoonito and as seen in the last months things seem be going south for Cartoonito.

Last year, it was revealed by one of the crew members of Craig Of The Creek that Jessica's Big World had been cancelled after one season. This comes after Warner Bros. Discovery had opted not to move forward with Scooby-Doo And The Mystery Pups and Tom And Jerry Time.

Apparently the folks on the higher ups are not prioritising preschoolers as seen within parts of Europe as they have various upcoming shows like Spookies, Silly Sundays and Karters. They even aired Lu And The Bally Bunch after it failed to launch on Cartoon Network.

But now things seem to be changing for Cartoonito apparently the block viewed on Cartoon Network will be reverted to one hour block from February 19th with We Baby Bears taking up the 8am timeslot. Considering that the program is partially preschool this could go either way. 

Then again, the idea of this being a timeslot for Cartoon Network wouldn't seem far fetched as Cartoonito's airtime on the channel had been reduced several times. As mentioned, they've licensed various content part of which is only streaming on Max.

For a long time, it had been speculated Cartoonito would get axed on Cartoon Network following the channel's several attempts at sustaining a rival brand to Nick Jr. and Disney Junior. Before Cartoonito there was two other brands Tiny TV and Tickle U.

Another rumour pointed toward a possible restructure to Cartoon Network's line-up where shows like Batwheels would form part of the channel's line-up outside of Cartoonito. 

News Shorts: Bookie Renewed On Max For Season 2, Gerald Butler Reprises Role Of Hiccup's Father In Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon And Jack Black Boards The Live-Action Minecraft Feature

Bookie returns for season 2

The sports book is reopening after Max renewed Bookie, starring Sebastian Maniscalco, for a second season.

The series, which premiered on November 30, follows bookie Danny (Maniscalco) as he and his partner, former NFL star Ray (Omar Dorsey), romp around Los Angeles trying to keep their illegal sports betting operation in play.

Update on upcoming feature for How To Train Your Dragon

Universal Pictures‘ live-action adaptation of the DreamWorks Animation franchise How to Train Your Dragon is bringing back a familiar face, as sources tell Deadline that Gerard Butler, who voiced Hiccup’s father Stoick in the original movies, will reprise the role. Mason Thames and Nico Parker are set to star as Hiccup and Astrid, with Dean DeBlois directing, writing and producing.

The film is set to bow on June 13, 2025.

Jack Black joins another gaming adaptation

Production is about to get underway on Warner Bros/Vertigo/Legendary’s feature take on Mojang/Microsoft’s Minecraft, and sources are telling us that Jack Black is joining the cast of the Jason Momoa-led movie.

Also starring in Minecraft are Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks and Sebastian Eugene Hansen. The Mojang sandbox title is the bestselling video game of all time, with 300 million copies sold and nearly 140M monthly active players.

The Minecraft film hails from Vertigo, co-financier Legendary, Mojang/Microsoft and Momoa’s On the Roam. Jared Hess is directing. Producers include Roy Lee, Jon Berg, Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Momoa, Torfi Frans Olafsson, Vu Bui and the late Jill Messick. EPs are Todd Hallowell, Kayleen Walters, Brian Mendoza and Jonathan Spaihts.

Development Alert: Mr. Bean: The Animated Returns For Fourth Season Season To Various Cartoonito And Boomerang Channels Worldwide

Banijay’s Tiger Aspect Kids & Family has commissioned the series in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and ITVX, via deals agreed by Banijay Rights.

Executive produced and voiced by Rowan Atkinson, Season 4 will comprise 52 x 11’ episodes, bringing the total number of episodes across all series to 182 x 11-minutes. It will air on Cartoonito and HBO Max across Europe, the Middle East and Africa on Warner Bros. Discovery’s kids channels and streaming services across Southeast Asia and South Asia, and on ITVX Kids in the U.K. and Ireland from 2025, which marks the 35th anniversary of the first live-action episode.

The animation follows the antics of Mr. Bean and Teddy, as they embark on a series of adventures, making plenty of mischief along the way. Produced by Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, managing director Tom Beattie is also an executive producer. Dave Osborne will direct the series, Arnold Widdowson is producer and the head writers are Ciaran Murtagh and Andrew Barnett Jones.

A British icon, the original live-action “Mr Bean,” co-created by Atkinson and Richard Curtis, bowed in 1990. Atkinson voices the animated series, which was launched in 2002. It has been broadcast in 195 territories, with the series in continual distribution for over 30 years. The brand has some 140 million followers on Meta, 72 million subscribers and 19 billion lifetime views across official YouTube channels; 10 million followers on Instagram; and 14.2 million likes on TikTok.

Atkinson said: “I have always enjoyed this iteration of the Mr. Bean character and the particular freedoms he has in animated form. We can take him into space or down a tin mine, without me personally having to suffer the consequences. The animation process creatively is always fascinating and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the new series very much.”

Beattie added: “It’s a real pleasure to have the opportunity to go back to such a special series. ‘Mr. Bean’ is an iconic comedy legend and it’s an honor to work with Rowan to create this physically funny series.”

Cathy Payne, CEO Banijay Rights, said: “One of the most loved characters in television comedy history, Mr. Bean’s amusing escapades are cherished by children and families across the world. So we’re thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with Warner Bros Discovery and ITV on this wonderful animated series which captures Bean’s world so brilliantly.”

Zia Sands, lead content acquisitions, partnerships and co-productions, kids, EMEA, Warner Bros Discovery, said: “Mr. Bean’s comedy antics continue to resonate universally, and we are excited to bring our audiences more of what they love.”

2024 On Regular Nick (Upcoming Kids And Family/Animated Series) | Cartoon Network | Disney Channel | Nickelodeon | More Brands Including DreamWorks, Netflix, eToonz And Play Room

Cartoon Network/Max/Cartoonito

• Ijanu: Child Of Wonder: A teenage orphan girl with no recollection of her past who suddenly discovers that she has hidden powers that rival the Divine Ones themselves. 

• Hero Inside: The adventure begins after Scott, a cartoonist and free spirit, mysteriously vanishes after drawing 100 superheroes across 100 comic books, without ever publishing. His proofread books scattered across San Francisco, triggering odd occurrences.

• Totally Spies!: The anime-inspired toon about three female teens balancing spy missions and high school drama

• Invincible Fight Girl: The series follows Andy, a young girl who dreams of becoming the greatest pro wrestler of all time.

• Tiny Toons Looniversity: Babs, Buster and friends enroll at Acme Looniversity, the premier institution of higher hijinx learning.

• Jessica's Big Little World: Jessica navigates her way through a world where everything seems much bigger than she is; inspired by the grown-ups around her, she persists in conquering monumental children's tasks.

• Barney's World: Set in a local playground, Barney is joined by dinos Billy and Baby Bop and their three kid best friends. Throughout silly and imaginative adventures together, Barney helps kids explore big preschool emotions and shows them how to love themselves and other.

• Silly Sundays: A feel-good comedy series, full of heart and deeply rooted in familial themes, everything centers around Sonia, Hugo, Mel, Mom, Dad and Granny as they create unforgettable memories together during their weekend gatherings. • Spookies: Set in Castle Ravenrock, Spookies stars three wee ghosts who discover something new behind every cobwebbed corner and dusty stairwell.

• Lana Longbeard: Lana is a super-feisty, forward thinking and passionate 11-year-old girl, who is also the heir to her father's adventuring ship, the Mighty Windbreaker.

• New Tom And Jerry Shorts: the first ever Asian produced Tom And Jerry series, featuring the famous cat and mouse duo as they take their rivalry to Singapore.

• Karters: Set in a fantastical island world, the game lets players collect and tame mystical creatures called Temtem, which can be used for battling, trading with friends and breeding to create offspring with new powers.

• Kite Man: Hell-Yeah!: Kite Man and Golden Glider take their relationship to the next level by opening a bar in the shadow of Lex Luthor’s Legion of Doom. 

Disney Channel/Disney Junior/Disney+

• Pretty Freakin Scary: After her sudden demise, Frankie Ripp, a 14-year-old girl, agrees to a deal with the Grim Reaper that she would go back home but accompanied by her underground parents.

• Ariel: It follows eight-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond.

• Marvel Zombies: Re-imagines the marvel universe as a new generation of heroes battle against an ever spreading zombie scourge.

• StuGo: an original animated series about six overambitious middle schoolers who are tricked into attending a fake academic summer camp by a mad scientist. 

• Dragon Strikers: When the world’s most popular sport combines with magic, awesomeness escalates quicker than a dragon-powered strike! 

• Doomies: When best friends Bobby and Romy mistakenly open a gateway to another world, they turn their sleepy coastal town into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. 

• Cars On The Road: Lightning McQueen and his best friend Mater head east from Radiator Springs on a cross-country road trip to meet up with Mater's sister.

• Princess Sam: this CG-animated show stars a girl who travels to a magical planet to learn how to control her powers and defeat evil villains.

• X-Men' 97:  It serves as a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–97), and the plot will continue where the original series left off. 

• Tiana: Tiana continues to explore New Orleans in a musical series.

• Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man: will be a unique take on one of Marvel’s most famous superheroes, with surprising connections to the MCU. 

• Princess Sam: this CG-animated show stars a girl who travels to a magical planet to learn how to control her powers and defeat evil villains.

• Moana: The Series: Moana and her friends continue to explore the South Pacific in this musical animated series.

• Playdate with Winnie the Pooh follows a young Pooh Bear as he enjoys playdates with his friends. Set in the exciting outdoors of the Hundred Acre Wood, these musical shorts emphasize collaborative play and the joy of spending time with others. 

Nickelodeon/Nick Jr/Paramount+

• Erin & Aaron: Teenage stepsiblings navigate their new lives after their parents' marriage, and find strength in their shared passion for music.

• Hamsters of Hamsterdale: This series, produced by Nelvana, follows a motley crew of hamsters, the heroic protectors of their 8-year-old owner Harry, who they mistake as their King and beloved ruler of their elaborate colorful-tubed kingdom.

• HexVet And Magic Pets: follows unlikely best friends Nan and Clarion as they navigate life's weird and wacky challenges, while apprenticing to be magical veterinarians for fantastical creatures.

• Super Duper Bunny League: centers on a diverse group of bunny friends who must battle danger as they defend their city and the world from their archnemesis. 

• Avatar: The Last Airbender: The series will be an authentic adaptation of the award-winning and beloved Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender reimagined as a live-action adventure.

• Rock, Paper & Scissors: Follows 3 roommates on their hijinks, ridiculous adventures and shared love of wacky nonsense.

• Dora: The series, tentatively titled ¡Dora!, is described as a reimagining of the classic animated show which “promises to strike the perfect balance between the comfort of the familiar and the excitement of the fresh.” 

• Live-Action Dora Series: Nickelodeon's beloved Latina heroine is returning with a brand new live-action series! Not much is currently known about the show, however, it'll be aimed at kids 6-11, and will be in the vein of the 2019 live-action feature film Dora and the Lost City of Gold, which follows an older Dora!.

• Zokie of Planet Ruby: This buddy comedy, produced by Nelvana, follows quirky 10-year-old vlogger Ruby and her space alien best friend ZJ Sparkleton.

• Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Turtles, as teenagers, deal with their new life as heroes while also dealing with the pressures of going to high school in New York City.

Other

• Lyla in the Loop (PBS Kids): is a funny and engaging new animated series for kids ages 4-8 about Lyla Loops and her fantastical blue sidekick, Stu, who use creative and strategic problem-solving and critical thinking skills to help their family, friends, and community!

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (eToonz, Play Room): After getting exposed to a mutant substance, four turtles become giants and start speaking and walking upright. They are trained by a wise rat, Splinter, in order to defeat an evil man, Shredder.

• Power Rangers (Play Room): It revolves around a team of youths recruited and trained by a mentor to morph into the eponymous Power Rangers, able to use special powers and pilot immense assault machines, called Zords, to overcome the periodic antagonists. 

• Pokémon Horizons: The Series (Cartoon Network, eToonz): This series introduces two new protagonists, Liko and Roy, who team up with the Rising Volt Tacklers, a group of adventurers that explore the Pokémon world and visit various regions, including the Paldea region.

• Dragon Ball: Daima (Cartoon Network, SABC 2): new canonical mainline anime set around the same time as when Super takes place. Fans also get a look at the apparent upcoming antagonists for the anime, who’ve seemingly been watching the Z Fighters and all their past struggles this entire time.

• Masters of the Universe: Revolution (Netflix): Skeletor's final assault on Castle Grayskull caused his own demise, put an end to He-Man , and damaged the source of all magic in existence. After their battle fractured Eternia, Teela must solve the mystery of the missing Sword of Power to prevent the end of the Universe. 

• Carl The Collector (PBS Kids): follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted autistic raccoon who loves collecting things. His talents – a laser-focus pursuit of his goals, attention to detail, and a distinctive way of looking at and experiencing the world around him.

• Hazbin Hotel (Amazon Prime Video): The series follows Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen), the princess of Hell, as she sets about fulfilling her seemingly impossible dream of opening a hotel called the "Happy Hotel," which aims to rehabilitate sinners.

• PeekeeBoo (Moonbug): The preschool project, featuring 2D animation with CG-animated backgrounds, will star three tiny creatures (Pea, Kee and Boo) who are enthralled by all of the sights and sounds of nature.

• Moonrise (Netflix): A young man from Earth enlists in the army to attack rebels on the Moon, only to find that his former best friend has become his enemy.

• Noah's Park (Play Room): The little animals have left Noah's Ark and find each other sharing fun and adventure, and a few life lessons in NOAH'S PARK.

• Game Shakers (eToonz): Babe and Kenzie create a popular application named Sky Whale. However, rapper Double G threatens to ruin their business because he finds out they have been using his song without permission.

• Time Patrol Bon (Netflix): The story focuses on Bon Namihira, a teenager who becomes part of a team of time-traveling agents tasked with saving people's lives during major historical events that happen across different eras and locations around the globe.

• Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft

Asterix (Netflix): The series will be adapted from one of the classic volumes, Asterix and the Big Fight, where the Romans, after being constantly embarrassed by Asterix and his village cohorts, organize a brawl between rival Gaulish chiefs and try to fix the result by kidnapping a druid along with his much-needed magic potion. I’m not giving anything away when I tell you, it doesn’t go as planned.

• Dee & Friends In Oz: A young girl named Dee discovers a wonderful magical land of Oz, where she meets new friends and is challenged to save the day, and save Oz!.

• Hot Wheels Let's Races (Netflix): Follows the newest generation of racers as they experience mind-blowing races, extreme stunt contests, and thrill-seeking challenges.

• Megamind's Guide To Defending Your City (DreamWorks): The series will chronicle the new hero's quest to become a social media influencer and a true superhero. 

• Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (DreamWorks): Tells the story of dinosaur fanatic Darius Bowman, who visits Camp Cretaceous and, as per all prior Jurassic movies, the dinosaurs manage to get loose and cause untold chaos and destruction.

• Mighty MonsterWheelies (DreamWorks): Which reimagines classic characters as half-monster, half-truck vehicle heroes who team up to use their special powers to serve and protect the all-vehicle city of Motorvania from troublemakers like Phantom Freeze and Invisible Van.

• Exploding Kittens (Netflix): An eternal conflict reaches epic proportions when both, God and the Devil, are sent to Earth in the bodies of chunky house cats.

• Devil May Cry (Netflix): is an upcoming American adult animated dark fantasy action streaming television series based on the video game franchise of the same name by Capcom and part of Adi Shankar's Bootleg Multiverse.

• Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation (Netflix): Monsters follows Ryuma, a samurai from Wano, a country also featured in the One Piece universe. In a world disrupted by a menacing force, Ryuma must navigate the chaos caused by a powerful dragon with the ability to bring catastrophic havoc.

News Shorts: Warner Bros. Discovery Acquired Turkish Streaming Service BluTV, Bunk'd To End With A Season 7 On Disney Channel And Disney To Discontinue The FOX Sports Brand In Latin America For ESPN

Max and Discovery+ have a new home in Turkey

For the past three years, Warner Bros. Discovery and BluTV — Turkey’s first local SVOD service — have had a partnership that made WBD a 35% shareholder in BluTV. Since its 2016 launch, BluTV has shown rapid growth both in original content and its content library, leading to the launch of Discovery+ on the platform in 2021. In February, HBO content and kids channels were added to BluTV, giving viewers access to channels like Cartoon Network and Cartoonito, as well as award-winning shows like “The Last of Us,” “Game of Thrones” and “Sex and the City.”

“We are very excited for this new chapter,” Jamie Cooke, GM CEE of Middle East and Turkey at Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a statement. “Turkey has been an important investment territory for us for over 20 years and the acquisition of BluTV brings Turkey’s first local SVOD player into our portfolio. The combination of compelling Turkish content and a broad range of the best international series and shows from Warner Bros. Discovery is an unbeatable recipe to be locally relevant and successful. Together we bring Turkish audiences the most compelling viewing experience and expand the reach of Turkish content globally.”

Fan favourite show has been axed by Disney

Bunk’d, Disney Channel‘s longest-running live-action series, will end its run with the conclusion of its current seventh season. The final installment of 10 new episodes will air in 2024.

Production on Season 7 was suspended in early May due to the WGA strike. At that time, filming had been completed on 12 episodes of the 20-episode Season 7, with eight episodes remaining to be shot. The order has now been increased to 22 episodes, and production on the remaining 10 episodes is underway.

Throughout its run, Bunk’d has been a top performer on linear TV and streaming platforms. Part 1 of Season 7 was summer 2023’s second most-watched live-action series and Top 10 series overall for kids 6-11 in combined viewing across streaming and linear platforms, according to Nielsen data (Live+7 for linear, live for streaming).

Disney is adding more ESPN channels

The Walt Disney Company has confirmed that as from February 15, 2024 it will rebrand all its Fox Sports channels in Spanish-speaking Latin America and Brazil in order to discontinue the brand in the region. The new Pay TV sports channels will be ESPN 5, ESPN 6 and ESPN 7. 

According to the information given by Disney, the changes to be introduced are the following:

-Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela: ESPN EXTRA will be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 AS ESPN 5, FOX SPORTS 2 as ESPN 6 and FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 7.

-Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru: ESPN EXTRA will be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 as ESPN 5, FOX SPORTS 2 as ESPN 6 and FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 7.

-Chile: ESPN EXTRA will be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 as ESPN 5, FOX SPORTS 2 as ESPN 6, FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 7 and FOX SPORTS 1 PREMIUM as ESPN PREMIUM.

-Central America: ESPN EXTRA is to be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 as ESPN 5 and FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 6.

-Brazil: ESPN EXTRA will change its name to ESPN 6 and FOX SPORTS 2 to ESPN 5. 

News Shorts: VH1 To Cease Transmission In Italy And Possibly Denmark, A Rebroadcast Of The Scent Of Passions Launches Across Africa On Telemundo And Warner Bros. Discovery To Rollout A Rebranded Max Streaming In Latin America By Early 2024

VH1 is closing down in more countries

VH1 was an international entertainment channel which was basically a mash up of MTV and BET. It is operated by Paramount Global and over the last decade the company had been dismantling the trademark with various channels closed in most parts of the world.

Through an electronic programme guide by a viewer in Denmark, VH1 schedule will run until the end of New Year's Day. Thereafter, the channel will no longer have a 24 hour schedule available for consumption leading some to believe the possible demise of the brand.

Considering that the channel will be shutting down in Italy a few days after Denmark's possible closure. It wouldn't seem far fetched if the same fate awaited these consumers as Paramount Global had been exploring a potential sale of the brand under the BET Group.

Telemundo welcomes its third rebroadcast

During the month, it was reported that Telemundo will be increasing the timeslots for the on/off again series Case Closed and Decisions. Also within the new year will be the launch of a new series Game Of Lies starring Maria Elisa Camargo and Arap Bethke.

Prior to its debut, Telemundo will be adding a rebroadcast of The Scent Of Passions in Law Of The Heart's current timeslot from 8 January.

Sebastián Vallejo, a member of the rich family that owns the Casablanca coffee plantation, falls in love with the nice and honest coffee picker Teresa Suárez, known as La Gaviota; their romance is full of difficulties.

Max expands to Latin America

A statement presented by Costa Rican cable operator Tigo confirmed that HBO Max will be relaunched as Max in the next month of February, at a close yet to be defined. The rebranding plans were originally scheduled for the end of 2023 in our region, since the platform has made the change in the United States during the last month of May. 

The new identity of the streaming platform sets aside the characteristic color painted by a powerful new blue, and will bring with it the content of the Discovery+ platform, which was never launched in Latin America except Brazil, as a product of the merger between Warner Bros. Discovery. 

Latin America will be the first region at an international level in which HBO Max will make the switch to Max, as at the moment it was the first territory outside the United States to launch the service. Also in 2024, Max will reach Europe and Southeast Asia. This last region is especially relevant, as HBO Max never reached it.

News Shorts: Jellystone Might End With A Season 4 On Cartoon Network And Max, Bob Hearts Abishola Will End On CBS After 5 Seasons And History Channel Across Africa Explores The Many Legacies Left By Past Civilisations

Jellystone has mysteriously been renewed for a season 3 & 4

Jellystone! is an American animated television comedy series developed by C. H. Greenblatt for Max and Cartoon Network. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and features reimagined versions of various characters by Hanna-Barbera.

The series was renewed for a second season by 2022 with a further 40 episodes. It could have gone the same route as Little Ellen and Close Enough but instead Warner Bros. Studios opted to split these 40 episodes into two seasons bringing it to a total of 4 seasons with the latter expected to air by January 2024.

Most crew members who had worked on the show had since then moved to Disney's STUGO while C.H. Greenblatt is developing a new show for Disney Television Animation. Honestly, Jellystone was one of those few shows to get some light of day after a one year hiatus.

Bob and Abishola call it quits

The fifth season of the multi-cam comedy is due to premiere on Feb. 12, with the series finale now set for May 13 on CBS with M-Net also anticipated to air the finale sometime in 2024. The show is described as a love story about Bob, a middle-aged compression sock businessman from Detroit, who unexpectedly fell for his cardiac nurse, Abishola, a Nigerian immigrant, while recovering from a heart attack.

The ending of “Bob Hearts Abishola” marks the potential end of an era at CBS. With the show ending, coupled with the previously announced ending of “Young Sheldon,” Chuck Lorre does not currently have any shows slated to be on the CBS schedule going into next fall. Unless the network picks up a new show from Lorre and his team between now and then, it will be the first time Lorre has not had at least one show on CBS since 2003.

Lorre’s run at CBS has been nothing short of historic. In the past 20 years he has co-created and executive produced shows for the network including long-running hits like “The Big Bang Theory,” “Two and Half Men,” “Mom,” and “Young Sheldon.” He is currently prepping the series “Bookie” for Max.

Ancient civilisations revealed

This December on the HISTORY Channel, DStv 186, discover great empires that’ve shaped the world we know today.

Explore the many legacies left behind by past civilisations, learn more about the iconic rulers of the ancient world and uncover the architectural achievements of extraordinary empires.  

Don't miss these three series this December...

Footprints of Civilisation

Saturdays at 19h25

Starts 2 December

In our technologically advanced modern age, it’s easy to forget the enormous debt we owe the ancient world. The concept of democracy was developed by the Ancient Greeks, everything we know about space began with the Babylonians, and the roots of the binary system that drives today’s computers can be found in Ancient Egypt. The legacies left behind by some of these civilisations, as long as 5000 years ago, have become the foundations of much of what we take for granted today. 

Empire Builders S2

Sundays at 20h15

Starts 24 December

This epic series that brings to life some of the ‘Great Empires’. Each episode visits the most significant sites that have defined their achievements and legacy; 100 historic sites in all, discovering how they were built, for what purpose, and what they reveal about each empire’s rise and fall. Combining CGI and dramatic reconstructions with insights from history experts, Empire Builders reveals the story of extraordinary empires that are still shaping the way we live our lives today. Stories include the Ancient Greeks, the Inca, the Pacific, China, Netherlands and Mexico.

Ancient Empires

Tuesdays at 19h25

Starts 26 December

Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. Rulers of Greek, Roman and Egyptian empires. The three most iconic, powerful and brilliant leaders in ancient history. Leaders whose lives and legacies still shape our world today. Their names are well known, but their stories have never been told like this before. To survive and succeed they had to be unique, strategic, ruthless and charming. The story of their epic lives reveals just what it takes to rule over an Ancient Empire.

Bulldog Licensing To Represent Banijay’s Totally Spies! Reboot

UK agency Bulldog Licensing (Sesame Street, Care Bears) has come on board to oversee consumer products in the region for Banijay Kids & Family’s Totally Spies! franchise just months ahead of the brand’s series reboot (26 x 22 minutes, pictured) premiering on France’s Gulli and Discovery Kids Latin America. 

Targeting six- to nine-year-olds, the 2D-animated series was greenlit in 2022, and Warner Bros. Discovery has also picked it up to launch next year on Cartoon Network (US) and Max (EMEA).

Totally Spies! originally debuted in 2001 on ABC Family (now Freeform) in the US and ran for six seasons until 2013. The anime-inspired toon about three female teens balancing spy missions and high school drama has since been sold into 220 territories and is currently available in 60 languages. 

Over the years, the brand has built and maintained a strong digital presence on YouTube, where 351 million hours of episodes have been streamed, according to Banijay. 

Given the original series’ cult following among Millennials and Gen-Z, Bulldog plans to initially tap into the “strong adult nostalgia market” before moving on to product categories for kids. To begin with, the company is eyeing apparel (daywear and nightwear), fashion accessories, health & beauty, stationery and tech products.

Bulldog’s strategy aligns well with a broader industry trend to serve the lucrative “kidult” demographic, which was responsible for  nearly US$9 billion in sales last year, according to The Toy Association.

Bulldog managing director Rob Corney says the company will start courting potential licensees soon, on the heels of observing a “great reaction” to the Totally Spies! brand at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe event. 

Warner Bros. Discovery Unleashes Scooby-Doo Extravaganza Across EMEA!

Hold onto your magnifying glasses and prepare to join the year's grooviest celebration! Scoobtober is the annual month-long extravaganza and thrill ride through the world of Scooby-Doo, bringing fans a tidal wave of programming, products, and events across all of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Originally launched in the US, it is now a firm fixture in the seasonal calendar with an ever-growing list of activations that include spooky social clips and crossovers, 48-hour Watch Party live stream of content with links to exclusive Scooby products from best-in-class partners such as Playmobil, Plastoys and Funko. In line with the growth of seekers of a spooky thrill in Europe, Scoobtober is gaining momentum in the EMEA region, led in 2023 by the strongest-ever slate of Scooby-Doo content programming for the initiative in this market.

Kicking off the festivities, a Scooby-takeover will run all month (1st October – 5th November) exclusively on Boomerang UK, with Scooby-Doo & Guess Who, Be Cool Scooby-Doo, What’s New Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc airing all day 6am – 9pm. Scooby-Doo movies will give a fright on weekends and across half-term at 9am and 2pm, plus fans won’t want to miss the Scoobtober Watch & Win competition, airing exclusively on Boomerang UK. For more Scooby-Doo antics, fans can tune into OnDemand for a treasure trove of Scooby-Doo episodes, movies and compilations of Scooby-Doo’s most iconic moments.

Also on Boomerang FR, prepare for an uninterrupted month-long Scooby-Doo extravaganza on the BOOMERANG CINESTARS SPECIAL -   featuring the all-new Scooby-Doo et la Mission d’Halloween.

The excitement continues as Cartoonito Africa joins the celebrations for Scooby-Doo’s favourite month with specially curated Scooby-Doo episodes taking centre stage on the MOVIE STARS programming block on weekends.

On Cartoon Network MENA, Scoobtober will be celebrated across the Middle East & North Africa region with a Scooby-Doo-filled programming block featuring What's New Scooby-Doo, Be Cool Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who and lots more Scooby-Doo treats and movies, weekdays 5pm - 8pm.  It is set for a spooktacular Halloween in Italy, with Scooby-Doo movies airing on 31st October from 2pm – 7pm on Cartoon Network MENA.

Fans can also trick or treat with Scooby-Doo on HBO Max, available in Andorra, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Herzegovina, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

From the evening of the 16th of October, fans can celebrate Scoobtober in the metaverse on the popular kid-centred gaming platform, Roblox.  For the first time ever, players can join Scooby-Doo and Shaggy on Cartoon Network Game On! in an immersive experience that transports them to a realm outside the bounds of reality.  With a brand-new spooky mission, kids can interact with Scooby-Doo and Shaggy to investigate some mysterious hauntings taking place in the game.  Cartoon Network Game On! allows players to experience the fully experiential virtual world of hit Cartoon Network series - and now, with the introduction of Scooby-Doo, for a limited time only, kids can immerse themselves in a ghostly game to unlock awesome Scoobtober prizes. 

Julian Moon, Head of Global Consumer Products EMEA & Asia Pacific, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, says, “Scooby-Doo creates a world of spooky fun for playful spirits of all ages and instils an appetite for mystery that sparks curiosity. It is a brand that is synonymous with Halloween and an entry point into the world of mystery adventure and the classic whodunit.”

“The team are now looking to capitalise on the fantastic Scoobtober content programming and stunts seen across broadcast and WB Kids YouTube channels to provide licensing and retail partners with a long-term cross-divisionally supported opportunity to leverage the Halloween season, the popularity of which has grown exponentially across Europe.”

Following huge success in the US, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products is now encouraging and recruiting new and existing Scooby EMEA partners to celebrate all things Scoobtober 2024. Inspiration can be found from the global consumer products rollout, which spans all categories and includes BlackMilk, BoxLunch, Funko, Random House and Coppel.

WBD Unveils European Launch Details For Max Streamer Including In France As International Boss Gerhard Zeiler Talks Up Synergies: “We Are On The Way To $5B And Who Knows Where We Will End Up?” – Mipcom Cannes

The Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Max streamer will launch in 22 European countries in spring 2024 and France and Belgium later next year, the media outfit revealed today.

Opening Mipcom Cannes with a keynote, interntional boss Gerhard Zeiler and EMEA Head of Streaming Leah Hooper Rosa brought highly-anticipated news of the rollout of the new streamer in the continent, which is rebranding from HBO Max with a bigger offering.

The Nordics, the Netherlands, Iberia and CEE, which already have HBO Max, will gain access to the rebranded streamer in the spring.

There will then be a “second wave” of launches later next year including in France and Belgium, which currently don’t have HBO Max, although WBD has an output deal with Amazon locally in France.

The service launched earlier this year in the U.S. and other territories. It will launch later in the UK due to the pre-existing content deal between Sky and WBD.

“The content breadth is so huge and we are enabling customers to find this content,” added Hooper Rosa. “And then they are increasing their time watching this breadth of genre, so streaming provides another avenue that compliments our distribution.”

“We promised the market $3B synergies, now we are on the way to $5B and who knows where we will end up?,” Zeiler went on to say.

He talked up the success that WBD has had with its goal to “execute as efficiently as possible” its “defining mission and vision.”

Following the Warner Bros merger with Discovery, new boss David Zaslav said he was targeting $3B synergies, which has seen the merger of teams and thousands of layoffs, but that synergy figure has crept up and up, confirmed by Zeiler today to be approaching $5B by next year.

He reiterated a “culture eats strategy for breakfast” mantra and said “we are one company not six or seven diluted units.”

Zeiler has seen something off an exodus in his international team of late but this wasn’t addressed at Mipcom. He set a new team earlier this month following a spate of exits including the likes Priya Dogra, Pierre Branco and Hannes Heyelmann alongside Robert Blair, who had worked in Warner Bros sales for 25 years.

WBD May Favor Local Partnerships Over Worldwide Max Rollout, Says JB Perette: ‘We Have The IP To Be A Survivor’

Warner Bros Discovery’s JB Perrette warns that the global streaming market faces pain and consolidation over the next three to five years, but he says that the merged group has what it takes to be among the big five groups that pull through.

And, to win the war of attrition and consolidation, WBD may choose not to fight every battle.

Perrette, WBD’s CEO and president of global streaming and games, said that the company’s Max streaming product is to be rolled out in a largely pre-determined sequence, one that arrives in Latin America and Europe before arriving in parts of Asia. But, speaking on Wednesday at the APOS conference in Indonesia, Perrette said that in some markets Max may never happen, and that WBD may favor local partnerships instead.

“If we think we’re going to have success and profitability, if our market differentiation is viable enough to make a go of it and have a profitable business over a three-to-five year timeline [then we will launch Max.] If the answer is ‘no’ because the market has ARPUs that are just too low or it is way over-served by a ton of other players, who are spending on a ton of content and losing a ton of money, we may say this is not the right time,” said Perrette.

“If we think we can be successful based on the three metrics that we have [profitability, market share and scale] then, yes, great, we’ll go and figure out how best to tackle it. But if the answer is no, we don’t see a path, then we’ll find partnerships and other ways to go to market.”

Perrette dropped a heavy hint that India, already the battleground for a seething cluster of local and international streaming players, may be prime example of a market where Max would be a player too many.

Perrette’s tactical approach flows from a macro assessment that the streaming market has gone too far too fast and that WBD, in particular, needs to return to rationality and profitability.

“We went through a decade of great oversupply and great under-pricing and we are in a period of rationalization and embracing the aggregation [process] There’s structural aggregation and there’s rebundling,” said Perrette. “I think you’re working towards a world where, over the next five to 10 years, you’re going to end up with three to five feasible players, in addition local champions in individual markets.”

Despite the chastening outlook, Perrette declared himself “very optimistic” that WBD has the strategy and content to be among the players that make it through the current tightening phase. “We lost $2 billion last year. We are now profitable in the first half of this year,” he said.

“I have high confidence. The IP we that have – between HBO, the Warner studio, all the factual content from Discovery side, to the DC Universe, “Harry Potter” — that, at the end of the day, great stories and great IP is what wins the day. Our portfolio gives us an absolute entitlement to be in that last group.”

Local product partnerships may be on the horizon too. “One of the areas we’re very focused on is we have great IP, things like DC franchises, which historically has been very English-language dominant, but where we can open and bring characters from that universe and originate local IP with a partner in that market. We think it’s not just investment entirely ourselves, but there may be creative ways to partner with existing local players,” said Perrette.

‘Tom And Jerry’ To Spar In Singapore; First Ever Localized Version To Premiere On Cartoon Network & HBO GO

Warner Bros Discovery has announced the first ever localized version of the Tom And Jerry series, featuring the famous cat and mouse duo as they take their rivalry to Singapore.

Produced locally in Asia, in association with Warner Bros Animation, the new 7×3-minute series will premiere on Cartoon Network in Asia Pacific and HBO Go in Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong later this year, before being rolled out internationally. 

A pilot episode giving a flavour of what’s to come will launch in August – further details will be announced soon. 

The project is produced by Warner Bros Discovery’s Carlene Tan, with Vivek Bolar serving as lead director. India’s Aum Animation Studios handled the animation, with stories and designs from Singapore-based Robot Playground Media and Chips and Toon Studios.

Christopher Ho, Warner Bros Discovery’s Head of Kids, Southeast Asia, said: “This series brings back the iconic music and classic animation style from the Hanna-Barbera 1950s era – but with a modern Singaporean twist. 

“With distinctive landmarks, backdrops and atmosphere, the Asian city-state is the ideal location to create a humorous addition to the Tom And Jerry canon. Working with homegrown creative talent in Singapore and across Asia, this project grows the much-loved franchise in the region and beyond.”

Vishnu Athreya, Senior Vice President of Series, Warner Bros Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, said: “Tom And Jerry are two of our most universally loved characters, proving that laughs can translate to any audience. The fans in Asia have long embraced these characters and it’s great to finally give them a version to call their own.”

Tom And Jerry is one of Warner Bros Discovery’s leading franchises with a global social reach of 50 million and almost 30 billion minutes watched on the Warner Bros Kids YouTube channel. There have been more than 500 episodes, 15 movies and seven Academy Awards so far in its 83-year history. 

Warner Bros Discovery also plans to launch additional Tom And Jerry-branded consumer products to complement the series launch later this year.

Regular Nick Shorts: Cartoon Network And Max Acquired Rights To Lana Longbeard With Tara Duncan Loading Up On Disney Channel And Gamebox To Rollout A 60 Minute Ghostbusters Game

Zephyr Animation

2D-animated comedy Lana Longbeard has landed its first presales, with Warner Bros. Discovery (EMEA), Super RTL (Germany), Gulli (France) and CBC (Canada) claiming it for their regions. Co-produced by Zephyr Animation (APC Kids’ production arm) and Canadian studio Copernicus, the 52 x 11-minute series for six to nines tells the story of a courageous teen girl who sets sail on her father’s viking ship on a quest to become a famous adventurer. APC Kids has the global distribution rights.

Superights

Animated adventure series Tara Duncan will be distributed worldwide (excluding China) by Paris-based Superights. Produced by Princess Sam Pictures and based on a 15-book series by Sophie Andouin-Mamikonian, this CG-animated show stars a girl who travels to a magical planet to learn how to control her powers and defeat evil villains. Princess Sam has already sold the first season (52 x 13 minutes) to buyers including Disney (France, Belgium, Japan, Africa and the Netherlands), Rai (Italy) and RTE (Ireland), and a second 52-ep season is currently in production.

Columbia Pictures Location Based Entertainment

Who you gonna call? A Ghostbusters VR game is in the works at Columbia Pictures Location Based Entertainment and Immersive Gamebox. Based in London, Immersive Gamebox operates experiential game rooms where content from popular entertainment brands is projected onto the walls for kids to interact with through touch-screens and motion-tracking. The techco is gearing up to launch a 60-minute Ghostbusters: The Cursed Collection game at its 20 locations in the UK, EMEA and US later this year. In the experience, kids will explore haunted streets and battle ghosts from the ’80s movie franchise.

Cartoon Network And Max EMEA Commission New CG-Animated Preschool Series Karters From MediaWan

Mediawan Kids & Family’s new 2D production house, Somewhere Animation, is teaming up with video game adaptation specialist Marla Studios to turn creature-collection game Temtem into a comedy-adventure series for kids.

The partners are developing the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) from Spanish developer Crema into a 26 x 22-minute series for kids ages six and up. Josh Hamilton—best known for his work as a writer on Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender—will write and direct the new series as showrunner.

Temtem was released in 2020 on PCs and consoles after a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. By September 2022, it had reached one million total users across all platforms, according to its Kickstarter updates.

Set in a fantastical island world, the game lets players collect and tame mystical creatures called Temtem, which can be used for battling, trading with friends and breeding to create offspring with new powers.

The game differs from other MMORPGs by putting a greater emphasis on teamwork and offering more humorous storylines, according to a release.

Based in Paris, Somewhere Animation opened its doors in April 2022 and is led by Totally Spies! producer Arthur Colignon. The studio is one of Mediawan’s eight subsidiary companies. LA’s Marla Studios specializes in adapting video games for film and TV. Though its credits include adult-skewing IPs such as Duke Nukem and Brothers in Arms, Marla’s founder—Assassin’s Creed producer Jean Julien Baronnet—also produced Netflix’s animated series adaptation of Ubisoft’s popular kids and family game Raving Rabbids.

This Temtem collaboration joins a growing number of fantasy games that are being adapted as TV series for kids and families. Other such projects currently in the works include Final Fantasy IX from Cyber Group Studios and Aurion from French prodco Chouette and African video game studio Kiro’o Games.

In other Mediawan news, the company revealed at a press conference yesterday in Annecy that Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA has signed on as a co-production and broadcast partner for sister studio Method Animation’s new CG-animated series Karters (52 x 11 minutes). Cartoonito EMEA will exclusively air the show in a first window, though a premiere date has yet to be announced. Aimed at four- to eight-year-olds, Karters tracks a group of heroic kids who race mini-cars in fantastical environments while trying to help legendary creatures known as Unipets.

Method is also adapting a picture book series called Taïtikis by PJ Masks creator Romuald Racioppo as a CG-animated preschool series (52 x 11 minutes). And the studio has joined on as a co-pro partner for action-adventure kids series Anansi from South African prodco Diprente.

Finally, Spanish prodco DeAPlaneta Entertainment has struck a deal to be the exclusive licensing and merchandising agent in most territories except China for upcoming Mediawan Kids & Family animated series Karters, The Three and Witch Detectives. DeAPlaneta will also manage digital, interactive, gaming and web3 rights for these brands. Other Mediawan properties included in this master licensing deal will be announced at later dates.

New Series Alert: Cartoon Network And Max Greenlight New Preschool Series For Cartoonito, Hop! From Arthur Series Creator Marc Brown

Following last year’s momentous finale of the beloved “Arthur” series, creator Marc Brown is beginning his next chapter in the world of children’s television with “Hop,” a new preschool animated series greenlit today by Max. The series marks Brown’s first television show since “Arthur’s” staggering 25-year run, where he began telling children’s stories. Co-creators and fellow “Arthur” alums, Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown, will join Marc in bringing his beloved children’s book illustrations to life on “Hop,” produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation.

Epic has engaged RespectAbility – the esteemed advocacy nonprofit organization fighting stigma and advancing opportunity for people with disabilities – to consult on the series.  “Hop” follows an eclectic group of besties whose comedic adventures teach preschoolers about embracing their own uniqueness. Led by Hop, an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other, he and his quirky friends address kid-relatable problems with a healthy dose of laughter, silliness, and adventure.

Set in the aspirational community of Fair Village, every episode is grounded in emotional reality but soars into the world of fantasy, populated by dragons, trolls, talking banjos, and magic crayons. With a gentle balance of humor and heart, our heroes go on fun escapades to discover that they can overcome any obstacle with perseverance, creativity, and teamwork. Together, they show us the power of friendship and kindness as they navigate the mud puddles of life.

“Even before ‘Arthur’ ended, I was nurturing a new project about a little frog named Hop, for a younger audience,” said Brown. “As Hop’s world grew in my imagination, I drew inspiration from the great work my friend Fred Rogers had done. With ‘Arthur,’ we occasionally introduced characters with disabilities, but they never became part of the ensemble cast in any meaningful way. But the characters in “Hop” reflect many kids who are underrepresented in the media.  Some of our characters have disabilities but they never define who they are or what they can achieve. Kids are kids and each one is unique and filled with potential. And kids love to have fun, that’s what ‘Hop’ is all about!”

Ken Faier of Epic Story Media adds, “We’re extremely proud of our work and collaboration with industry experts on representing characters in an inclusive way. It is an honor to have developed ‘Hop’ with Marc, Peter and Tolon who know how to engage not only today’s youth but parents looking for quality content. We believe ‘Hop’ will have longevity in the marketplace for many years to come.”

Michael Ouweleen, president of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, and Boomerang added: “Marc is a legend in children’s programming, having created one of the most iconic television shows that has garnered almost every honor imaginable. ‘Hop’ exudes everything families love about ‘Arthur,’ but with a fresh cast of modern characters that authentically represent the sundry of little eyes watching TV.”