9 Story Goes to Work on 'Wild Kratts' Animation

9 Story Entertainment (Toronto, ON) and The Kratt Brothers Company are set to enter production on a new animated series geared toward enlightening young audiences further when it comes to learning about and caring for endangered animals.

Wild Kratts, an animated comedy developed in conjunction with PBS Kids (U.S.), hopes to bring to the animated world all of the fun and energy real-life zoologists Chris and Martin Kratt enjoy on a daily basis.

The Kratt brothers, self-proclaimed "creature adventurers," are entertainers, adventurers, and educators, traveling around the world and teaching audiences of the animal world and where certain species fit into the whole ecological spectrum.

Wild Kratts will be an animated extension of the two brothers, taking kid viewers along on their missions to locate, identify, and save wild animals. The animated series will be an animal rescue show, at its core, however eager to integrate more familiar elements akin to an adventure cartoon: such as wilderness exploration and combating a recurring villain. Wild Kratts is currently in production for forty, twenty-two minute episodes, targeting kids aged six and older.

"Chris and Martin Kratt are brilliant entertainers who have parlayed their enthusiasm for animals and ever-growing popularity with family audiences into a renowned family entertainment brand," Vince Commisso, CEO, 9 Story Entertainment, commented to one source. "We are thrilled to be working with this incredible franchise and look forward to a long and successful partnership."

In the animated series, the Kratts will take to exploring the habitats and local environments of unusual or extraordinary animals, all the while educating young viewers about the animals they find. The education angle is said to include story-driven notes on science, mathematics, and technology. As Wild Kratts continues, the brothers (and any sidekicks or associates accompanying them), are likely to run into their common foe, Zach Varmitech, an obsessed collector of endangered animals. Varmitech has the sinister plan to collect strange animals and use them in order to assemble an army of biotech robots for the purpose of planetary control. Naturally, it's up to the Kratts (and their reliable animal friends) to put a stop to Varmitech's evil plans.

Chris and Martin Kratt are currently noted for their work on Kratt's Creatures, which currently airs on PBS Kids GO. According to a finance report from PBS (2008), PBS dedicated roughly $500,000 for research and development, in the earlier stages of development for Wild Kratts.

The series will be co-produced and co-distributed by The Kratt Brothers Company and 9 Story Entertainment. Broadcasters currently include PBS Kids GO (U.S.), TVOntario (Canada), Tele-Quebec (Canada), and Knowledge Network (Canada). 9 Story Entertainment is responsible for distribution outside of North America.

Previous 9 Story Animation News:
"Almost Naked Animals Enters Production" at AnimationInsider.net (10/2009)

Recent Canada Animation News:
"My Life Me Animation Now in New Hands" at AnimationInsider.net (02/2010)
"NFB Animation Takes to Sundance 2010" at AnimationInsider.net (12/2009)
"CG Rollbots Head to Home Video" at AnimationInsider.net (12/2009)

(Sources: Animation Magazine, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, others)