The ABC has pre-bought animated comedy series Goat Girl, which is expected to debut in Australia in 2022.
The new season of The Wonder Gang starts next Monday, October 18.
ABC ME’s First Day adds an Emmy to trophy cabinet
ABC ME series First Day has won an International Emmy Kids Award celebrating outstanding children’s content, adding to its haul of prestigious prizes from around the world.
The win marks the second year running the ABC has claimed the Best Kids Live Action Emmy Award, following the success in 2020 of Hardball. The International Emmy for First Day adds to its international trophies from the Rockie Awards, Rose d’Or Awards, Kidscreen Awards and the GLAAD Media Awards, which celebrate programs for their representation of LGBTQ people and the issues that affect their lives.
The empowering drama series about a transgender girl starting high school, which will return for a second four-part season, has also won an Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) Award and received two AACTA Award nominations. First Day has also been embraced by broadcasters around the world, including sales to Hulu in the United States, CBBC in the United Kingdom and in other countries such as France, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Taiwan, Israel, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand.
First Day, which is available to watch now on ABC iview, was produced for the ABC by Epic Films in association with Kojo Entertainment, and tells the story of Hannah Bradford (played by Evie Macdonald), a transgender girl having to navigate the challenges of starting a new school and finding the courage to live as her most authentic self.
Libbie Doherty, ABC Head of Children’s, said: “ First Day is a stunning team effort with an incredible cast and crew, who have delivered a world-class show with a commitment to creativity and excellence.
“Congratulations to writer/director Julie Kalceff for her brilliant creative vision and producers Kirsty Stark, Kate Croser and Kate Butler for bringing this very special series to screen. Thanks also to ABC Children’s, Screen Australia, the SAFC [South Australian Film Corporation] and ACTF [Australian Children’s Television Foundation] for their support.
“Australian stories are celebrated internationally for their authenticity, honesty and ambition. The ABC is proud to play a leading role in showcasing our homegrown content and creativity on the world stage.”
Kirsty Stark of Epic Films said: “ First Day is the combined effort of our incredible cast, crew and supporters to bring an important story to the screen and we’re so grateful to everyone who has been involved throughout the journey. An Emmy is a significant award and we’re thrilled that even more trans kids around the world will now have the opportunity to see themselves represented on TV.”
The win adds to ABC Children’s golden run at the International Emmy Kids Awards, following success last year for Hardball and Bluey – which are available to watch now on ABC iview.
The full list of winners at the 10th International Emmy Kids Awards is available here.
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Built to Survive - New ABC ME series
Biologist and third-generation Indigenous educator Phil Breslin will lead a new ten-part children’s natural history factual series for ABC ME that has begun filming in Queensland.
Produced by Butter Media, Built to Survive will follow Breslin as he braves some of the country’s most extreme and hostile environments in search of animal species that have evolved to withstand the conditions.
His journey will include consulting with First Nations peoples about habitats and lifecycles, as he explores ecosystems in the remote wilderness of the Sunshine State.
Breslin produces alongside Jerry Butterfield and Dan Walkington, with Mary Ellen Mullane and Bernadette O’Mahony serving as executive producers.
Built to Survive is supported by support from Screen NSW through the NSW PDV, and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, who will distribute the series.
ABC head of children’s production Libbie Doherty said the series would tap into the innate desire of children to better understand their surroundings.
“Aussie kids are adventurers at heart, captivated by our unique land, curious wildlife, and Indigenous knowledge,” she said.
“Phil’s fresh perspective combines all three and takes the ABC ME audience on a wild ride across Australia.”
ACTF head of content Bernadette O’Mahony said the foundation was pleased to support Butter Media as they produce their first children’s series.
“Kids across the globe will enjoy travelling with Phil on his remote adventures and discovering our unique Australian wildlife and how they adapt to their environments,” she said.
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Christmas Movies Stunt
Premiere movies include Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon, Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas, Saving Santa, Elliot the Littlest Reindeer, Spirit Riding Free: Spirit of Christmas as well as much loved favourites Paddington, Shaun the Sheep: The Movie, Midnight Gang, Dr. Suess’ The Grinch Musical and the “Wallace and Gromit” films.
Born To Spy
From Friday 10 December 5.00pm
Yu Na and Min Park want more excitement in their lives, but they don’t realise just how crazy things will become when they discover that their once unremarkable parents are actually international spies and have disappeared in suspicious circumstances!
Born To Spy follows siblings Yu Na and Min Park s (Danny Kim and Julia Yon) who want more excitement in their ordinary lives but end up getting way more than they bargained for in a high- stakes secret mission. Yu Na and Min don’t realise just how crazy things can become once they discover that their once unremarkable parents are actually international spies on a mission.
Yu Na and Min wake to find that their parents have disappeared and all that’s left behind is a note at the breakfast table: “Morning my darlings, we’ve had to run out. Keep safe until we return. Trust no one and act normal. P.S Feed the Dog”.
The note’s strange enough, but last time they checked, they didn’t even have a dog! Now, there’s an Alsatian with a name tag that reads ‘Ludwig’ sniffing around the house. While Yu Na and Min work together to “adult” their way through every day they discover they must complete their parents’ spy “to do” list and begin to notice strange people lurking around the neighbourhood.
Deciding they can’t fullfil their spy mission alone, they recruit Min’s drama club friends and Yu Na enlists the support of her bestie, Dutch. This mismatched ragamuffin bunch have to use all their skills to uncover their mission, fight off the baddies, keep themselves alive, save the free world… plus do their own laundry!
Production credits: An Aquarius Films production in association with Buster Productions for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW and Cutting Edge. ABC Commercial holds worldwide distribution rights.
Still So Awkward
Linear premiere from Wednesday 5 January 5.00pm
Lily arrives at University to discover that her life – living with Frankie, Samson and Seb, working for bossy Josh, and studying drama with TV star Claire – is still so awkward!
Lily arrives at Burke Hill university feeling out of her depth, everyone looks so cool compared to her, but it doesn’t take Lily long to settle in and makes friends with her new flatmates.
Frankie Simpson is studying art and fashion, and like her artwork, Frankie is unconventional, thoughtful and sometimes a bit odd. Sebastian Faulks-Smythe comes from a world of privilege, whilst a sucker for luxury foods, he is generous and kind but sometimes tells a white lie (which backfires). Samson Rosling is the shy one, he’s studying statistics which means he knows the risk of harm is vastly increased if he leaves his room. Samson might lack street smarts, but he is super intelligent, loyal and a tech whizz.
Lily is studying drama led by the world-renowned lecturer Steve Grinstead, who believes the only relationship his students should have is with their craft. Lily’s fellow student is Claire Fox, famous for her role as an alien in hit tv show ‘Z Gang 5’. Lily can’t believe she is going to be best friends with a celebrity, not that she’s one to bang on about how famous Claire is… Claire has that covered!
Lily lands a job at the campus café working for Josh Cooper. He’s good looking but bossy, annoying, and opinionated. Lily thinks she and Josh have nothing in common, but Josh is also driven, hardworking and fun, so maybe they do?? Coincidentally, Jeff Malone turns up as the Student Welfare Officer. He’s terrible at his job, spending his time listening to music from the 90s or trying to impress Meg Watson, Lily’s scary, rule-loving Hall Warden.
Superworm
Saturday 15 January 6.30pm
Animated adaptation of Superworm, the children’s story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler Directed by Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman, from a script by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang.Olivia Colman and Matt Smith provide the vocal talents and tell the story of the super-long and super-strong worm who goes out of his way to help other animals and insects.
Production credits: Magic Light Pictures for BBC One.
I thought it was some sort of Superwog spinoff for a second! 
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Kangaroo Beach Summer Special will air tomorrow (Saturday) at 8.10am, as revealed during ABC’s NYE telecast tonight.
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Malory Towers - Season 2
From Monday 14 February – Daily at 5.00 pm
Based on the Enid Blyton books - adventure, fun and boarding school antics are back in full swing at Malory Towers, with midnight feasts, classroom tricks and lasting friendship.
Darrell and the gang return to Malory Towers for their second form. Adventure, fun and boarding school antics are back in full swing, with midnight feasts, classroom tricks and lasting friendship.
Darrell finds herself caught between fun-loving Alicia and the more cautious Sally, while Gwen discovers new ways to manipulate the girls in the dorm. Ellen Wilson joins Malory Towers on a scholarship, but it takes time for her to warm to the school and her new classmates. Mr. Parker also arrives as the new second form teacher, with Matron and Mam’zelle Rougier returning to keep the girls in order.
However, among the excitement, fun and capers, the girls are brought together by news that shocks them all…
Good Game Spawn Point - Season 13
From Saturday 19 February 9.00 am
The show for younger gamers, by gamers is back! Good Game: Spawn Point (GGSP) is hosted by Gem, Rad and D.A.R.R.E.N. GGSP has the latest game reviews, gaming news, live streams, fun stories from the weird world of gaming and heaps more. Be nice, have fun, and keep gaming!
Andy and the Band
From Monday 7 March 7.15pm
In this music-driven comedy caper Andy and the Band risk missing their next gig by taking on super-weird Odd Jobs for their fans. A madcap mix of songs, slapstick and silliness.
Preschoolers will enjoy the musical adventures of BBC kids’ TV presenter Andy Day and his backing band The Odd Socks who make it their mission to help a fan in need each episode - no mission is too big, too small or too…odd!
Andy’s sister Ruby wants to meet her hero - superstar vlogger - Fay Moss, so Andy and the Band risk missing their next gig by racing off to help out.
Staging a fake fashion photo shoot by posing as flashy designers, they attempt to bag some time with Fay by distracting her security guard!
Cousin Mac’s new auto-tuner invention is put to good use, but after an epic diva tantrum, will Fay live up to all of Ruby expectations?
Production credit: A Ninja Pig Productions and Three Arrows Productions for CBBC in the UK.
MaveriX
New Series from Friday 1 April 5.30pm
In this action-filled kids adventure drama, six young motocross riders come together to form a team to make the national titles or crash out trying. The stakes are high but the biggest win of all might be the friends they make for life.
It’s all action, all the time with MaveriX in the red-hot heart of Australia. The ten-episode series follows a group of wannabe junior motocross champs that make up the first intake of the MaveriX Academy – a bold training program designed to push the riders to their limits, supercharge their talents and set them on a course to the big time.
Over their summer holidays Scott, Jenny, Kaden, Richie, Bear and Angelique will train in Central Australia - one of the hottest, toughest yet most beautiful environments known to humankind. Here they will learn to race as a team – or fail.
The adrenaline-charged kids adventure drama introduces six young stars from across the country as the talented young motocross riders at MaveriX Academy. Darcy Tadich is Scott, Tatiana Goode plays Jenny, Sam Winspear-Schillings is Bear, Tdjiirm McGuire stars as Richie, Sebastian Tang plays Kaden and Charlotte Maggi is Angelique.
Joining the young team are Jane Harber (Offspring, The Moodys) and Rohan Nichol (Home and Away, A Place To Call Home).
Production credit: A Brindle Films production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC and Screen Territory. Financed with support from the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and the South Australian Film Corporation. Created by: Rachel Clements, Sam Meikle & Isaac Elliot. Writers: Sam Meikle, Fin Edquist, Michelle Offen, Kelly Schilling and Sarinah Masukor. Directors: Ian Watson, Geoff Bennett, Isaac Elliott and Kelly Schilling. Producers Trisha Morton- Thomas and Rachel Clements. Executive Producers: Rachel Clements, Sam Meikle, Isaac Elliott, Bernadette O’Mahony. ABC Executive Producer Mary-Ellen Mullane.
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Emmy award-winning series First Day returns to ABC ME & Hulu on March 31
Nat (Nandini Rajagopal), Hannah (Evie Macdonald) and Olivia (Elena Liu) in First Day Season 2
First Day premieres Thursday March 31 at 5pm AEDT on ABC ME with all episodes available to binge on ABC iView from 7am.
The international Emmy award-winning series, First Day, returns to ABC ME and Hulu (USA) for a new four-part season. Following on from the ground-breaking first series, Evie Macdonald is back as Hannah Bradford, a transgender girl starting a new year at Hillview High with her friends Olivia and Nat.
Season two builds on the themes in the original series as Hannah not only has to navigate the everyday challenges of fitting in at high school, but additional obstacles that come with being transgender. This year she decides to run for Class Captain, a decision which puts her in the public spotlight and exposes her to microaggressions from her classmates. Her search for a community of likeminded students opens her up to new perspectives and the courage to face her fears around dating.
Ahead of the series two premiere, catch up on First Day season one, now available to binge on ABC iView.
Production credits: First Day is an Epic Films production in association with KOJO Studios for Hulu and the ABC. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with the South Australian Film Corporation and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Developed with the assistance of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Producers: Kirsty Stark and Kate Butler. Written, directed, and co-produced by Julie Kalceff. Co-written by Eloise Brook (Ep 2) & Martine Delaney (Ep 4). ABC Executive Producer Libbie Doherty.
The Strange Chores - Season 2
World Premiere from Friday 24 June 5.50pm
Two teenage wannabe warriors & a spirited ghost girl must complete the freaky, bizarre & sometimes downright terrifying chores that will teach them everything they need to know to become butt-kicking monster hunters!
Charlie, Que, Pierce, Helsing, and Snorp return to ABC ME for another spooky series of The Strange Chores.
The gang of best friends are tasked with completing the freaky, bizarre and sometimes downright terrifying chores that will teach them everything they need to know to become a bunch of butt- kicking, nunchuck slinging, “I ain’t afraid of no monster-slime” monster hunters!
Production details: The Strange Chores is a Ludo Studio and Media World Pictures production for the ABC, with production funding from Screen Australia, VicScreen, Screen Queensland and Distribution by Boat Rocker Studios.
Little J and Big Cuz Series 3
Monday 4 July 6.25pm
Little J & Big Cuz are two Indigenous Australian kids who are busy with the ups and downs of playground and classroom. There’s always something surprising going on whether it’s at school, in the backyard… or beyond.
Little J (Miranda Tapsell), Big Cuz (Deborah Mailman), Nanna (Ursula Yovich) and Old Dog (Aaron Fa’Aoso) are back for more adventures in this brand new series.
Built To Survive
Monday 4 July 7.00pm
Phil Breslin draws on the knowledge of science, First Nations peoples and his own experience in the wild, to find out how animals have adapted to some of the world’s most extreme and diverse, natural habitats.
Nature as we know it, took millions of years to evolve. Every animal and plant in this vast web of life has withstood countless generations of fighting and fleeing, hunting and hiding, feeding and breeding. But each of these success stories flourish under the laws of the jungle, only the fittest survive, every creature under the sun must adapt or die.
Third generation Indigenous educator Phil Breslin is on a mission to reveal the Australian animals that are Built to Survive our diverse Aussie environments. A teacher, adventurer and wildlife aficionado originally from Gimuy (Cairns) in Far North Queensland, he draws on the knowledge of science, First Nations peoples, and his own experience in the wild, to find out how animals have adapted to some of the world’s most extreme and diverse, natural environments. Phil will travel to the most remote corners of the Australian continent in a bid to discover a world that most kids have only ever Googled.
Built to Survive features engaging demonstrations with creatures in order to reveal the tricks and techniques they employ to survive in their specific environments. Motion graphics and 3D imagery reveal why there is no place for inefficiency in nature.
The journey through each extreme environment will culminate in Phil deliberating over and then choosing the animal he believes to be without a doubt, built to survive each environment. Which one will you choose?
Production credit: © 2022 Breslin & Butter Pty Ltd and Australian Broadcasting Corporation.