Guru Studio

Pikwik Pack from Toronto-based Guru Studio is headed to Hulu.

Starting next week, on May 4, the first half of episodes from season one of the animated series will be available on the streaming service. More episodes will launch later in 2021.

Produced by Guru Studio, the series follows four animal friends as they work together to deliver magical surprises to the citizens of their bustling town. Late last year, the series made its debut on Disney Junior U.S. and is a top-rated property on the channel, according to a press release from Guru. In Canada, the series airs on Treehouse and will see it launch on more linear networks later this year, such as Super RTL in Germany, Canal Panda in Portugal, HOP in Israel and Minimini+ in Poland.

As well, a line of figures, vehicles, plush and collectibles is currently being developed by Playmates Toys, and a range of books by Scholastic is set to debut next year.

Mattel

Mattel has inked a multi-year global licensing deal with Toronto’s 9 Story Media Group and Karma’s World Entertainment for upcoming Netflix series Karma’s World. Its consumer products program, which will include dolls, styling heads and pretend play and plush toys, is expected to hit shelves in fall 2022.

The 40 x 11-minute CG-animated series was created by rapper/actor/producer Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, and targets kids ages six to nine. Inspired by Bridges’ oldest daughter, Karma’s World is a coming-of-age story about a young Black girl finding her voice.

This merch deal builds on an existing relationship between Mattel and Netflix, which recently partnered on a doll and plush line for animated musical Over the Moon. Netflix appears to be putting more focus on consumer products efforts in general; it also inked a deal in February with U.K. toymaker Toikido for animated film Back to the Outback.

The focus on dolls for Karma’s World comes at a good time, given that the category continues to be a source of growth for Mattel. Its gross billings for the dolls segment increased by 69% to USD$381 million for Q1 2021.

Radio-Canada

French-language pubcaster Radio-Canada has picked up the rights to the docudrama Legends of the Pharaohs: Secrets of the Pyramid Builders. The series was commissioned by France’s Canal+ in association with U.S. network Smithsonian Channel and produced by U.K. and France prodo Pernel Media. Legends of the Pharaohs: Secrets of the Pyramid Builders is co-written by Christopher Holt and Sigrid Clement and dives into the lives of those who built Egypt’s pyramids of Giza. Additional global buyers include Australia’s SBS and Sweden’s SVT. Can’t Stop Media is the distributor alongside ZDF Enterprises for German-speaking territories.

With files from Kidscreen