A new Welsh-language animation series encouraging preschool audiences to discover the wonders of nature and the world around them will premiere on S4C, S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer on October 21. Title Egin Bach (Tiny Budy), the series is created by Cardiff-based studio Bumpybox with support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales and investment from S4C’s Commercial Content Fund.
“At S4C, we’re passionate about inspiring curiosity and creativity in our youngest viewers, and Egin Bach does exactly that. The series celebrates the magic of the natural world through a child’s eyes, and we’re proud to support a homegrown production that combines beautiful animation with educational storytelling,” said Sioned Geraint, S4C’s Content Commissioner for Children and Learners. “It’s a wonderful example of how Welsh-language content can spark imagination and connection, both locally and globally.”
Comprising 26 five-minute episodes, Egin Bach follows the big adventures of six tiny, budding explorers as they navigate the vast wilderness of a small back garden. Each episode focuses on a different aspect of the natural world — from flowers and seeds to insects, garden creatures and the elements like rain and sunshine — inspiring children to appreciate the beauty and importance of nature close to home.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to see Egin Bach premiere on S4C, and we hope it will inspire a new generation of Welsh children to explore the outdoors,” said Sam Wright, producer and director at Bumpybox. “We’re incredibly grateful to Sioned and the team at S4C for their support in bringing the series to life. As a Wales-based company, collaborating with S4C has long been one of our ambitions. While we’ve created Welsh-language content before, S4C truly represents the heart of Welsh storytelling.
“We’d also like to thank ITV, who will broadcast Tiny Buds the English-language version following its S4C premiere, as well as the teams at Creative Wales and S4C International for their invaluable support in making the project a reality. Egin Bach is a particularly meaningful project for us, as it’s an evolution of the idea that first brought our team together nearly 15 years ago.”
The series’ success is expected to strengthen the company’s long-term sustainability and global reach, with plans in place for international distribution.
“It’s great to help Egin Bach get off the ground,” commented Claire Urguhart, Head of S4C’s Commercial Content Fund. “This investment will allow Bumpybox to export this hopeful, homegrown animation to channels and children around the world.”
Joedi Langley, interim Head of Creative Wales, added, “Bumpybox has created some amazing work in recent years, from working on an award-winning feature film Kensuke’s Kingdom to developing 3D pet Triceratops for My Petsaurus for CBeebies and much more. I am thrilled that, with funding support from Creative Wales, the team has been able to develop the concept then access resources needed to create this wonderful animated series for children that’s developed in both Welsh and English, and I wish them every success in the next exciting chapter of their journey.”
