Aardman Animations’ new stop-motion kids’ series, Shaun the Sheep, has broadened its broadcast pasture though a far-reaching deal with Nickelodeon International. Aardman International has sold the Wallace and Gromit spin-off to Nickelodeon Benelux, Spain, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Commissioned by CBBC in the U.K., Shaun the Sheep is a series of 40 seven-minute-long adventures starring a character from the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit short A Close Shave. Shaun doesn’t follow the flock but rather leads them into all sorts of trouble. He and his pals run rings around their poor sheepdog, Bitzer, as he tries to stop the Farmer from finding out what’s going on behind his back. The show is directed by Richard Goleszowski and is aimed a kids 4-10.
‘Shaun the Sheep is a perfect fit for Nickelodeon’s international channels, without saying a word he speaks volumes with a single look or glance,’ says Jules Borkent, VP of programming for Nickelodeon International. ‘The strong brand awareness, silly humour and great characters will really appeal to our audience.’
The Nickeodeon International deal will bring Shaun‘s reach to 72 territories worldwide. The show will launch in Benelux in April, Spain and India in May, and Australia and New Zealand later in the year once it has aired on ABC and TVNZ. Other new shows in the pipeline at Aardman include Chop Socky Chooks for Cartoon Network and TELETOON, and the American version of Creature Comforts for CBS.
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