Special Event: MIP-TV

Fox Kids Europe (FKE) is at MIP-TV this week and has already acquired 26 half-hour episodes of the new animated series ROBOROACH and 52 episodes of the animated series HAMTARO. ROBOROACH, starring a cockroach superhero named Rube who can morph into almost anything, and Reg, Rube's street-smart big brother, is a co-production between RTV Family Entertainment AG and Canadian producer-distributor Portfolio Entertainment.

Kids animation producer-distributor TV-Loonland will present a new slate of animation programming at MIP-TV 2002. Leading the Loonland catalogue is the launch of REBOOT - SEASON IV. Animated by Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. REBOOT was the first ever half-hour computer animated TV series produced. Originally seen on North American television in September 1994 on YTV (Canada) and on ABC Television (USA), the series remains one of YTV's top-rated programs and can be seen in the daily Toonami block on the Cartoon Network.

The first two episodes of the BRB Internacional and Telecinco (Spain) co-production GLADIATOR ACADEMY (26 x 30 minutes) will be available at MIP-TV 2002. The show is targeted to 6 to 10 year-olds and follows the adventures of a family of young gladiators living on a Mediterranean island during the Roman Empire. Another BRB animated series making its debut at MIP-TV is THE INVISIBLE MAN (26 x 30 minutes), which is currently in pre-production. This series combines 2D and 3D animation and is geared to 8 to 12 year-olds.

UK-based media company Elephant Productions is bringing new children's series ANIMAL SCHOOL to MIP-TV 2002. Aimed at children aged 10 to 15 years-old ANIMAL SCHOOL is a series of 30 x 45-second interstitials each featuring different animals receiving their lessons for life. Jointly commissioned by CBBC Acquisitions and Education, the interstitials will air on CBBC'S new channel and also the Website. Produced by Elephant Productions, ANIMAL SCHOOL is animated in Flash by Fictitious Egg's Andy Wyatt.

France Animation will be attending MIP-TV 2002 with their brand new animated series COSY CORNER. Produced by French production company Storimages, in association with France 5 and Teletoon France, COSY CORNER is a 52 x 6-minute traditionally animated series that teaches preschoolers about forming relationships with friends and family. Although the show is in the early stages of development, Universal Visual has already picked up the home video rights for France. France Animation holds the worldwide distribution rights.

German entertainment company RTV International will introduce the new animated series ROBOROACH at MIPTV 2002. Starring a cockroach superhero named Rube who can morph into almost anything and Reg, Rube's street-smart big brother, the series was inspired by a Japanese newspaper story in which scientists claimed to be able to control cockroaches through implanted computer chips. ROBOROACH is a co-production between RTV Family Entertainment AG, VIDEAL and Portfolio Entertainment. RTV International holds all distribution rights except for North America.

UK-based media company Elephant Productions is reinventing WILLO THE WISP, a classic UK kids' animated series and will debut the new series at MIP-TV. The original series featured actor Kenneth Williams providing the voices of the characters, including Willo the Wisp, as a spirit-like apparition that acts as the narrator of the show. The 26 x 5-minute 2D series is co-produced with animator and illustrator Bobbie Spargo, daughter of original WILLO THE WISP creator Nick Spargo and aimed at kids aged 4-8 years. James Dreyfus (NOTTING HILL) replaces Kenneth Williams as the voice talent.

Santa Barbara-based Foothill Entertainment, Inc. and BRB Internacional of Spain have inked a deal to develop, produce and distribute the series PIRATE SCHOOL. Production on the 26 x half-hour series is due to start mid 2002, with delivery commencing from September 2003. The 2D animated series will air on CBBC in the UK, which has an option to order a further 26 episodes.

BUTT UGLY MARTIANS producer Mike Young Productions is bringing a new series to the small screen. THE CURLY TALES OF PIGGLEY WINKS, 26 half-hour episodes aimed at pre-schoolers, is based on original stories by Irish writer Denise Fitzpatrick and is being produced with London-based Entara Limited. The CGI animated PIGGLEY WINKS features the voice of Irish actor Colm Meaney as Grandpa Piggley, whose comic stories of childhood adventures in rural Ireland form the basis of the series.