MUMBAI: A host of new exhibitors from the kids entertainment sector will make their presence felt at the television trade event MipJunior and Mipcom next month in Cannes, France.
The list includes Skechers Entertainment Zevo-3, Technicolor Pete and Pickles, CreaCon Entertainment City of Friends and 41 Entertainment Blake : Double Identity.
In addition, Saban Brands Power Rangers returns to MipJunior and Mipcom with international television distributor MarVista Entertainment, as part of a major relaunch of the Power Rangers brand.
Mipcom 2010 will feature animation studios and children’s entertainment companies, with a combined presence of more than 1,680 animation buyers, making it the world’s largest exhibition and global acquisition marketplace for kids programming.
The 13th edition of MIPJunior, the international showcase for children‘s and youth TV programme screenings, will this year host over 1000 new programmes in its digital library. The event takes place from 2-3 October.
CreaCon Entertainment CEO Carl Christian Hamre says, “The screening process and facilities at MipJunior are so important for both broadcaster and rights owner, providing quality comprehensive screening time for the buyer and for the vendor and real-time feedback on who has viewed the series and their reaction” .
Out of the many companies targeting kids’ entertainment this year, Mipcom Opening Night Party and Internet Zone sponsor Saban Brands aims to make a big splash with the 18th season of the Power Rangers, along with television distributor MarVista Entertainment, sponsor of the MipJunior Networking Lunch.
Saban Brands president Elie Dekel says, “We are thrilled to have Saban Brands at this year’s Mipcom. The wide world of television comes to Mipcom every year ¬— it’s where we can meet our partners and forge new alliances. And especially this year, as we re-launch the Power Rangers, there is no better place to do business than Mipcom."
Produced by Method Animation‘s Aton Soumache, the new animated production of Le Petit Prince will world-premiere before MipJunior’s Closing Cocktail on 3 October. Soumache says, “The kids‘ animation market has gone through tremendous changes over the past years. Kids watch more and more high-quality programmes while overall quality of the programmes is increasing. Mipcom is a must-be place for the animation market and for Method Animation. It is the perfect place to feel new trends, the shape of the market and the financing opportunities.”
Also on 3 October, Sesame’s Street’s Bert and Ernie are inviting MipJunior’s attendees to a special presentation of ARD/NDR’s Sesamstrasse’s Carrot for Two, co-produced with Sesame Workshop.
Mipcom director Laurine Garaude says, “The kids’ entertainment sector is extremely dynamic. The number of animation exhibitors at Mipcom has risen 12 per cent in five years and we will welcome over 680 exhibiting companies this year, new sponsors and key newcomers. We are thrilled to see so many animation and kids’ programming companies attending Mipcom and MipJunior this year.”
With 95 years of experience in entertainment innovation, Technicolor is nevertheless a newcomer company at MIPJunior 2010. Technicolor’s VP Animation Steven Wendland says, “Technicolor is so excited to enter the original content business that we proudly plan to showcase our very first property, Pete and Pickles at this year’s MipJunior”.
12 Korean kids’ entertainment companies, including Roi Visual and SAMG Animation, will be present at MipJunior. The inaugural, What’s new in Korea venue, sponsored by Korea Culture and Content Agency, will provide MipJunior delegates with the opportunity to discover new partnership, co-production and content opportunities with their Korean counterparts.
On the conference front, Disney Channel’s series Hannah Montana co-creator, writer and executive producer Michael Poryes will give a keynote address at MipJunior on 3 October.
Skechers Entertainment senior VP creative development Kristen Van Cott will lead the Case Study conference Creating a Family Brand held on 2 October. Van Cott says, “For a producer to be able to grab the attention of today‘s kid viewers, content needs to tell a good story, offer compelling graphics and be interactive. The programming at Mipcom is remarkably diverse, yet the most successful shows all share those qualities. This market is essential to Skechers Entertainment as we introduce our branded content to the world.”
