M ontreal-based Pink Parrot Media (PPM) has signed with Quebec-based PVP Media as well as Capitán Araña and 3Doubles Producciones from Spain to represent the worldwide distribution rights for their animated coproduction feature 4 Days Before Christmas (pictured).

PPM has also signed with Australian producer Sophie Byrne to acquire the international distribution rights to the CG-animated feature film Scarygirl, which is currently in production in Queensland and is expected to premiere in October 2023. The international sales agent, which also has an office in Madrid, is exhibiting both titles to buyers at the American Film Market, which runs through Nov. 6.

Spain-based 3 Doubles Producciones founder Dario Sanchez is the producer of 4 Days Before Christmas, which is currently in production with Steven Majaury as director, and Miguel Miranda as co-director. It’s set for a Spanish premiere in December 2023. Scarygirl is a coproduction between Aussie studios Highly Spirited and Like a Photon Creative. Madman Entertainment is the distributor for Australia and New Zealand.

Guru Studio

Toronto-based prodco Guru Studio is expanding the global reach of its CG-animated preschool series True and the Rainbow Kingdom to cover China through a new partnership with Reesee Entertainment. The Guangzhou-based licensing agency will manage TV and consumer products rights for Guru’s IP in China.

The two companies are also working together to develop a new licensing program slated to launch later this year, featuring True-branded apparel, publishing and games.

Reesee has been bolstering its kids content portfolio this year with acquisitions including the rights to Toronto-based Sinking Ship Entertainment’s live-action series Dino Dana in April. True and the Rainbow Kingdom debuted globally on Netflix in 2017. Guru Studio has produced four seasons (39 x 22 minutes) to date. The show also airs on linear networks including CBC Kids, Tiny Pop in the U.K., Brazil’s Gloob and Clan TV in Spain.

WildBrain

Halifax-headquartered WildBrain has signed on to manage worldwide distribution for new 2D-animated series Saving Me. The first two seasons (20 x 22 minutes) were produced by Montreal’s Sphere Animation in partnership with U.S. broadcaster BYUtv.

Season one premiered earlier this month on BYUtv’s app and linear channel. Saving Me is the broadcaster’s first original animated series. Film producer Aaron Johnston created the series, which Gary Bailey is directing. Season two is slated to premiere on BYUtv next year.

This is the latest in a series of global distribution deals WildBrain has inked in 2022. The company secured the rights to South Africa-based Sunrise Productions’ CG-animated show Jungle Beat in June and took on the first four seasons of HarperCollins Productions’ 2D-animated caper Carmen Sandiego a month later.

ComediHa! Distribution

WildBrain has also been tapped by Quebec City-based ComediHa! Distribution to be the international distributor of the sketch series LOL ComediHa! for FAST (free, ad-supported streaming TV) and AVOD platforms.  The deal gives WildBrain exclusive FAST and AVOD distribution rights worldwide for LOL ComediHa! (excluding YouTube, Canada and Italy).

LOL ComediHa! features non-verbal sketches and has been sold in more than 148 countries and territories. It’s also been adapted in China.

Blue Ant Media

Blue Ant Media has launched two of its FAST (free, ad-supported streaming TV) channels on Amazon’s AVOD platform Freevee in the U.S: natural history-focused Love Nature, and home renovation and real estate-centric Homeful.

Love Nature’s library on Freevee includes White Lions: Born Wild (2 x 60 minutes), Wildlife Icons, seasons one and two (14 x 60 minutes), The Canary Islands (2 x 60 minutes), The Accidental Wilderness: Europe’s Everglades (1 x 60 minutes), and Queen of Taru (1 x 60 minutes).

Homeful offerings include Moving the McGillivrays (10 x 60 minutes), Candice Tells All, seasons one to six (78 x 30 minutes), George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, seasons eight to 10 (24 x 60 minutes), Reno vs. Relocate (26 x 30 minutes), and Sarah’s House, seasons one to four (49 x 30 minutes).

Blue Ant Media has been expanding into the FAST space in recent months on platforms including VIZIO WatchFree+, The Roku Channel, Xumo, Samsung TV Plus and VIX.

Gusto Worldwide Media

Gusto TV continues to rebuild its Canadian presence with a new launch on the free, ad-supported Xumo app on Rogers devices in Canada.

The Ottawa-based international food channel relaunched in Canada in July in partnership with Samsung TV Plus, when its licensing agreement with Bell Media ended, and expanded to LG Channels in Canada in September.

Gusto TV’s content is also available in English, Spanish and Simplified Chinese across 160-plus countries on more than 40 platforms.

With files from Kidscreen

Photo courtesy of Pink Parrot Media