Big Idea for DKP

Toronto F/X and animation house DKP Effects was recently contracted by Illinois-based Big Idea Productions to produce three animated TV/direct-to-video children’s shows entitled 3-2-1 Penguins. The stories recount the adventures of a boy and girl in a magical fantasy world.

Calibre animates Joel

Animators at Toronto’s Calibre Digital Pictures are using traditional techniques and Toonboom v2 on 13 half-hours of the 2 1/2 D Hey, Joel, a collaboration with Blueprint Entertainment (which holds all distribution rights) and Curious Pictures. The series follows the fictionalized adventures of Time columnist Joel Stein (voiced by Jon Cryer) as he lands a rock star interview show on VH-1. The show will air on CHUM Television and VH-1 in spring 2003.

Decode’s King in Australia

King, a copro between Decode Entertainment and Funbag Animation, has sold to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The 2D-animated series concerns a boy whisked away via a portal under his bed to a kingdom of which he is ruler. Other Decode series recently snapped up by ABC Kids include GirlStuff BoyStuff (a copro with Hong Kong and the U.K.) and Save-Ums, coming on the heels of Decode-related shows Olliver’s Adventures and Angela Anaconda, which both received strong ratings Down Under.