ScreenMDM Kids/YA Digest recaps some of our best coverage of the sector from the last month, delivering Insights on AI media literacy, YouTube-first partnerships, live-action trends, and new distribution deals.
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What’s Inside:
- The Making of Fluff Piece with Sylvia Brindis & Shane Snow
- ICYMI: Gen A to Z in June
- MIPJunior Takes Shape
- Live Action Appeal
- Movers & Shakers
- Social Media Matters
- Deal Tracker: What’s New in Acquisitions, Commissions & Co-Pros
- Chasing Fandom
The Making of Fluff Piece
Sylvia Brindis and Shane Snow discuss how Fluff Piece, the Wonder Project‘s first original kids’ commission, merges Unreal Engine, puppetry, a well-crafted music strategy, dancers and actors to help young ones develop media literacy skills.
ICYMI: Gen A to Z in June
In time for Annecy, the ScreenMDM Gen A to Z strand caught up with key children’s content production and distribution executives to assess the state of the industry today and how they are navigating the challenges and opportunities. Investing in Banijay Kids & Family’s digital footprint and experimenting with AI tools in production workflows while maintaining a strong creative ethos are key strategies for CEO Benoît di Sabatino as the family entertainment powerhouse builds out its stable of new and returning brands. Exploring the crucial role of collaboration, we welcomed BBC Studios Kids & Family’s Cecilia Persson and Magic Light Pictures’ Michael Rose to discuss their partnership on Zog. Studio 100 International CEO Martin Krieger weighed in on the company’s evolving co-production strategy, production efficiencies and the role of partnerships.
MIPJunior Takes Shape
Animaj’s Gregory Dray and media cartographer Evan Shapiro, together with analysts from Ampere Analysis and Glance, headline MIPJunior’s 2026 agenda. The event is convening creators, analysts, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers to explore the trends reshaping the business of kids’ and family entertainment.
Live Action Appeal
The Northern Star Project, a partnership between BBC, DR, NPO, NRK, and VRT, launched a joint call for live-action scripted projects for kids 7-plus earlier this month after being unveiled in June. The call, revealed at the Children’s Media Conference, is seeking content that is “relevant and culturally resonant across all five territories,” with relatable characters, representation on and off-screen, a platform-agnostic approach, and the ability to break through the clutter. Episodes should be 30 minutes or less, with a total duration of 150 to 240 minutes, aimed at kids 7 to 9 or 10 to 12. Rights must be available across all five markets, including linear, streaming, and YouTube.
Also at the BBC, the U.K. pubcaster, together with ZDF Studios, boarded a second season of The Lady Grace Mysteries, produced by Cottonwood Media and Coolabi Productions, and renewed the family drama Crookhaven, based on the globally bestselling books by JJ Arcanjo and made by BBC Studios Kids & Family. Plus, season one of The Lady Grace Mysteries has been licensed to RAI, NHK, HOT, ABC, Radio-Canada, RTS, YLE, NRK, and NPO, while HOT, ABC and RTS came on board as prebuyers for season two. The Strike-produced live-action CBBC series Jamie Johnson FC was taken on for representation by Madgic Distribution. S4C commissioned a short-form vertical drama series, Signal, targeting young audiences and set to be distributed on TikTok.
Movers & Shakers
After more than two decades, Greg Childs is stepping down as editorial director of the Children’s Media Conference, handing the baton to Helen McAleer. Cathal Gaffney is stepping down from Brown Bag Films, the Irish animation company he co-founded with Darragh O’Connell in 1994. Blue Ant Media made several new appointments in its kids, family and YA segment, including promoting Diane Rankin to EVP and GM of content and rights. Meanwhile, Authentic Brands Group signed an agreement to acquire the Care Bears IP, with the deal expected to close in Q3.
Social Media Matters
France announced a ban on social media accounts for under-15s, following a similar move in the U.K. Right now there are more questions than answers on how it will all work—and what it means for content providers. Meanwhile, the launch of YouTube-first IP and the two-way traffic between social and traditional video continues.
Netflix made a string of social video partnerships over the last few weeks, including the expansion of its alliance with Alan Chikin Chow, bringing his digital series Alan’s Universe to its members. Plus, popular YouTubers Alex and Alan Stokes are heading to Netflix, with an archive of their top content arriving on the streamer this month, followed by a new long-form series in 2027. Looking to fast-track creator IP, U.K. animation studio Blue Zoo established a new in-house initiative. Selected pitches will benefit from a fast-tracked four- to six-week development process to create a webtoon, animated short, or game that will be launched on Blue Zoo’s YouTube channel. Volt Factor signed a representation deal for the YouTube brand Dr. Plants covering consumer products, content development, licensing, and promotional partnerships. Little Dot Studios renewed its pact with MGA Entertainment, expanding an alliance that began in 2021 to drive the toy company’s global digital presence. Kedoo Entertainment is bringing a slate of Hasbro Entertainment shows to its Kedoo Kids YouTube network. And Guru Studio unveiled the first short-form extension of its hit preschool brand True and the Rainbow Kingdom for YouTube, TRUE: Mini Rescues.
Deal Tracker: What’s New in Acquisitions, Commissions & Co-Pros
Produced by Tiny Souls Media, Zip and the Tiny Sprouts landed new international slots courtesy of WildBrain, with ABC Kids, HRT, and the global SVOD service PlayKids Learning. The French-language streaming platform TV5MONDE+ acquired Epic Storyworlds’ Guiby The Super. Lion Forge Entertainment sealed new deals for Iyanu and The Wingfeather Saga in several markets worldwide. In the U.K., the first two seasons of animated comedy series Do Not Watch This Show were licensed by 9 Story Distribution International to CBeebies. 9 Story also secured a slot with Sky Kids for Paris & Pups, the Paris Hilton-inspired animated series. ZDF became a co-production partner on Hold on Gaston!, a preschool comedy from Dandelooo with TFOU, alongside Vivi Film and VRT Ketnet. Cartoon Network in the U.S. opted for season three of Grizzy & the Lemmings from HARI, while HBO Max boarded a ten-episode Adventure Time spinoff from Cartoon Network Studios. France Télévisions commissioned a new season of LoliRock, produced by Banijay Kids & Family’s Zodiak Kids & Family France label with Xentrix Studios, almost a decade since the show wrapped its original two-season run. In further known IP news, TeamTO revealed a pact with The Tetris Company for a CGI series for kids 6-plus inspired by the iconic game.
Chasing Fandom
From FAST to experiential experiences, IP owners are always on the hunt for additional ways to engage with audiences. WildBrain Garden, a new retail experience showcasing Teletubbies and In the Night Garden, has launched in Zhongshan, China. WildBrain Garden is the first-ever permanent retail store for the pair of WildBrain preschool brands in Asia. Rakuten TV is bringing two new FAST channels from Mattel to its users across Europe: Barbie & Friends and Pingu. Barbie & Friends features Barbie content as well as programming from the Monster High, Enchantimals, and Polly Pocket franchises.
