TVOKids has commissioned unscripted live-action series Project Rube from Sphere Media’s kids and family division.

Sphere Media Kids and Family, which was launched in April, will produce the 11 x 26-minute series, which is presented by YouTube content creator Morley Kert and aimed at nine- to 12-year-olds, according to a news release.

Executive producers on Project Rube (pictured) include Sphere Media Kids and Family’s president Marlo Miazga; VP of content and development, Andrea Griffith; SVP of development Kim Bondi; VP of production Corinna Lehr; and Sphere CEO Bruno Dubé.

The series will follow Kert, who is popular for his videos about making furniture and other objects from limited resources, and a team of tweens as they embark on a series of engineering-based experiments inspired by U.S. cartoonist and inventor Rube Goldberg, said the release.

TVOKids commissioning editor Kirsten Hurd said in a statement that the series “will encourage children to engage with their creativity, their curiosity and will inspire a deeper appreciation of STEM skills.”

Sphere Media has also announced that TVOKids original Riley Rocket (30 x 11-minutes), has been sold to ITVX in the U.K. and to ABC Kids in Australia. Riley Rocket is created by composers and producers Matthew Gerrard and Mladen Alexander of Mojumbi Entertainment. International sales for the series are handled by Abacus Media Rights.

Sphere Media has also inked a coproduction agreement with Milan-based Studio Bozzetto, where Banijay Kids & Family Distribution (part of Banijay Kids & Family) has recently acquired the rights to The Game Catchers. The first season of the animated series launched  internationally last year and a second season has now been ordered by commissioning broadcasters RAI Kids, TVOKids and ICI Radio-Canada Télé, Knowledge Network and is currently in production, said the release.

Photo courtesy Sphere Media