The new children’s animated adventure series follows Coco the crocodile at Showtime School, where every day is a creative adventure.
Irish animation houses Lighthouse Studios (The Bob’s Burgers Movie, The Cuphead Show, El Deafo, Little Ellen) and Dog Ears (Puffin Rock and the New Friends, Saturday Club) have partnered to co-produce Stage Struck!, a new animated adventure series for kids ages 5-7.
The series, based on Tor Freeman’s book “Showtime for Billie and Coco,” follows Coco the crocodile and her friends at Showtime School, founded by the much-loved Miss Feathers. At Showtime School, everyday classes present extraordinary performance challenges! In classrooms full of pianos and crashmats, even the ‘normal’ subjects have a theatrical spin. Showtime’s students get a taste of music, movement and razzle-dazzle from all over the world—drumming circles, beat-boxing, fox-trotting, monologues, card tricks, Beatniks and up-tempo Bhangra. Every day is a creative adventure!
Lighthouse Studios’ award-winning Head Creative Gilly Fogg (El Deafo, Bug Diaries) will direct the 52 x 11’ episode series from a screenplay by Sian Ní Mhuirí (Royals Next Door). Lighthouse Studios’ Managing Director Claire Finn serves as executive producer with Dog Ears’ Creative Director John McDaid as co-producer. The series will make its debut at this year’s Cartoon Forum and MIPJunior Markets
“We are excited to work with the immense talent of Dog Ears to create this effervescent series that introduces kids to the performing arts from around the world,” stated Finn. “It promises to not only entertain but inspire creativity, and we look forward to introducing Stage Struck! to our industry at Cartoon Forum and MIP Junior.”
McDaid said, “With Stage Struck!, we are on a mission to spark a keen interest among children worldwide with all types of performing arts, which will hopefully encourage a love and passion for creativity in their years to come. We look forward to working with Claire, Gilly and the Lighthouse team, as well as our own amazing in-house talents to deliver a wonderful new series.”
“Everyone remembers the first time they stepped on stage to deliver their line in a school concert,” said Fogg. “Sian, Claire and I have all worked in the theatre and we know from experience that the performing arts can play a transformative role in a child’s life. Tor Freeman’s world of Showtime School is full of humor and kindness, and I’m excited that kids everywhere will see the fun and friendship of the performing arts in Stage Struck!”
Whitney is a freelance writer focusing on VFX-driven fantasy film & TV as well as preschool animation.
