Belfast’s Sixteen South Ltd. has joined forces with BAFTA winning company, Kindle Entertainment to produce a third 26 x 11’series of ‘Big and Small’ for CBeebies which will shoot in Belfast in May. The group are also in co-production with a 52 x 11’ minute series called ‘Pajanimals’ with the Jim Henson Company which will shoot in Belfast in July.
Sixteen South have joined with Kindle Entertainment to produce the third series of ‘Big and ‘Small’. The new series, re-commissioned by CBeebies, will film in Belfast from mid-May to mid-July. Featuring the voices of comedian, Lenny Henry and Oscar nominated actress, Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), each ‘Big and Small’ story revolves around the comedy of ‘Big and Small’s contrasting approaches to life, encouraging young children to appreciate that people have many different ideas and opinions.
The 26 x 11 minute series regularly achieves the highest audience rating in its BBC timeslot and has been seen by 38% of all children in the UK aged 4-6. The third series will be executive produced by Kindle’s Anne Brogan (My Parents are Aliens) and Sixteen South’s Colin Williams (Sesame Tree), with David Collier (The Basil Brush Show) producing. The production has received funding from Northern Ireland Screen supported by Invest NI and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Colin Williams, Executive Producer for Sixteen South, adds: “We’re absolutely delighted to be joining the Big and Small family and pleased to be bringing the production of such a well-loved show to Northern Ireland. Our new partnership with Kindle is a very exciting development for us and for the growing film and TV sector in Northern Ireland.”
Sixteen South are also currently in pre-production with ‘Pajanimals’, a 52 x 11 minute series to be co-produced with the Jim Henson Company for US preschool network, Sprout. Filming for the show will commence in Belfast in late July and will run for 109 days. ‘The Pajanimals’ will follow the adventures of the four sweet and gentle characters. designed and built by the Oscar and Emmy Award-winning Jim Henson's Creature Shop from original concepts by artist Jeff Muncy (Pet Alien).
The series’ directors are Dez McCarthy (Dick and Dom’s Funny Business) and Jack Jameson (Gigglebiz). The scripting of the show will be undertaken by a team working in both Belfast and the US under the leadership of Alex Rockwell (Bear in the Big Blue House). The Jim Henson Company’s CEO, Lisa Henson and Executive Vice President of Children’s Entertainment, Halle Stanford will serve as executive producers for the series, along with long-time Henson producer, Alex Rockwell and Jeff Muncy.
Serving as Executive Producer for Sprout will be Senior Vice President of Programming, Andrew Beecham, while Lisa O’Brien, Sprout’s Vice President of Original Programming and Development, will serve as Executive in Charge of Production. Sixteen South’s Colin Williams will serve as producer for the series, with Michael Silversher (Dinosaur Train) and Patty Silversher (Winnie the Pooh) composing the music. The show will be edited in Sixteen South's edit suites in Belfast later this year.
The show will broadcast in the autumn on 24-hour U.S. preschool television channel, Sprout. The series debuted to the international market at MIP-TV for television, digital and DVD distribution. An Irish/ UK broadcaster for the show has yet to be confirmed. ‘Pajanimals’ is supported by the Northern Ireland Screen Fund, Invest NI and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
