Cartoon Saloon, an Academy Award nominated Irish Animation Studio based in Kilkenny, has announced the exciting Nick Jr. UK news on their official website,
cartoonsaloon.ie, that Nickelodeon UK's preschool channel, Nick Jr. UK, has picked up the broadcast rights to "Puffin Rock", a brand new animated children's TV series narrated by Irish actor Chris O'Dowd ("Bridesmaids", "The IT Crowd", "Moone Boy", Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation's "Monsters Vs. Aliens" TV series)!
Co-produced by Oscar nominated Irish animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, global publisher Penguin, and Northern Irish children's media company, Dog Ears, "Puffin Rock" will be broadcast by Nick Jr. in the UK and RTÉjr in Ireland. Production will commence in September 2013 and delivery will begin in October 2014.
"Puffin Rock" is a multi-platform brand that follows the adventures of a family of puffins living on a wild and beautiful Irish island. Pip, an adventure-loving young Puffling, and the hero of the show, explores the island with her little brother Baba – making friends, hunting for food and trying to stay off the dinner menu. The TV series will feature 39 seven-minute episodes (39 x 7') and Penguin will produce digital and physical format books, and products, to accompany the series.
As narrator, Chris O’Dowd mixes amusing observations with interesting facts about the wildlife on the island. O’Dowd is excited about his first foray into children's TV: "I love the whole idea behind Puffin Rock and the style of the artwork. I can't wait to be involved in it, but then I do love anything with Puffins."
Original Press Release:
Chris O'Dowd, Nick Jr. UK and RTÉjr set sail for Puffin Rock
Broadcasters Nick Jr. UK and RTÉjr have signed-up Puffin Rock, a new animated children’s TV series, featuring narration by Irish actor Chris O'Dowd.
The co-producers of Puffin Rock – Oscar nominated Irish animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, global publisher
Penguin, and Northern Irish children's media company,
Dog Ears – are delighted to announce that the series will be broadcast by Nick Jr. in the UK and RTÉjr in Ireland, and narrated by Chris O'Dowd. Production will commence in September 2013 and delivery will begin in October 2014. Puffin Rock is a multi-platform brand that follows the adventures of a family of puffins living on a wild and beautiful Irish island. Pip, an adventure-loving young Puffling, and the hero of the show, explores the island with her little brother Baba – making friends, hunting for food and trying to stay off the dinner menu. The TV series will feature 39 seven-minute episodes and Penguin will produce digital and physical format books, and products, to accompany it.
As narrator, Chris O'Dowd (of Bridesmaids, Moone Boy and The IT Crowd fame) mixes amusing observations with interesting facts about the wildlife on the island. O’Dowd is excited about his first foray into children's TV: "I love the whole idea behind Puffin Rock and the style of the artwork. I can't wait to be involved in it, but then I do love anything with Puffins."
Tim Patterson, VP, Director of Programming – Nickelodeon UK, said:
"Puffin Rock with its beautiful art style and charming storytelling is a perfect complement to the Nick Jr. schedule. It is a rich, gorgeous show and I am sure kids and their parents will be drawn into the programme’s beguiling world, but then I do love anything with rocks."
Pauline Macnamara, Executive Producer, Animation & Independent Commissioning RTÉ Young Peoples Programmes said: "Puffin Rock is a perfect fit for our new pre-school channel RTÉjr. We're delighted to be bringing stories of Irish coastal wildlife and environment to young Irish children through the world of Pip, Baba and friends. We’re also excited about the creative talents Dog Ears and Cartoon Saloon have drawn together for this project. It bodes well for a very magical series which will capture the imaginations of children everywhere.'
Francesca Dow, Managing Director, Penguin Children's Division said: "Penguin Children’s are excited to be bringing our experience of developing classic brands to creating and investing in brand new IP. At Penguin we are experts at storytelling and we love the story and the look and the feel of the characters in Puffin Rock. Of course, the fact that the show is all about baby Puffins also made this an even more appealing project for us. We are thrilled to be working with Chris O'Dowd and to have Nick Jr. UK and RTÉ jr on board as broadcasters."
Paul Young said: 'RTÉjr and Nick Jr. are the perfect broadcasting partners for Puffin Rock, so we are delighted to add Pauline Macnamara, Tim Patterson and their teams to our production. Cartoon Saloon has worked with Chris O'Dowd on his show Moone Boy, so we’re very excited to be able to bring his unique sense of humour and charming voice to Puffin Rock.'
--Ends--
Also, from
Kidscreen:
Chris O’Dowd-narrated Puffin Rock gets Nick Jr. UK deal
Broadcasters Nick Jr. UK and RTEjr have purchased Puffin Rock, an animated children’s TV series narrated by Irish actor Chris O’Dowd, of Bridesmaids fame.
Puffin Rock is a co-pro between Ireland-based Cartoon Saloon, global publisher Penguin, and Northern Irish children’s media company Dog Ears. The series, first announced last November, will be broadcast by Nick Jr. in the UK and RTEjr in Ireland. Production will commences this month and delivery will begin next October.
The 39 x seven-minute series follows the adventures of a family of puffins living on a wild and beautiful Irish island. Penguin will produce digital and physical format books, and products, to accompany it.
As narrator, Chris O’Dowd will mix observations with interesting facts about the wildlife on the island
Tags: Cartoon Saloon, Dog Ears, Nick Jr. UK, Penguin, Puffin Rock, RTEjr
Also, from
Broadcast:
Commissioning
Nick Jr orders Chris O'Dowd-voiced Puffin Rock
Nick Jr has commissioned animated kids series Puffin Rock voiced by Bridesmaids and Moone Boy star Chris O’Dowd.
The Viacom-owned broadcaster has ordered the series, in association with Irish network RTÉjr, from Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon and Northern Irish indie Dog Ears as well as publisher Penguin.
Production on the 39 x 7-minute series will start this month and it will be delivered in October 2014.
The series follows a family of puffins living on a wild and beautiful Irish island and stars Pip, an adventure-loving young puffling.
It marks O’Dowd’s first move into kids TV. “I love the whole idea behind Puffin Rock and the style of the artwork. I can’t wait to be involved in it, but then I do love anything with Puffins,” he said.
Tim Patterson, VP, director of programming – Nickelodeon UK, added: “Puffin Rock with its beautiful art style and charming storytelling is a perfect complement to the Nick Jr. schedule. It is a rich, gorgeous show and I am sure kids and their parents will be drawn into the programme’s beguiling world, but then I do love anything with rocks.”
Also, from
The Bookseller:
Penguin-produced cartoon coming to TV
A cartoon co-produced by Penguin has been signed up by satellite TV channel Nick Jr. UK and Irish TV channel RTÉjr.
Puffin Rock, which has been created in collaboration with Penguin, Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, and Northern Irish children's media company Dog Ears, will be narrated by actor Chris O'Dowd. Production will begin this month and the show will be delivered in October 2014.
The series will follow a family of puffins living on an Irish island, focusing on young puffling Pip and her little brother Baba. The TV series will be made up of 39 seven-minute episodes, and Penguin will produce physical and digital books to accompany it.
Francesca Dow, m.d. Penguin Children's Divison, said: "Penguin Children’s are excited to be bringing our experience of developing classic brands to creating and investing in brand new IP. At Penguin we are experts at storytelling and we love the story and the look and the feel of the characters in Puffin Rock. Of course, the fact that the show is all about baby Puffins also made this an even more appealing project for us."
Tim Patterson, vice president and director of programming at Nickelodeon UK, said: “Puffin Rock with its beautiful art style and charming storytelling is a perfect complement to the Nick Jr. schedule. It is a rich, gorgeous show and I am sure kids and their parents will be drawn into the programme’s beguiling world."
[...] Penguin Puffin Rock TV
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