CG Series 'Olivia' Preps for International Release

Children's property Olivia was one of the many coming-soon cartoons featured at the now past international kid's entertainment and media convention MIPCOM Junior. A highly anticipated computer animated television series based on a series of well-received children's books that spotlight a six-year-old girl, who happens to be a pig, Olivia has emerged from the Cannes, France event with a slew of secured broadcast deals, keeping the yet-to-air program on its toes well before its anticipated launch, currently scheduled for Spring 2009.

The computer animated preschool series was announced this past June 2008 [related A.I. news: "'Olivia' Children's Books Get Animation Treatment"]. Olivia, which tracks the imaginative and occasionally fearless little piggy as she learns to try new things, gains the confidence to meet new friends, and much more, will assuredly be making its way to many more territories once it becomes ready for terrestrial delivery. A co-production of Nickelodeon (U.S.) and Chorion (U.K.), the CG property is based on an original book series written and illustrated by Ian Falconer.

"Olivia is proving to be incredibly popular as both a television and licensed property and we are delighted to have secured these new deals at MIPCOM," Geraint Marsh, Senior Vice President, TV Sales at Chorion, commented.

"The books are already an established brand and we are excited to introduce Olivia to new audiences worldwide."

Olivia, which was reportedly the fifth most-viewed property on the bill at MIPCOM Junior, out of the nearly one thousand that screened. Featuring animation production by Brown Bag Films, the early education CG series Olivia has already earned television deals with TF1 (France), Nick Jr. (U.K.), Treehouse Television (Canada), Danmarks Radio (Denmark), and with The Walt Disney Co. (Latin America).

The property, though still in production, is edging ahead of expectations, as the series' co-production partners are eager to see the book-to-animation mold solidified in the forthcoming year. With an early investment of USD $15 million into Olivia from Chorion, it's easy to understand why. The preschool cartoon has already established sales with Five (U.K.), ABC (Australia), YLE (Finland), SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), and RUV (Iceland).

on Chorion: Chorion is a leading provider of quality family entertainment for the global marketplace. Chorion brings a combination of brand management savvy and creative vision to the development of literary copyrights across all media. Chorion's portfolio includes classic children's brands such as Mr. Men and Little Miss, Beatrix Potter, Paddington, Noddy, OLIVIA, and The World of Eric Carle as well as art and lifestyle brands such as Country Diary and Rough Guides. Chorion also owns and manages the literary works of Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler and Georges Simenon, among others.