CBC Kids Boards “Arthur” Creator’s New Animated Series as Canadian Commissioning Partner
Independent content creation, distribution and licensing company Epic Story Media Inc. (ESM) and CBC Kids, the children’s programming division of Canada’s national public broadcaster, have confirmed a deal for “Hop”, the forthcoming new preschool comedy series from the creator of “Arthur”, Marc Brown. The series, produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation, was greenlit earlier this year by MAX with CBC Kids now joining as a commissioning broadcaster. Epic Story Media will be presenting the series and screening the first episode at MIPJUNIOR and MIPCOM.
“Hop” marks Brown’s first television show since “Arthur’s” staggering 25-year run, where he began telling children’s stories. Co-creators and fellow “Arthur” alums, Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown, are joining Marc in bringing his beloved children’s book illustrations to life with “Hop”. Epic has engaged RespectAbility – the esteemed advocacy nonprofit organization fighting stigma and advancing opportunity for people with disabilities – to consult on the series.
“Hop” follows an eclectic group of besties whose comedic adventures teach preschoolers about embracing their own uniqueness. Led by Hop, an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other, he and his quirky friends address kid-relatable problems with a healthy dose of laughter, silliness, and adventure.
Set in the aspirational community of Fair Village, every episode is grounded in emotional reality but soars into the world of fantasy, populated by dragons, trolls, talking banjos, and magic crayons. With a gentle balance of humor and heart, our heroes go on fun escapades to discover that they can overcome any obstacle with perseverance, creativity, and teamwork. Together, they show us the power of friendship and kindness as they navigate the mud puddles of life.
Ken Faier, El Presidente and Founder of Epic Story Media, said: “As we gear up for MIPCOM, we’re excited to once again be bringing an engaging, vibrant and varied slate of shows from leading creators, which each offer something unique for the whole family to enjoy. “Hop” is already attracting a great deal of attention from the international market thanks to Marc and the heavyweight creative team behind the show, and it's fantastic to now welcome CBC to this heartwarming and inclusive series.”
“We’re excited to bring the latest series from the legendary Marc Brown to audiences across Canada. This fun-forward show is full of loveable characters who kids will relate to right away,” said Marie McCann, Senior Director, Children’s Content, CBC Kids.
This series is set to launch in Q2 2024.
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Tanya Koivusalo, tanya.koivusalo@cbc.ca
ABOUT EPIC STORY MEDIA:
Founded by Ken Faier, Epic Story Media launched in 2017 to put creators at the centre of compelling and engaging franchises for kids. In 2018 ESM secured strategic investment from Vancouver-based production and finance entity Bron Ventures. Epic now has an active and growing slate of properties in development working with some of the most talented creators around the world.
Ken previously served as SVP and GM and then SVP and executive producer for DHX Media following DHX Media’s acquisition of Nerd Corps Entertainment, where Ken served as President for over 10 years. Faier also purchased DHX Media’s interactive division which operates as a subsidiary under the name Epic Story Interactive.
About CBC/Radio-Canada:
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About CBC Kids
CBC Kids entertains, informs, and enlightens kids living in Canada from two to tween and their grownups on CBC TV, CBC Gem, cbckids.ca and cbckidsnews.ca as well as on YouTube and TikTok.
