Serious Kids has taken on the global (excluding Spain, Finland, and Ireland) content and merchandising rights for the European 2D/CGI co-production Tastebuddies from Pikkukala, Dibulitoon, and Ink and Light.
The 52×7-minute production has now started production, with Serious Kids set to launch the first episodes at Mifa in Annecy this summer. Production is expected to be completed on the first 26 by year’s end, with the second batch ready in June 2027.
The series was commissioned by RTVE, 3Cat, RTEJr, and YLE, with production underway in Spain, Finland, and Ireland. ICEC, Konstsafundet, MEDIA, and Screen Ireland all provided additional funding for the show.
“Tastebuddies is a great way for kids to explore all the tastes of the rainbow and how they work together,” commented Veronica Lassenius, the creator and director of Tastebuddies. “This is not a cooking show nor a nutritional guide but a mission to explore.”
“We have big plans for supporting products, including books (one has already been published in South Korea and Finland) as well as games, kitchen tableware, and educational material,” added Tamsin Lyons from Ink & Light.
Ricardo Ramón and Jone Landaluze, producers at Dibulitoon Studio, said they are thrilled about the production of Tastebuddies because of its “distinctive style and creativity. The series combines 2D and 3D animation with mixed-media sequences, as well as original music and voice performances by children. We are confident that these elements will make the series a truly special project.”
“This is such a fun show, rooted in family life but also action-packed with a CG and 2D blend that bounces off the screen with colour and texture,” noted Genevieve Dexter, founder and CEO of Serious Kids.
“Teaching children to eat well is all about helping them to enjoy their food,” said Yago Fandiño Lousa, director of children’s content at Clan RTVE. “Tastebuddies focuses on giving children the tools to ‘play with their food’ in the best possible way. And in the process, have fun and enjoy eating better.”
“Taste links the experience of food with a pleasant experience in a family setting that is, at the same time, exciting and full of adventure. These rewarding and well-narrated emotions are what ultimately give value to the social and healthy habit of eating properly, which is the underlying theme of the series,” said Xavier Romero, head of animation co-productions at 3Cat.
“I love this concept of introducing the notions of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami to young children in a fun way. The pairing of food comedy and music sounds like a winning one to me,” noted Eimear O’Mahoney at RTÉjr.
