JOLLY RABBIT SETS SAIL FOR THE UK AND AUSTRALIA
High Seas Adventure-Comedy Picked-Up by CBBC and ABC TV
New York, NY – October 22, 2008 – Animation Collective, a leading U.S. provider of content to the children’s entertainment market, announces broadcast sales of its new animated comedy, Jolly Rabbit. The series has been acquired by the BBC in the UK for air on CBBC, and ABC TV Australia. The 52 x 11 minute series was also recently picked-up by Canal+ Family in France.
An out-of-the-box boy’s preteen series, Jolly Rabbit follows the madcap adventures of a spunky, early-teen rabbit as he navigates the seas with his band of punk-rocking buddies in search of his missing leg. Together, the boys have wild adventures, made all the more interesting by the relentless Captain Squid, who unluckily stole Jolly’s left leg and now will stop at nothing to get the right one.
As part of its multi-platform initiative, the television series will be accompanied by an interactive website complete with games, activities, and exclusive content. With music as a key component, Jolly Rabbit’s house band will release videos, albums and individual tracks through online retailers and on other platforms.
Jesse Cleverly, Head of CBBC drama co-productions said “We’re thrilled to be setting sail once more with Animation Collective and their latest rocktastic pirate creation, it's a perfect fit with CBBC's cheeky infectious brand, and further evidence of that this brilliantly talented studio has their finger on the audience pulse".
“This show is incredibly fun to make and we are so proud to have such premiere broadcasters involved,” said Larry Schwarz, CEO of Animation Collective and creator of the series. “We’re so excited that kids in the UK and Australia are going to be able to take part in Jolly’s wild adventures.”
“Jolly Rabbit is truly one of those properties that immediately grabs you,” says Tim Brooke-Hunt, Head of Children’s at ABC TV. “The vibrant animation mixed with colorful and comedic storylines and characters will appeal to children all over.”
About Animation Collective
As one of the U.S.’s leading independent creators of children’s entertainment, Animation Collective has original content in more than eighty countries and in fifteen languages on platforms including television, broadband, wireless, books, games and consumer products. Proprietary productions include: Kappa Mikey, MTVN and Nickelodeon's first global acquisition for Nicktoons Network and Nickelodeon; Three Delivery for Nicktoons Network, YTV, Canal+ Family and the BBC; Thumb Wrestling Federation: TWF for Cartoon Network in the U.S., Asia, Australia and Spain, YTV and the BBC; and Ellen’s Acres for Cartoon Network, Al Jazeera and ABC TV Australia. Work-for-hire productions include Speed Racer: The Next Generation for Nicktoons Network and Lionsgate Entertainment; and The Incredible Crash Dummies for 4KidsTV. Animation Collective is the largest provider of original content for KOL, America Online’s kids channel and Red, its teen channel. At its three studios in midtown Manhattan, Animation Collective employs over one hundred artists, animators, and producers. Larry Schwarz, the company's founder and CEO, is the creator and executive producer of all its original series.
Contact:
Sarah Worden/Animation Collective
212-947-1099