Here Comes 'The Mr. Men Show'

Based on the children's publications that first began in the 1970s by Roger Hargreaves, The Mr. Men Show will become a short-form animated television series, highlighting its sprightly characters and their never ending adventures in lesson-learning. Bringing into animation with a few producers and co-producers well established in the domestic television animation industry, The Mr. Men Show looks to bring the Mr. Men and Little Miss books to life like never before, as a series of quarter-hour shorts. Often a source of quirky humor as well as of important though often shirked life lessons, the Mr. Men and Little Miss property reveals to its young readers the consequences of misunderstanding general social concepts.

Reportedly the first production to straightforwardly bring sketch comedy to youth audiences in the animated medium, The Mr. Men Show is a fast-paced program with sharp wit whose characters' circumstances are the delicate result of their fortune (or misfortune). With the property familiar with grandparents, caregivers and adults at present, the producers of The Mr. Men Show is ready to be exposed to a new generation of individuals eager for the exploits of little round colorful characters. This new television animation is slated for a 52x11 format, co-produced between Chorion Ltd. and Cartoon Network with animation production by Renegade Animation (2D flash animation).

"We are very excited to be working with Chorion to bring these characters to a new generation of viewers," Bob Higgins, senior vice-president of programming and original animation for Cartoon Network commented.

"We have jointly developed a unique and fresh approach by adopting the sketch comedy show formula for kids. We feel this is a funny and engaging show, and that it sits firmly with Cartoon Network's comedy roots and will appeal to our younger audience."

Based on the classic publications that have sold more than 100 million copies across the world (5 million annually), The Mr. Men Show will reportedly see some twenty-five Mr. Men and Little Miss characters will appear in the animated television series.

In an established attempt to stay true to the core style and integrity of the original property, the program's animators will both stay true to the classic character designs as well as slightly rework some of the characters for their introduction to a new generation of youth. Designed to accompany the fast-paced action and immediate-result comedy/humor that sketch comedy feeds off of, The Mr. Men Show will attempt to be both refreshing and markedly familiar to its audience.

At present scheduled to air on Cartoon Network in January 2008, The Mr. Men Show looks to offer a contemporary feel on a revered literary property. Chorion Ltd. will handle all non-United States television media sales, licensing and merchandising worldwide. The reinvention or re-designing of classic properties for children's audiences has been a recurring concept for many programming directors over the past two years, and the addition of Roger Hargreaves' is another one of such titles. The Mr. Men Show, though not slated for a major creative overhaul as has occurred to some classic/memorable children's properties, will still be marketed as a newly designed series for a new generation.

"We are extremely happy to partner with the Cartoon Network for the new Mr. Men series," Chorion CEO Nicholas James commented. "Chorion's ability to add value to such classic brands and infuse them with a contemporary appeal makes it unique within the global market. The production adds to the company's fast-growing production slate."