The global distributor secures majority stake in award-winning studio behind show's like 'Counterfeit Cat' and 'Dodo.’
Mediawan Kids & Family, a European independent multi-genre production studio and global distributor of children’s and family content, has announced its first international acquisition for the Kids & Family division with the purchase of a majority stake in UK-based production company Wildseed Studios. The new partnership will allow the division to enrich its catalogue with new animation and live-action content and extend its network of international talent. It will also provide a strong and complementary addition to its existing portfolio of studios.
Multi-award winning Wildseed Studios has produced worldwide hits such as the family live-action series The Last Bus (Netflix), multi-award-winning feature film Hungerford, children’s animation series Dodo (Sky Kids), kids’ 8-11 animated comedy Counterfeit Cat (Disney Channel) and soon-to-be-screened Special Ama’s Story (Sky Kids).
Creative director Jesse Cleverly, former Head of co-productions and acquisitions at BBC Children’s, and managing director Miles Bullough, former Head of broadcast at Aardman Animations, founded Wildseed Studios in 2013.
“I am delighted to welcome Jesse, Miles and their team to Mediawan Kids & Family,” said Julien Borde, Mediawan Kids & Family President. “Wildseed is a renowned and well-established UK producer with a strong network of international talent and partners. They have a unique take on innovation and a real know-how on talent incubation. We are thrilled to start working with them to allow new talent to bring new stories and universes to kids, young adults and families. Wildseed will pursue the development of its own slate of content but also partner with our studios in Europe to bring new co-productions to the market.”
Cleverly added, “We are excited to be part of the Mediawan family and hugely admire their modern, agile approach to creativity and partnership. With Mediawan’s support, we look forward to discovering more award-winning creators and their original properties, producing more world-class content for audiences below 30 and growing Wildseed within the Mediawan group. One of the attractions of Mediawan for us was the ability to continue to drive our own diverse slate of shows, as well as working with other studios in the group to develop co-productions with a truly international focus.”
“We are thrilled with this new partnership,” said Elisabeth d’Arvieu, Mediawan Pictures Managing Director. “After Italy and the development of an Animation branch within our studio Palomar, it is a new establishment in a territory where animation is key, matching perfectly with our European studio strategy we are developing on all our genres.”
Source: Mediawan Kids & Family
Whitney is a freelance writer focusing on VFX-driven fantasy film & TV as well as preschool animation.
