Site: Animation UK
CANNES MARKET: CANTILEVER MEDIA AND ARCHITECT LAUNCH WORLDWIDE SALES ON CHRISTMAS INC.
The second family animation to be released from the new joint venture
UK Independent production company Cantilever Media, producer of animated franchise The Amazing Maurice, and global sales and financing outfit Architect are launching Christmas Inc. to buyers worldwide ahead of this year’s Cannes market. The film marks the second project from the companies’ recently announced joint venture which will see them co-sell and finance high quality animated feature films for the global market.
Christmas Inc. will be produced by Cantilever Media and ReDefine Originals with Kazoo Films taking rights for the UK and Ireland. The project was developed by Moonshot Films, who also serve as co-producer.
With Santa retired to the Bahamas, Christmas is now run by Christmas Incorporated, a glossy, corporate empire led by eccentric billionaire Jerri Ronson, who is set on modernising, streamlining and optimising the festive period! Eager to prove herself, Goldie, Jerri’s ambitious elf assistant, is sent from sunny California to shut down the world’s last traditional toy workshop, hidden deep in the rainy British countryside. There, she discovers a chaotic world of handmade toys, misfit elves and unexpected heart, and begins to realise what really makes Christmas special. Now Goldie must decide where she stands before Christmas loses its magic for good.
“Christmas Inc. is super charming, emotional and funny. It’s going to be a pleasure for the whole family. We are delighted to be presenting it to buyers in Cannes.”
Calum Gray, Architect
Co-written by award-winning British screenwriter Chris Anastasi (Madness in the Method) and comedy writer Clare Plested and to be directed by award-winning director Avgousta Zourelidi (Monster High: Electrified, Moominvalley, Angry Birds), Christmas Inc. is a joyful, charming and witty seasonal adventure for all the family. ReDefine Originals, a co-producing creative partner, is the exclusive animation studio for the feature.
“We are delighted to be co-producing another fun family adventure with Andrew and the amazing team at Cantilever. Our artists are having a blast bringing this magical new world to life.”
Greg Gavanski, Managing Director of ReDefine Originals
“Christmas Inc. is a fun animated family film which we are sure will become a timeless, annual favourite. Chris and Clare have written an incredibly funny and warm screenplay and Avgousta’s vision and experience promise to make this an enduring festive film. We are delighted to unveil for Cannes.”
Andrew Baker, CEO of Cantilever Media
KING BANANA TO PRODUCE NEW SERIES, YAKKA DO!
Well-loved character, Dee, from the established hit show and YouTube sensation, Yakka Dee!, returns to our screens with a new superhero look and two new superhero friends, in the brand new CBeebies’ series, Yakka Do!
Together, the animated superhero trio, Dee, Zee and Bea, lead a vast array of live action children through fun, educational activities that are directly devised to aid the development needed for school readiness.
The series is firmly based on all of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, and gives parents and carers easy to emulate, accessible activity ideas that directly aid their child’s development. The series also helps children understand that giving it a go is what matters, not getting it right. If you get up, join in and Yakka Do!, then you can be a superhero too! New character, Bea, is voiced by a deaf child actor and will be shown wearing cochlear implants. The production will work closely with a deaf advisor Camilla Arnold from agency The Deaf Set to ensure authentic portrayal of a deaf character and accessibility for deaf members of the audience.
Yakka Do! will be produced by leading kids’ entertainment specialists King Banana TV who have partnered with BBC Studios to produce 60 x 5 minute mixed media episodes for CBeebies. Yakka Do! builds upon King Banana’s portfolio of impactful shows that make a positive difference to children’s lives.
“We have always been passionate about the power of well-made, well-researched content
to improve children’s lives. Yakka Do! targets this need specifically and with care, excitement and fun! Yakka Do! is not just overt learning, it is packed with activities that encourage language, literacy, physical development, and inspire curiosity in learning and the world around us. Every moment is specifically targeted to aid children’s development and set them up for school. We are especially excited to feature an animated deaf character on CBeebies and what this will mean to deaf members of the audience.”Katie Simmons and Lotte Elwell, King Banana
Each character in the series represents an area of learning, and between them they all encourage emotional resilience, confidence and enthusiasm to Yakka Do it! Based on the filming style, visual design and solid developmental methodology established in Yakka Dee!, Yakka Do! will join Yakka Dee! on CBeebies, one of the UK’s most loved children’s brands, trusted by parents to provide high-quality content that educates and entertains.
New characters Zee and Bea are designed by King Banana’s Chris Allen, the talent behind
Dee’s design. Primary school teacher and social media rising star Mr Robson joins the team
as Educational Consultant.
“Yakka Do! with new characters – Zee and Bea, is set to be a firm favourite for little ones and their parents. With inspiring adventures that support early years development and promote inclusivity and kindness that are at the heart of our CBeebies community.”
Kate Morton, Senior Head of Commissioning for CBeebies
“Yakka Do! embodies everything we aim for in preschool storytelling, it’s joyful, playful and full of heart, while being firmly rooted in supporting children’s development. It’s been a pleasure partnering with King Banana on this next chapter. Their creativity and commitment to meaningful, research-led content shines through, especially in the care taken in their representation of a deaf character on screen.”
Cecilia Persson, MD BBC Studios Kids & Family
Yakka Dee! has a dedicated audience watching over 140 episodes across a number of territories and a YouTube channel that has amassed almost 2 million subscribers and nearly 2 billion views.
BBC Studios handles global sales for the show, alongside running the Yakka Dee! Toddler Learning YouTube Channel.
Yakka Dee!, which celebrates 10 years on our screen next year, stands apart in the
children’s television space in encouraging early language acquisition skills. The show is an
established preschool hit airing on CBeebies and iPlayer and continues to delight viewers.
Yakka Do! will be available on CBeebies and iPlayer from 2027/28.
CAKE SIGNS DEAL IN AUSTRALIA WITH ABC KIDS ON OUTFIT7’S TALKING TOM HEROES: SUDDENLY SUPER
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE has announced that ABC Kids in Australia has acquired Talking Tom Heroes: Suddenly Super, the latest series from Outfit7’s Talking Tom & Friends franchise
Created by Outfit7, the IP owner of the global entertainment brand Talking Tom & Friends, and in partnership with veteran producers Epic Story Media and ReDefine Originals (part of the DNEG Group), Talking Tom Heroes: Suddenly Super reimagines the world of Talking Tom & Friends for a younger audience, introducing a fresh, superpowered twist on the beloved global brand.
The 52 episode action-packed adventure series follows Talking Tom and his friends Talking Angela, Talking Ben and Talking Hank as they discover a strange device that grants them amazing powers and makes them “Suddenly Super.” As they take on heroic challenges in the colourful streets of Peak City, they must learn what it truly means to be a hero and to save the day. With core themes of self-discovery, humour and friendship, Talking Tom Heroes: Suddenly Super is full of action and comedy.
“Talking Tom Heroes: Suddenly Super marks an exciting evolution for one of the world’s most beloved kids’ brands. The superhero format gives the Talking Tom characters a fantastic new energy, and we couldn’t ask for a better launch partner than ABCKids to introduce the series to Australian audiences.”
Dominic Gardiner, MD Distribution at CAKE
The series premiered on 4th May on ABCKids, and will be airing weekdays at 5.30pm. All episodes will also be available to stream on ABC iview from 6.00am.
A DEEP DIVE INTO PRE-SCHOOL TV SERIES “MONSTER MAKES”
Behind the scenes: How a seamless blend of live action and animation created monster magic for CBeebies
Credit: Terrific Television
Monster Makes, a new dual live action and animation show that encourages pre-schoolers to embrace their creativity, has launched on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer. Hosted by Rebecca Keatley and the lovable Murphi, an animated monster with a penchant for inventive creations, Monster Makes is commissioned by BBC Children’s and Education for CBeebies and produced by Terrific Television with animation provided by A Productions. Fun and furry, Murphi’s simple ethos – that anyone can make something brilliant with a bit of monster magic – is at the heart of each episode.
Animation UK spoke to animation director, Duncan Fraser, to find about A Productions’ approach to its work on the series. The studio, which recently celebrated 40 years in business, brought a wealth of experience to what proved to be a richly layered production.
Blending techniques to serve the creative vision
Monster Makes combines 3D CG and 2D animation, live action and puppetry — a deliberate creative choice that gives the show its distinctive energy. The use of 3D CG to bring Murphi to life injected a sense of magic and playfulness, giving the character a cartoon-like, stylised feel unconstrained by the limits of physical performance. Crucially, this approach allowed Murphi to change size and shape, transforming into everything from a tissue box to a ball of wool to a cardboard tube, helping to engage young audiences in the crafting process.
To allow Murphi to get fully hands-on — painting, sticking, cutting, drawing, scrunching, pouring and more — puppet arms were created that could be worn like gloves, enabling the character to interact physically with both materials and co-presenter Rebecca Keatley. Elsewhere, the crafty creations made during the show come to life through animation, while 2D animation was used for the doodles on the noticeboard and for the Fabulous Fluffs, a musical cutaway featuring an ensemble of animated characters.
The challenge of seamless integration
For the A Productions team, one of the central technical and creative challenges was ensuring that CG Murphi and puppet Murphi were perfectly blended, with no visible join between the two. The aim was for Murphi to feel genuinely present in the studio, interacting naturally with Rebecca, with the 3D CG integrated as seamlessly as possible.
To achieve this, the team visited the set in Maidstone ahead of CG rendering to capture extensive HDR lighting reference, ensuring the lighting in the digital environment matched the physical one precisely. Working closely with Terrific Television from pitch through to final delivery, they also had access to fur samples and reference material to match colours and textures. Considerable time was invested in replicating the CG fur so that it matched the puppet fur exactly in terms of colour, texture and the way it responded to light. The live action set was also fully recreated in 3D — including props such as paper, glue and paintbrushes — so that Murphi could interact with them convincingly.
“It needed to feel like Murphi was really there in the studio, interacting with Rebecca naturally and that the 3D CG was integrated seamlessly.”
Duncan Fraser, Animation Director
Inspiring young makers — and a message about sustainability
Beyond the technical achievement, the team hopes the show will have a meaningful impact on its young CBeebies audience.
“We hope that children will be inspired to make things with their hands. Get messy, have fun and learn to love the magic of creating something yourself.”
Duncan Fraser
The sustainability message running through the series — which focuses on making wonderful things from everyday, recyclable materials — is also close to the production’s heart.
“Hopefully watching the show will trigger conversations about reuse and recycling. It shows that you don’t need a lot to create something wonderful.”
Duncan Fraser
A special project — and a journey in the making
For A Productions, Monster Makes represents a particular milestone. The studio has previously provided animation and after effects for The Makery, a make-and-do show produced by Terrific Television for Sky Kids, and worked on CBeebies arts and crafts show Mister Maker — both of which featured animated segments. But Monster Makes marks an evolution in that work, with animation woven far more deeply into the fabric of the production.
“We feel we’ve come on a journey with this kind of crafting show, with animation being so interwoven into Monster Makes. It was many years in the making so it’s been even more wonderful to see the episodes go live on CBeebies after everyone’s hard work.”
Duncan Fraser
Supporting the next generation of animators
The production also created a meaningful opportunity for emerging talent. During the making of Monster Makes, A Productions supported a free, part-time 10-week Skills Bootcamp run by NextGen Skills Academy, giving aspiring 3D animators hands-on experience replicating shots from the series — with backing from Terrific Television. Participants were able to develop studio-ready 3D animation skills, learn the animation production pipeline and receive professional feedback, all designed to build confidence and readiness for an industry career.
For Duncan and the wider team, initiatives like this are an essential part of the industry’s future.
“These are so important in supporting emerging talent and helping to make the industry more inclusive.”
Duncan Fraser
EYEBOLLS BLEND LIVE-ACTION AND ANIMATION FOR EPIC TMNT CROSSOVER
Eyebolls Delivers Hybrid Live-Action & Animation Commercial for Magic: The Gathering’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crossover Card Set
Production studio Eyebolls has delivered a hybrid live-action and animation commercial for Magic: The Gathering, introducing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into the franchise as part of Wizards of the Coast’s Universes Beyond crossover strategy. The final film premiered during the Mutant Mayhem Regal cinema event (March 27–29), with a 30-second cut running in theatres ahead of the screenings.
Directed by Phil Hawkins (Robin and the Hoods, Prancer: A Christmas Tale, It Lies Within), with animation direction from Tony Cervone (Space Jam, Looney Tunes, SCOOB!), the project saw Eyebolls act as the single creative and production partner across live action, animation, and visual effects. The studio assembled a bespoke senior team around the brief, overseeing the work end to end, from early creative development and live-action production through animation and final integration.
“At its core, it’s traditional animation. Absolutely hand-drawn characters integrated into a live-action world. Making it believable meant focusing completely on that integration. Every choice was designed to support it. When an animated character truly interacts with live action, you start believing it immediately. The goal wasn’t just for the animation to fit in, but to elevate everything around it.”
Tony Cervone, Animation Director
That approach shaped the production from the earliest stages. Eyebolls unified every aspect of the live-action shoot, from securing talent, locations and set design, through to cinematography. The performances and lighting were all planned around how the Turtles would exist in the Wizards of the Coast world, with the aim of making the interaction feel natural. Camera moves and framing were carefully designed to anticipate the rhythm and physicality of the animated characters who would later share the screen.
“We were brought in early, which gave us time to test different approaches and figure out how to make the 2D animation sit naturally inside live action. The brief was clear: keep the integrity and charm of the 2D style, but integrate it convincingly into the filmed environment.”
Dan Bull, VFX Supervisor
To support that integration, the team treated the hand-drawn animation as 2.5D, giving the characters a sense of volume and depth within the live-action space.
“You’re essentially taking a flat image and asking it to behave like a 3D object. There’s no real geometry there, so a big part of the process was running tests and finding smart ways to fake that depth while preserving the original 2D look.”
Dan Bull
The team also developed a procedural relighting approach in compositing, using matte-based light passes to shape highlights and shadows across the hand-drawn characters, ensuring the lighting matched the practical environment and enhanced the illusion of depth.
With two globally recognised properties involved, the integration had to satisfy not just the client, but the fans who know both worlds inside out.
“Everyone at Wizards was very protective of the vision. Our role was to bring that IP into a live-action environment in a way that felt natural, while still delivering a strong commercial piece.”
Rhona Drummond, Eyebolls Co-founder and Producer
The project reflects Eyebolls’ integrated production model, bringing animation and live action together under one roof, without the complexity of managing multiple vendors. The result is a cohesive hybrid short film that unites performance, design and visual effects under a singular creative vision, introducing the iconic heroes in a half shell to the world of Magic: The Gathering with scale, humour and spectacle.
KINO BINO EDUCATIONAL FILM REACHES GLOBAL STAGE
BBC Ideas Film Produced by Leicester’s Kino Bino Nominated for Global Webby Award
BBC Ideas has been nominated for a Webby Award for their film exploring the complexities of hoarding disorder: a project commissioned from and produced by Leicester-based animation studio Kino Bino. Often described as the “Oscars of the Internet”, the Webby Awards recognise the very best in global digital content, placing this British-made production in the international spotlight.
This isn’t the first time Kino Bino has used animation to tackle this specific subject. The nomination follows the success of the studio’s own short film, ‘Of All the Things’. Also focused on hoarding disorder, the film has won two awards and has been selected for several festivals in the UK and worldwide.
The nominated film, produced for BBC Ideas and The Open University, continues this mission. It uses Kino Bino’s signature design and inclusive characters to explain the psychological roots of hoarding in a way that is compassionate and easy for anyone to understand.
The team at Kino Bino brings a wealth of British animation heritage to the project. Producer Bella Tomlinson (formerly of Pingu and Bob the Builder) worked alongside founders Steff Lee and Jack Ross to bring the BBC’s vision to life.
“We are absolutely chuffed that the film we created for BBC Ideas has reached the global stage. Having previously explored this subject with our film ‘Of All the Things’, we know how much of an impact animation can have in making people feel seen and understood. This Webby nomination proves that a friendly, simple approach is a powerful way to talk about mental health.”
Jack Ross, Director at Kino Bino
While the official Webby Awards are selected by expert judges, the People’s Voice Award is decided entirely by the public. Kino Bino is calling on the UK public to support this important educational film and help raise awareness for mental health by casting a vote before the deadline.
- Watch the film: BBC Ideas
- Cast your vote: The Webby Awards Voting Portal
- Voting Closes: 16th April 2026
BLUE ZOO DIGITAL INTRODUCES THE FIRST-EVER FUGGLER MOBILE GAME
Fugglers: Reckless Runner app has sprinted onto phones
Blue Zoo Digital’s new mobile game based on the popular Fugglers franchise launched earlier this month. Fugglers: Reckless Runner, developed by Blue Zoo Digital, was brought to the App Store and Google Play on April 1, 2026, and is priced at £1.99.
Fugglers – “Funny Ugly Monsters” – have grown into a widely recognised brand in recent years. In collaboration with Blue Zoo Digital and Brighton Zoo, the franchise has expanded beyond toys into digital content, including more than 80 live-action episodes and over 200 short-form videos online. Series such as Fuggler Law & Disorder, Road Trip with Fugglers, Fuggler FOMO, and The Great Big Butt-on Hole Quiz Show have contributed to its growing audience on YouTube.
Fugglers: Reckless Runner marks the brand’s first entry into mobile gaming. The game is designed as a fast-paced runner, where players guide characters through chaotic levels, collecting in-game items and unlocking new characters along the way. According to the developers, the app will not include advertisements, focusing instead on a straightforward gameplay experience.
Fans are encouraged to clear some space on their phones and prepare for a waddling stampede of Fugglers!
“We tried to stop them. Somehow, they managed to program themselves into a super fun and ridiculously addictive game that will please casual gamers and hardcore Fuggler fans. We caution you when downloading this one, because the Fugglers may take over your life!”
Stephanie Gauld, Director of Blue Zoo Digital
BRIGHTON ZOO APPOINTS NEW CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Blue Zoo’s Regional Animation Hub Appoints George Sawyer as Creative Director
Brighton Zoo, the bold and agile sister to award-winning animation studio Blue Zoo, has appointed George Sawyer as Creative Director, a strategic hire that signals the studio’s accelerating ambition in digital-first content, multiplatform storytelling, and a widened reach beyond kids to young adult audiences.
The Brighton-based studio, which operates as a regional animation hub within the Blue Zoo group, has built its reputation at the convergence of creativity and technology in today’s dynamic content market. George’s appointment strengthens that positioning, bringing a rare combination of narrative craft, creative leadership, and cross-format experience spanning animation, live action, digital and branded content.
George Sawyer is a multi-award-winning writer, director and creative lead. His credits include the International Emmy-winning Horrible Histories and the BAFTA Scotland-winning The Brilliant World of Tom Gates. Known for combining strong narrative instincts with hands-on creative direction, he has developed innovative projects for broadcasters, studios and major global brands, working across scripted comedy, children’s television, and digital content.
“We’re really excited to be bringing George formally into the fold, following our recent collaboration on the Fugglers YouTube content. His appointment allows us to move with greater creative ambition on all fronts. George will lead on our digital-first social video and interactive productions, spearhead our cross-platform development slate, and push into content for older audiences. This is Brighton Zoo growing into its next chapter.”
Juliet Tzabar, Managing Director of Brighton Zoo
“I love telling stories, and I’m always looking for new and interesting ways to do that. What stood out to me about Brighton Zoo is its innovative, collaborative approach and a true instinct to develop ideas that work across multiple platforms. I want to deliver stories from a diverse range of voices that extend beyond traditional TV. I’m really excited to get started with Juliet and the team.”
George Sawyer, Creative Director of Blue Zoo
Since its inception in 2023 as a joint venture between Blue Zoo and Plug-in Media, Brighton Zoo has established itself as a regional powerhouse – delivering two series of Supertato for CBeebies, interactive games for BBC Bitesize and the Tate Gallery, and branded entertainment for companies including Tonies, Radio Flyer and Fugglers. Their episodic and shorts content for toy brand Fugglers has generated over 20 million views on YouTube and TikTok, with an average TikTok engagement rate of 11.68%, demonstrating the studio’s ability to build genuine audience connection beyond traditional broadcast. Through its innovative slate, the studio creates bold, platform-native stories that connect with young audiences through the channels they love – reflecting how they play, what they watch, and where they interact.
With George Sawyer now leading creative, Brighton Zoo is well placed to push further – developing new IP, targeting broader audiences, embracing new production pipelines, and continuing to redefine what a nimble, digitally-native studio can achieve.
MAGIC LIGHT PICTURES LAUNCHES STIRLING ANIMATION STUDIO
Magic Light Pictures has confirmed the launch of its new, wholly owned studio
Magic Light Pictures has confirmed the launch of Stirling Animation Studio (SAS) where the company will complete production of its landmark preschool series Zog for the BBC.
Following Wild Child Animation entering Administration, Magic Light acted swiftly to acquire the studio’s assets and production pipeline in order to safeguard crew roles, protect vital Scottish animation infrastructure, and ensure continuity of production.
Stirling Animation Studio keeps the highly skilled and experienced crew together, and SAS will complete production of all 52 episodes of Zog on schedule for delivery to the BBC and international partners.
“We’ve acted quickly to protect something valuable – a brilliant team, a major production, and a key part of Scotland’s animation capability. It’s been important to provide stability and renewed confidence for the crew at a critical time. The formation of Stirling Animation Studio will ensure completion of our Zog series and we hope it can also be a platform for future productions. We are already exploring ideas about the future so we can support the next generation of world-class animation talent in Scotland.”
Martin Pope and Michael Rose, co-founders of Magic Light Pictures
Based on the internationally bestselling books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Zog remains a cornerstone project for Magic Light Pictures and its partners, including the BBC, ZDF, BBC Studios and Creative Scotland.
CAKE Signs Deal with BBC Studios on Animation Family Sitcom ‘Nikhil & Jay’ for Poland, South Africa, Asia, and India
Leading kids’ entertainment specialist CAKE has announced a deal with BBC Studios for 2D animated family sitcom Nikhil & Jay
The agreement finalised by CAKE’s Director of Sales Julien Farçat will see the 52 x 11 minute funny family centred series launch later this year on CBeebies in Poland, South Africa, Asia and India.
Based on award-winning author Chitra Soundar’s book series, Nikhil & Jay is produced by King Banana TV (Yakka Dee!, Meet the Experts), Paper Owl Films (Pablo, Happy The Hoglet), exec produced and distributed by CAKE (Angry Birds Summer Madness and Supa Team 4) and with funding from Northern Ireland Screen. The series premiered in the UK on CBeebies and iPlayer in 2025.
A multi-award-winning series, Nikhil & Jay most recently won an RTS Northern Ireland Award for Children’s Animation as well as being nominated for a Rockie Award in 2025. The series is a finalist in the 6+ fiction category at this year’s Prix Jeunesse.
Nikhil & Jay follows the adventures of two dual heritage brothers and their loveable family. With both Indian and English grandparents, their life is a rich blend of customs, traditions, festivals, foods and music. A family sitcom written from a place of knowledge, love and authentic, lived experience of two cultures coming together, Nikhil & Jay celebrates the similarities and differences with funny and relatable stories, full of warmth, heart and humour.
The series stars British Tamil actor Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton, One Piece, Dune Prophecy, Alex Rider, How to Date Billy Walsh, Instructions for A Teenage Armageddon), Janine Duvitski (Old Jack’s Boat, One Foot in the Grave, Abigail’s Party, Benidorm); Mark Benton (Early Doors, Waterloo Road, Christmas Lights, Catterick, Shakespeare and Hathaway, The Syndicate) as well as a diverse team of writers, animators, composers and directors who make up Nikhil & Jay’s offscreen talent.
“Nikhil and Jay is a beautifully animated, world-class series and a wonderful addition to our slate. Featuring two dual-heritage brothers, it offers a joyful and authentic portrayal of everyday family life while strengthening representation of South Asian and multicultural families in children’s media. Created by the acclaimed production company behind Yakka Dee!, a cornerstone of CBeebies’ output, the show brings diverse stories to life with warmth and charm.”
Maga Diaz, Global Acquisitions Executive at BBC Studios
“We’re proud to see Nikhil & Jay continue its journey around the world. Its warmth, humour and authentic cultural storytelling make it a standout series, and we’re delighted to partner again with BBC Studios to bring it to new audiences.”
Dominic Gardiner, Managing Director Distribution at CAKE