The two new kids’ series, from animation veteran Tom Bancroft’s crowd-funded Pencilish Studios, promise to ‘bring much-needed fun and edification back to screens.’
Bejuba! Entertainment has picked up two new animated series from Nashville-based Pencilish Studios, a crowd-funded company launched in 2020 by 35-year animation veteran Tom Bancroft. Both shows, Bjorn the Last Unicorn and JuJu Brain, target children ages six and up, have a pilot, and seek broadcast and production partners.
Bjorn the Last Unicorn follows its namesake hero, Bjorn, who returns to society after hiding away for centuries. Based on social media clips, Bjorn decides to be an influencer, believing the internet has turned the world into a wonderful, kind place. With his innocent charm and positive outlook, Bjorn always sees the good, even when those around him don’t.
A “slice of life” series, JuJu Brain follows JuJu Magoo, a 10-year-old girl, on a mission to reach the impossible middle school goal of being both different and accepted. She has OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), which presents her with challenges, but with the love of her family, her best friend, and a new level of understanding, she’s determined to take on the world “one epic guitar solo” at a time!
“I’m excited about these two series and the clever steps Pencilish has taken to develop and move these projects along,” commented Bejuba! Entertainment president Tatiana Kober. “Their crowd-funded investor base is also a research arm, and they have gleaned valuable creative feedback from their work. They’ve also produced their pilot episodes as shorts, which they launched on YouTube. We’re excited to take these series to the market.”
Bancroft added, “I’m thrilled to partner with Bejuba! Entertainment and Tatiana. Our properties are backed by almost 5,000 passionate investors and thousands of fans online! We can’t wait to get the stories of Bjorn the Last Unicorn and JuJu Brain into the world to bring some much-needed fun and edification back to screens and lives!’
Watch Episode 1 teasers for Bjorn the Last Unicorn and JuJu Brain:
Source: Bejuba! Entertainment
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
