Mediawan Kids & Family, a leading European youth animation studio working with filmmakers Sylvain Chomet (“The Triplets of Belleville”) and Joann Sfar (“The Rabbi’s Cat”), is ramping up its international distribution pipeline with the acquisition of three premium series: “Maddie + Triggs,” “The Specials” and “Idefix and the Indomitables.”
“Maddie + Triggs” is an inclusive preschool musical comedy series produced by Turnip + Duck, an award-winning Irish studio. A spinoff of a popular podcast aimed at children aged 4 to 7, the series was pitched at Cartoon Forum in 2022 and commissioned by the BBC’s kids’ network CBeebies in the U.K. and RTÉjr Ireland’s Children’s broadcast service. The series is animated by the Bristol-based indie Sun & Moon Studios. “Maddie+ Triggs” follows the adventures of Maddie, a visually impaired 7-year-old girl, and her dog Triggs, who find music through the sounds of everyday life.
“Today, there is more awareness and appreciation of difference than ever before, but fusing
these issues and themes with an entertaining concept that kids will enjoy can be tricky,” said Colm Tobin, the co-creator of “Maddie + Triggs” and Turnip + Duck’s managing director. Tobin praised RTÉ, the Irish Film Commission (Coimisiún na Meán) and Screen Ireland for co-financing it in its early stages, as well as Mediawan Kids & Family, ” a partner who has the ambition, reach, experience, expertise, and resources to match our global vision for the show.”
Aidan O’Donovan, the series’ co-creator and creative director at Turnip + Duck, said “children all over the world will connect with the stories, the music, the heart and the inclusive message of ‘Maddie + Triggs.'”
Julien Borde, Mediawan Kids & Family president, called “Maddie + Triggs” a “standout” and “an inclusive program with an extremely innovative approach to visual disabilityand acceptance of differences.”
“As in production, our distribution ambition is to provide a diverse portfolio of content covering all genres of youth programs to meet market demands,” Borde said, “because broadcasters, streamers and children have eclectic tastes and crave new concepts and heroes.”
Mediawan Kids & Family comprises eight production labels including Method Animation, Somewhere, Elliott Studios, Sfar’s Magical Society, Palomar Animation, Submarine, Wildseed Studios and MKF Cinema. With the acquisition of these three shows, the distribution arm’s library will boast 2,500 half-hours of youth programming.
“Maddie + Triggs” has already been picked up by SVT (Sweden) and YLE (Finland). Kate Morton, BBC Children’s and Education’s head of commissioning and acquisitions, said the show “creates an enjoyable and equal viewing experience for both sighted and vision-impaired children.”
Morton said the banner believes in the “power of storytelling to bridge gaps and create a world where all children can join in the magic together.”
Suzanne Kelly, head of Children’s and Young People’s Content at RTÉRTÉ, said “very aspect of this series sings; the music, the songs, the design, and the scripts and put all of those elements together and what you get is very special indeed.”
“The Specials,” produced by Mediawan Finland, is a live-action-comedy TV series for children and teens aged 7 to 13 years old. The show, which follows the daily lives of a primary school class, has been a ratings hit on the Finnish broadcaster YLE.
Mediawan Kids & Family has also acquired international sales rights to the second season of “Idefix and the Indomitables,” produced by Studio 58. The series is based on Goscinny and Uderzo’s Astérix and Obélix characters. The first season, which aired on France 4 and then on M6 and Gulli in France, was sold in over 45 countries by Mediawan Kids & Family.
“Three new ambitious TV series are extending our portfolio of IPs, while maintaining the premium ambition and narrative values to which we pay the utmost attention,” Borde said.
