Children's television

Television General Television Topics
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H20: Just Add Water launched a lot of young actors too with either their first or one of their earliest roles.

  • Claire Holt.
  • Phoebe Tonkin.
  • Cariba Heine.
  • Angus McLaren.
  • Indiana Evans.
  • Luke Mitchell.
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Which Show Set On The Gold Coast Was Better, H2O Just Add Water Or The Sleepover Club?

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H2O: Just Add Water

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By far. Doesn’t compare to TSC in the slightest.

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Why?

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It’s funny, clever and has better actors.

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I don’t have anything to add. JBar has nailed it.

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RTÉ, Corus and ABC have each picked up season nine (22×30’) of tween dance drama The Next Step, as has Australian streamer Stan. The live-action show follows the trials, tribulations and triumphs of a dance troupe and is produced by Boat Rocker.

RTÉ, TVB in Hong Kong, Turner Broadcasting in Italy and MBC in the MENA region have picked up season 3 of ABC’s The Strange Chores.

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The Kids IP Incubator project was announced at the Australian Children’s Content Summit being held in Coffs Harbour this week. Applications will open on Thursday 19 September.

Screen Australia and ACTF will support up to eight teams with innovative ideas for new IP on digital platforms aimed at engaging children. This initiative will demystify technology, offering education and access to shape a different approach to content development. It will provide teams with the opportunity to learn, research, discuss and explore the IP and formats that work online in a collaborative environment. The initiative will include a bespoke program of webinars and masterclasses with key international content strategists, analysts and marketplace experts, collaborative workshops as well as individualised one-on-one mentorships.

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Do Not Watch This Show is one of four new shows announced by ABC at the Australian Children’s Content Summit in Coffs Harbour today. The other three are:

Andrew and the Big, Big Unicorn: an Australian / Canadian / Singapore production created by Dan Nixon
Flower & Flour: an animated pre-school series by Cheeky Little Media
Knee High Spies: a pre-school show combines live action and puppetry from Werner Productions (The Newsreader) and Australian Children’s Television Foundation

Andy Lee also posted on his Instagram this afternoon about Do Not Watch This Series.

https://www.instagram.com/andytomlee/p/C_NL5fXy1BI/?hl=en&img_index=1

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ABC announces four new children’s programs

ABC and Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, Screen NSW and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) have announced four new children’s titles at the Australian Children’s Content Summit in Coffs Harbour.

The programs, three animations and one live action hybrid are all original titles and will be highlights of the ABC’s Children’s content slate in 2025 and beyond.

DO NOT WATCH THIS SHOW is an animated adaptation of the successful children’s book series DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOK, created by comedian and author Andy Lee and illustrated by Victorian illustrator Heath McKenzie.

The series, aimed at kids aged 7-12, will have eleven-minute episodes and is set to appear on ABC Family and ABC iview in 2025.

Animated series Andrew the Big BIG Unicorn follows Andrew, a wide-eyed, joyful young rhino bursting with creativity as he navigates life as a big BIG unicorn in the ever-surprising world of Hornsby Downs.

The series is a Pirate Size Productions, Mainframe Studios and Infinite Studios production for the ABC, CBC and SRC. It was created by Dan Nixon and co-created by Alyssa Smedley and will see 40 seven-minute episodes screen on ABC Kids and ABC iview from 2025.

Another animation series is Flower & Flour which takes a little girl with a big heart, sprinkles in some imagination, and just adds Flour. The series follows the everyday adventures of imaginative seven-year-old Flower and her best friend Flour - a purring bag of flour that acts like a cat. Flower’s parents run ‘Penny and Dirk’s Dumpling House’, a much-loved family restaurant at the heart of a vibrant inner-city community embracing the sights, sounds and tastes of many cultures.

Created by Dan Mansour, this pre-school series from Cheeky Little Media will have 39 seven-minute episodes screening on ABC Kids and ABC iview in 2026.

Knee High Spies is a live action hybrid preschool series combining live-action and puppetry and comes from internationally successful writer and creator Tim Bain. The series is backed by the powerhouse kid’s production team at Werner Film Productions and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF).

The series follows teddy bear Jeremy Buttons and his ragtag team of toy spies as they race the clock to save their human family from the mischievous schemes of Machiavellian pet guinea pig, Silver Paw. Featuring fast-paced action, epic missions, interactive problem-solving and cuddly, loveable toys, the series will captivate preschool children and their families. The series will have 20 eleven-minute episodes screening on ABC Kids and ABC iview in 2026.

ABC Head of Screen Content Jennifer Collins, who announced the new shows at the Australian Children’s Content Summit said: “I can’t wait to see this slate of incredible children’s programs come to life.

“The ABC has long been the home of the very best creative and original children’s programming and these imaginative and distinctive shows are testament to that.

“I would like to thank our production and funding partners who share our ambition to entertain and inspire the next generation of Australian children.”

Screen Australia COO, Grainne Brunsdon said: “It’s vital that Australian kids can see their stories and experiences reflected on screen.

“Families across the country are in for a treat with these four new projects, spanning animation and live-action. Australian creatives consistently deliver high-quality, culturally rich children’s content that resonates globally. I can’t wait to see these shows captivate a new generation on the ABC.”

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “Andy Lee’s new animation series Do Not Watch This Show leads a terrific lineup of new children’s TV shows supported by the Victorian Government that showcase our creativity and screen industry talent. We are proud to continue to back quality children’s entertainment and support the Victorian screen industry to bring these wonderful new stories to our screens.”

Head of Screen NSW Kyas Hepworth said: “Screen NSW are thrilled to support the team at Cheeky Little Media create another engaging and heartwarming animation series for the young, and young at heart, to enjoy. Flower & Flour joins the exciting slate of original IP from Cheeky Little Media and is another great example of how our Slate Development Program enables NSW companies to move multiple projects into production, ensuring there is a pipeline of standout Australian content.”

Production credits

Andrew the Big BIG Unicorn - 40 x 7 mins

Andrew the Big BIG Unicorn is a Pirate Size Productions, Mainframe Studios and Infinite Studios Australian-Canadian-Singapore co-production for the ABC, CBC and SRC. Major production investment from ABC in association with Screen Australia. Financed with support from the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Mainframe Studios. International distribution, licensing and merchandising led by Kartoon Studios. Developed with assistance from VicScreen. Created by Dan Nixon, Co-Created by Alyssa Smedley. Directed by Katrina Hadley. Producers: Michael Hefferon, Bryony McLachlan and Freddie Yeo. Executive Producers: Michael Hefferon, Tanya Green, Avrill Stark, Michael Wiluan. Co-Producer: Nick Colla.

DO NOT WATCH THIS SHOW - 12 x 11 mins

DO NOT WATCH THIS SHOW is a Lee Bones Production for ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with ABC and VicScreen. Directed by Leo Baker. Series Producer Patrick Crawley. Written by Andy Lee, Jason Marion, Katie Westcott, Melanie Bracewell and Ray Matsen. Art Directed by Heath McKenzie. Producers Andy Lee, Greg Sitch. International Sales Lee Bones/Frank Worldwide Sales.

Flower & Flour – 39 x 7 mins

Flower & Flour is produced by Cheeky Little Media for the ABC. With production funding from Screen Australia and post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Developed with the assistance of the ABC and Screen NSW. International sales by the Sinking Ship Entertainment and global licensing by Cheeky Little Commercial. Created by Dan Mansour. Directed by Cindy Sharka Writers: Dan Mansour, Wendy Hanna, Amy Stewart, Lawrence Leung. Script Edited by Sam Carroll. Executive Producers: Patrick Egerton, Celine Goetz.

Knee High Spies - 20 x 11 mins

Knee High Spies is a Werner Films production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Financed in association with VicScreen. International sales by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF). Developed with assistance of the ABC and the ACTF. Created, written and co-produced by Tim Bain. Produced by Nicole Minchin. Directed by Jack Jameson. Writers: Tim Bain, Charlotte Rose Hamlyn and Alix Beane. Script producer: Ray Boseley. Executive Producers: Joanna Werner, Stuart Menzies, Bernadette O’Mahony.

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Good to see!

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All short-form commissions of 7-11 mins per episode.

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better than nothing

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Australian Children’s Television Foundation press release

ACTF prepares for MIPCOM

The live-action family film Windcatcher and animated comedy series Eddie’s Lil’ Homies will be available for screening by international buyers for the first time at MIP Junior, being held in Cannes later this month.

The ACTF international distribution team will attend MIP Junior from 18-20 October and then MIPCOM from 21-24 October.

As well as showcasing Windcatcher and Eddie’s Lil’ Homies during the market, the team also expects interest in the upcoming third season of animated preschool series Kangaroo Beach, as well as several other recently released shows from the extensive ACTF catalogue.

Windcatcher has attracted international attention since its launch in Australia in March. It has been selected for screening at several international film festivals, including the Milly Valley Film Festival (MVFF) in California and the the Filem’On International Film Festival for Young Audiences in Belgium. The heartwarming family feature has also been named a national winner in two categories at the Asian Academy Creative Awards and is a finalist in the MIPCOM Diversify TV Awards.

Eddie’s Lil’ Homies was also honoured at the Asian Academy Creative Awards, named the national winner for Best Animation.

Kangaroo Beach Season 3 is currently in production. Since splashing onto screens in 2020, the preschool animation has become a smash hit with young viewers and their families, and the upcoming season is already attracting buyer interest and has been acquired by Nickelodeon UK for a 2025 launch.

Visit the ACTF team during MIPCOM in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes, at stand number P-1.G61 from 21-24 October.

MIP Junior is a kids’ content market for producers, distributors and buyers of kids programming which precedes MIPCOM, attracting 1,200 delegates and 350 buyers from more than 60 countries.

MIPCOM is the world’s largest exhibition of studios and distributors and the top showcase for content across all genres and platforms. Each year, industry professionals from more than 100 countries converge on Cannes to compete for new series, meet international production partners and set the development agenda for the year ahead.

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Since when did the ABC pick up CN shows like “We Bare Bears” and “Be Cool, Scooby Doo”?

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