Cookie Jar Entertainment is set to widen the appeal of The Doodlebops with an animated version of the musical kiddie show.

The 26 x 30 Doodlebops Rockin’ Road Show is a copro with Argentina’s Illusion Studios and Optix Entertainment in Germany, unlike the 65-ep live-action series, which was produced completely in Canada.

‘There were some international broadcasters who didn’t pick up the live action, but said, ‘If it was animated, we’d buy it,” says Cookie Jar exec John Vandervelde. The show is already airing on CBC.

It’s the first time that Cookie Jar has teamed up with both prodcos on a series, and Vandervelde adds that having international partners also ups the broadcast interest in other territories. Illusion and Optix, he notes, will be instrumental in boosting the show’s Latin American and European presence. He’s also confident that Cookie’s licensing arm will be able to exploit branded merchandise where its other properties such as Strawberry Shortcake perform well.

Vandervelde notes that Canada’s tax credits, particularly for digital animation, can almost cut the cost of a show like this in half. ‘Someone has to be really competitive internationally to match that kind of pricing,’ he says. The addition of money from overseas ‘makes the cost zero,’ he says. ‘So if you get somebody who’s going to add quality and helps you with international sales, you’re not going to go wrong.’