Another series by Finnish animation studio Gigglebug Entertainment goes to the major kids’ channel.
Best and Bester was first presented at Cartoon Forum in 2017 by company founders Anttu Harlin and Joonas Utti. It raised the absolute attention already then, and soon after the pitching event in France the company announced its partnership with London-based Eye Present directed by Genevieve Dexter, whose other company Serious Lunch has distributed the Gigglebug series.
Read more on Best & Bester on Eye Present page
The deal btw the Finnish creative team and London-based distributor was already leaked by Cartoon Brew after Kidscreen Summit last year. The event, this year taking place virtually, will start on the 7th February and includes a session by Anttu Harlin talking about joy. Harlin has given speeches in the event twice before.
Huge growth within a young company with all major players from Disney to Netflix
It is only last October when Gigglebug announced its collaboration with Disney on making The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti the original developed at Gigglebug. Disney coproduces the series for the first time with the Nordic broadcasting company, Finland’s YLE. The National broadcasting company in Finland has recently declared, that it will now focus on international level animation series. Producer Jarmo Oksa said late last year to Finnanimation that the collaboration being first of its kind gives them a learning opportunity too. Children’s programming hours have increased recently but expectations for the quality are set high. New collaborative models are then made possible.
Gigglebug started its collaboration with Disney by developing the concept for the Disney series 101 Dalmatian Street and produced digital shorts to accompany the tv series. The series was made by Atomic Cartoons in Vancouver. It can be viewed on Disney+ VOD service.
For Netflix, Gigglebug has also done shorts with Atomic Cartoons on Last Kids on Earth series based on book 1 Apocalypse Survival Guide.
Gigglebug series bases on the award-winning mobile app of the same title with over one million downloads worldwide. It finished production in Spring 2018. The series was originally commissioned by YLE (Finland) and SRF (Switzerland), and has been broadcast in 14 countries including Milkshake (UK), RAI (Italy), SVT (Sweden), DRTV (Denmark), ERR (Estonia), ORF (Austria), Paka Paka (Argentina) and HOP! (Israel). The Gigglebug live show is the most popular kids & family show in Sony Music Finland’s roster, and the brand also enjoys new book publications annually by Otava.
Gigglebug has been supported by Business Finland in their Young Innovative Company program, Creative Europe, Finnish Film Foundation and IPR.VC. The founders have worked earlier with Anima Boutique and Character Business Company before establishing “the IP creating factory”.