Best of the Year

Who doesn't like a little recognition for a job well done? In the spirit of giving props, welcome to KidScreen's first quasi-formal celebration of the year's best efforts in international kids entertainment. We polled industry players to get a read on who made waves in 2007 that would likely resonate for years to come, and the result of that fieldwork is the following shortlist of candidates competing in six categories - Producer, Distributor, Broadcaster, Licensor, Licensee and Licensing Agent...of the Year.

This is where you come in! We're leaving it up to our readers to choose the winners. KidScreen has set up an online voting page at www.kidscreen.com/oftheyear. So after you've checked out the accomplishments of this year's nominees, please jump online and take a moment to fill out a ballot (one per reader, of course). The winners will be announced in our January issue, streeting on January 11, 2008. Happy voting!

Producer of the Year

Aardman Animations
2007 was anything but sheepish for Aardman Animations. Building on the launch of 40 x seven-minute stop-motion series Shaun the Sheep on CBBC, the studio's been busily expanding to target new demos and platforms. So far, Shaun has sold into more than 150 countries, and the global broadcast exposure is fuelling a growing merchandise program. HIT Entertainment's US operation snapped up North American licensing and home video rights to the property in September. And building on its relationship with the Beeb, Aardman has a greenlight to produce 52 x 10-minute spin-off Timmy for CBeebies' 2009 sked, marking the prodco's first foray into preschool programming.

Of course, Aardman is much more than a one-trick sheep. Also hitting its pipeline this year was high-profile Jamie Oliver toon Little J, which tells the story of a 10-year-old Jamie developing his taste for cooking. The concept generated considerable buyer interest at Cartoon Forum in September. And not to be overlooked is Aardman's as-yet-untitled Wallace & Gromit theatrical project and its three-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures, inked in April.

On the digital front, Aardman launched a new-and-improved Wallace & Gromit website and hooked up with internet TV operator Joost in May to launch an extensive Aardman branded channel. The company also struck significant mobile deals with Player X in the US and Rhythm NowMedia.

American Greetings Properties
For a company that didn't even exist before 2006, American Greetings Properties hasn't wasted any time in ramping up its production business. Along with delivering an all-new 52 x11-minute Care Bears series (based on parentco AG's classic property) and original toon Sushi Pack this fall to DIC's State-side Kewlopolis block on CBS, the company already has another two series underway - Maryoku Yummy, a co-pro with India's DQ Entertainment pegged for completion in 2008; and greeting card-based Twisted Whiskers, which involves DQ and Mike Young Productions.

Heading into 2008, AGP expects its output volume to continue to grow, and it's made some key hires to keep things moving. Namely, the studio plucked Sean Gorman from his VP of development post at The Hatchery in L.A. to become its VP of production and development in August. And then Sara Finn, former VP of animation at Sony Pictures, was brought in as VP of production in September.

BRB Internacional
As it winds up a year-long celebration of its 35th anniversary, BRB has never been busier. The Spanish studio has had notable success experimenting with short-form CGI projects this year. Having partnered with Scotland's Red Kite Animation on irreverent 65 x 90-second series The Imp, BRB struck significant broadcast deals with Cartoon Network (US), TVC (Spain), Canal+ (France) and Canada's YTV, as well as signing Universal Pictures as a mobile partner in the UK. And new short Angus & Cheryl (104 x two minutes) got snapped up by France 3 and Nickelodeon (Belgium, France, Holland, Italy, Latin America, Luxembourg, Portugal, Scandinavia, Spain and Switzerland).

But perhaps the biggest score for BRB was cracking the US market with Iron Kid. The 26-ep CGI series co-produced with Screen 21, Manga Entertainment, Designstorm, Daewon Media and TVE bowed on the Kids' WB! Saturday morning block this fall under the title Eon Kid.

And Bernard, which currently airs on the BBC and Cartoon Network in the US and Eastern Europe took a major leap into digital with several Euro mobile deals and a DVD contract with Universal Pictures International Entertainment. BRB is now hard at work on a full-length Bernard theatrical feature for 2009.

Chorion
Since bringing New York's Silver Lining Productions into the fold in late 2005, Chorion has been nurturing some of the market's highest-quality book-based series through development and production, as well as making major deals with the big three kidnets this year. To start with, The Mr. Men Show, based on Roger Hargreaves' classic publishing franchise, has just made its US debut on Cartoon Network, and master toy licensee Fisher-Price is planning a worldwide rollout of playthings in 2009. Ian Falconer's Olivia is also ready for her close-up, and a major development deal with Nick Jr. US will bring the 52 x 11-minute CGI series to screen next fall, with a full merchandising program to follow. And Chorion and French co-pro partner Marathon got the nod from France 3 and Disney Channel to send a new 26 x 22-minute series drawn from Enid Blyton's Famous Five books into production for 2008.

An early indication that the company was getting serious about its in-house production business came in March, when it made three significant hires, including poaching Kurt Mueller from Sesame Workshop to take the post of VP of creative. Finally, a new version of Chorion flagship property Noddy is in development for 2009 to coincide with his 60th anniversary.