Federation Kids & Family is unveiling a new animated series at MipJunior as part of a strong lineup of toon series and live-action series.
“The New Adventures of the Triplets,” by Nicole Lambert, is an animated show aimed at 3-to-6-year-old kids that chronicles the comic escapades of three loveable children — each of whom has his or her own way of looking at the world.
Produced by Quad and Superprod, the show is in line with Federation Kids & Family’s animated content and the kind of shows broadcasters are seeking.
“When it comes to animation, series for the bridge age group of 4-7 years still generates a lot of demand,” says Monica Levy, co-chief of distribution at Federation Kids & Family, part of Paris-based Federation Studios. “As often channels are already well stocked through to 2024, they are looking for exceptional series that correspond to the editorial line.”
Diversity in particular has become a key element for kids’ shows, Levy adds.
“Diverse representation on all levels is what we hear as feedback from our buyers. Kids want to identify with protagonists, and there are some territories that are becoming more challenging to sell into if you don’t satisfy these demands.Prior to this, we have always focused on content that we felt kids, regardless of nationality and ethnicity, could relate to, but of course, with the buyer feedback, this reaffirms its importance for new productions.
“We are also living in a time when society in general — kids and adults — seems to want escapism more than ever.Therefore, kids’ productions that are uplifting and offer a fantasy/magical element, basically providing that feel-good factor, are attracting a lot of attention.”
Indeed, among Federation’s live-action hits are the tween fantasy series “Spellbound” and “Theodosia.”
“Spellbound,” about an African-American girl who discovers she is the most powerful witch in the world while studying at the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School, is produced by Cottonwood Media in coproduction with Opéra de Paris and Germany’s ZDF and ZDF Studios.
The producers were so confident in the show that “Spellbound” Season 2 was greenlit before Season 1 had even premiered this year.
“Theodosia,” meanwhile, is back for new adventures in Season 2 as the intrepid young explorer and her friends set off on a journey down the Nile in search of the secret oasis where magic was born. Likewise produced by Cottonwood Media, ZDF and ZDF Studios, the award-winning series is based on the bestselling book series by R.L. LaFevers.
Kids in the older 8-12 demographic appear to be moving away from animation and towards live-action, Levy notes.
“This is probably due to the fact that as they are exposed more to social media, and the likes of Tik Tok, these kids are maturing faster, and their tastes have rapidly evolved to what teenagers visually enjoy.
“This generation is looking for the same high-end visual quality that would normally be offered to adult primetime series. Our kids have high standards and this is what it takes to pull them away from Instagram.”
Taking stock of current market trends, Levy notes that while there have been many market fluctuations in recent years, broadcasters remain vital partners. Streamers, on the other hand, seem to be buying fewer titles these days, be it kids animation or live action, and are more selective, she adds.
“This comes following a flurry of activity, with various buyouts and other factors.Traditional broadcasters still seem to be steady and strong, and have been the pinnacle of our business in recent times of streamer uncertainty.”
Federation’s other current titles include the animated shows “Kung Fu Wa,” about a young girl who transforms into a super heroine with the help of a magic sock; “Squish,” about the single-celled life of a young amoeba; and, for the pre-school audience, “The Ollie & Moon Show,” based on the book series by Diane Kredensor about two cats and their zany, globe-trotting adventures.
