Hot shows headed to the Croisette

MIPCOM is heading back to Cannes for its first in-person event since the pandemic began. The TV market will look a little different in 2021, and not just because of COVID-19 screenings and vaccination requirements. The two-day MIPJunior, traditionally held at a nearby hotel, has been folded into the broader festival, which runs from October 11 to 14.

But those changes haven’t stopped kids content creators from lining up new shows that they hope will make a splash at the trade event, and beyond it. These are some of the coolest new shows on our radar ahead of MIPCOM.

Aiko and the Masters of Time (pictured above) - 7 and up

Producers: Saturday Animation Studio (Canada) Style: CG animation Format: 10 x 22 minutes Budget: US$600,000 to US$630,000 per episode Status: In development, with a pitch bible, script and teaser available. Cookbook Media is handling distribution, and Saturday Animation is seeking broadcast partners. Delivery: Q2 2023

In a modern sci-fi world where historic warriors from different eras exist together, two teens—a samurai and a cowboy—discover they have the power to travel through time. After young samurai Aiko decides to venture back to save her mom, the duo has to stay a step ahead of villainous forces that want to steal the time-traveling power for themselves. Guy Harvey, André Lavoie, Aaron Simpson, Fred Faubert and Louis-Simon Ménard co-created and co-developed this mystery series.

GG Odyssey - 6 to 10

Producer: TeamTO (France) Style: CG animation Format: 26 x 22 minutes Budget: US$11.6 million Status: In development, with a bible available. Delivery: Q1 or Q2 2023

When video gamer Kiran is mistaken for a mighty warrior, he’s transported to the world of Greek mythology, where the gods and goddesses of Olympus task him with saving King Odysseus. To complete this quest, he teams up with the daughter of Hades and starts an adventure that takes them through a variety of legends. With podcaster Liv Albert (Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!) and author Fabian Clavel (Panic in Mythology) attached as consultants, the series will tap into a demand that TeamTO sees for kid-friendly stories focused on Greek mythology.

Zombra: Ghoul Detective - 10 to 14

Producers: Sinking Ship Entertainment (Canada), Nelvana (Canada) Style: Live action and CG animation Format: 12 x 22 minutes Budget: Not yet finalized Status: In development, with a pitch deck andscript completed. Now seeking broadcast partners. Delivery: Q4 2022

Zombra is a Black-Latina teen girl who uses her special investigative talents to solve otherworldly mysteries. After her sister is kidnapped, Zombra has to find allies and take on new cases that bring her ever closer to finding her lost sibling. Jadiel Dowlin (Hero Elementary, Dino Dana) created this supernatural mixed-media adventure series.

Rita Peters: 1.19 Meters - 6 to 9

Producer: One Animation (Singapore) Style: CG animation Format: 26 x 11 minutes Budget: US$3.9 million Status: In development, with a pitch deck available. OneAnimation is seeking co-production partners. Delivery: Q4 2022

One Animation and Adam Redfern (The Adventures of Paddington) created this comedy-adventure series that stars Rita, a very small girl—3.9 feet tall to be ex- act—who discovers she has the power to bring the characters on her height chart to life. At first glance, it seems like these magical beings will solve all of Rita’s problems, but it quickly becomes clear that they cause more trouble than they fix. Rita and her real life friends have to team up to help others, and ultimately learn that friendship is the only magic they need.

Ivy’s Bookshop - 4 to 6

Producers: Ink and Light (Ireland), Muste ja Valo (Finland) Style: 2D animation Format: 39 x seven minutes Budget: US$2.9 million Status: In development, with a sample script and bible available. Now seeking broadcast and distribution partners. Delivery: 2023

Created by Irish artist Joshua Hogan, this series centers around a young dyslexic dragon who dreams of adventure like the ones she reads about in books. But when Ivy discovers that she and her best friend have the power to visit magical worlds from her favorite stories, she gets the chance to explore fantastical new locations and meet amazing creatures that ultimately help her solve everyday problems.

Pet Shop Zombies - 6 to 11

Producers: Epic Story Media (Canada), Alibi Pivotal Kids (Canada), Treason Media (Canada), Loomi Animation (Canada) Style: 2D animation Format: 20 x five minutes Budget: US$1 to US$2 million Status: In pre-production, with scripts and a first episode available. Currently seeking broadcasters. Delivery: Q4 2022

In this fast-paced comedy, a pack of pet shop animals—who also happen to be zombies—struggle to bring order to the apocalypse. These cute undead animals have to work together to protect their shop and stop a pair of evil creatures from taking over the world.