KidScreen Magazine - 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.

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