Tastebuddies set to launch at MIFA this year
Co-producers Pikkukala, Dibulitoon and Ink and Light have signed over the worldwide* content distribution and merchandising rights to their brand new 52 x 11’ 2D/CG blend animated series ‘Tastebuddies’ to Serious Kids and today announce the start of production which will see Serious Kids launching the first episodes at MIFA this year. (*excluding Spain, Finland and Ireland)
Leo is a six-year-old boy who spends quality time in the kitchen with Mum and Dad, (who are expecting a little girl very soon!) and his lovely grandmother. As a family with a diverse food culture, their motto is to ‘Eat the Rainbow’ and Leo does just that with the aid of the five Taste Buddies who are summoned by spinning the Tasty Wheel and embark on food finding adventures to help him complete his rainbow on the fridge at home.
Sweet Suzy, Salty Sam, Umami Umi and friends also explore emotional kid relatable themes that mirror Leo’s day.
Taste Buddies has been commissioned by RTVE, 3Cat, RTEJr, and YLE and is being produced in Spain, Finland and Ireland benefiting from additional funding from ICEC, Konstsafundet, MEDIA and Screen Ireland.
“We are delighted to announce both the start of production and the appointment of Serious Kids. The Taste Buddies is a great way for kids to explore all the tastes of the rainbow and how they work together. This is not a cooking show nor a nutritional guide but a mission to explore.”
Veronica Lassenius, Creator and Director of Tastebuddies
The scripts are story edited by Lena Byrne (Jessy and Nessy, Becca’s Bunch) and written by Jo Clegg, (Hey Duggee, Pip and Posy) Amy Stephenson, Shane Langan (Dorg van Dango, Silly Sundays) , Beatriz Iso, Amaia Ruiz (Spirit of the Forest, Superthings) Marta Armengol Royo (Royals Next Door, Elvis Riboldi), Emma Hogan (Maddie + Triggs, Nelly & Nora).
“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. Ricardo Ramón and Jone Landaluze, producers at Dibulitoon Studio, are thrilled about the production of Taste Buddies 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.”
Tamsin Lyons, Ink & Light
“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. The series will complete production on the first 26 episodes by the end of this year and the following 26 in June 2027. We can’t wait to share this with everyone at MIFA.”
Genevieve Dexter, Founder and CEO of Serious Kids
“Teaching children to eat well is all about helping them to enjoy their food. Taste Buddies 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.”
Yago Fandiño Lousa, Director of Children’s Content, Clan RTVE
“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”.
Xavier Romero, Head of Animation Co-productions, 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.”
Eimear O’Mahoney, RTÉjr
