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As just over 10,600 delegates from 107 countries assembled in Cannes this week for MIPCOM, according to event director Lucy Smith, animation series and specials continued to shine amid the bustling market. Here are a dozen fresh titles that caught our eye:
Mog’s Bad Thing
Produced by: Lupus Films; Ruth Fielding, Camilla Deakin
Package: 24 minutes
Target Audience: Kids and families
Type of Animation: 2D
Distributor: Serious Kids
Synopsis: Mog is the Thomas family’s tabby cat who always finds herself in big trouble. The family are hosting a cat show in their garden, which should be Mog’s chance to shine. But amid all the excitement, she does a “bad thing,” which leads her to hide in the attic while feeling sorry for herself and miss the start of the show. Can Mog find a way to leave her hiding place, make her family proud and save the day?
Standout Qualities: The series, adapted from Judith Kerr’s classic storybook, is a beautifully handcrafted, warmhearted and hilarious animated adventure from the team behind The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Kensuke’s Kingdom, and features a star-studded voice cast.
Exec Quote: “Following the huge success of our BAFTA-nominated animated special Mog’s Christmas, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Mog’s funny feline adventures to the screen once more,” says Ruth Fielding, co-founder and joint managing director of Lupus Films.
Delivery Date: Q4 2026
seriouskids.com
Pepper
Produced by: Millimages (France); Bonnie Lener
Co-producer: L’Incroyable Studio (France); Johan Chiron
Director: Nicolas Le Nevé
Distributor: Millimages
Package: 52 x 11 minutes
Target Audience: Kids 6-9
Type of Animation: 2D
Synopsis: What if our dreams became reality? That’s what Pepper goes through every day. Each morning when she wakes up, one element of her dreams literally lands in real life! This bizarre phenomenon causes a chain reaction of chaos in her life. Luckily, Pepper has a mysterious dream stone that holds the key to reversing the enchantment. Pepper must figure out how to activate it to restore balance before things get out of hand!
Delivery Date: Q4 2026
millimages.com
Centauri 5
Created by: Unicorn Entertainment and multiple Emmy winner Josh Selig
Package: 52 x 11 minutes
Target Audience: Kids 6-11
Type of Animation: Hybrid (2D and CG)
Synopsis: The series follows the adventures of Titan, a Samoyed laboratory dog who was sent on a mission into deep space. After completing his mission, Titan refused to return to Earth and instead launched Centauri 5, a group of heroic former lab animals committed to helping other vulnerable creatures throughout the universe. Titan also wants to find his father, Roman, who was also sent into space years before but never returned. He is supported by Sophie, a fierce and brilliant wildcat scientist; Limbo, a good-natured sloth who’s an expert in AI; Bitsy, a young red panda who is an empath and can feel what others feel; and Drake, a robot who was discarded due to various design flaws, which have turned him into a Luddite who believes technology is highly overrated!
Standout Qualities: Centauri 5 is a fresh take on outer space. Both the storytelling and the design have more in common with, say, Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs than Star Trek or Star Wars. This is a complex, funny and warmhearted show that will appeal to kids as well as teenagers and adults.
Exec Quote: “With the great success of Black Myth: Wukong, Ne Zha 2 and Pop Mart’s Labubu, China has entered a renaissance in the areas of character, gaming, content and toys,” says Josh Selig, China Bridge Content founder and co-creator of the series. “These are all uniquely Chinese IPs that travel effortlessly around the world. Centauri 5 endeavors to follow in their footsteps by bringing together artistic bona fides and commercial licensing savvy.”
Delivery Date: Q1 2027 (tentative)
chinabridgecontent.com
The Retrievers
Produced & Distributed by: Sixteen South
Package: 26 x 22 minutes
Target Audience: Kids
Type of Animation: CGI
Synopsis: Set on the streets of Paris, this comedy-adventure show follows two best friends — 11-year-old Molly and her dog, Otis — as they go on a series of hilarious, action-packed, crime-busting missions. Investigating crimes that have frustrated Molly’s dad, this detective duo is aided and abetted by a collection of undesirable street animals — a rat, a fox, a cockroach, a stray cat, a seagull, a maggot and a bluebottle — because to fight crime in a city as big as Paris, you need eyes and ears on every corner.
Standout Qualities: High-end CGI animation brings the streets of Paris vividly to life in this series, with hilarious and exciting storylines, appealing characters and great villains to boot. (Note: The series was the winner of the MIP Junior pitch competition earlier this week.)
Exec Quote: “Think Scooby-Doo meets Ocean’s Eleven with a dash of Ratatouille in this beautiful, CGI-animated series about an extraordinary girl and her loyal dog who solve impossible crimes with the help of a ragtag bunch of street-smart animals,” says Colin Williams, creative director at Sixteen South.
sixteensouth.tv
Super Guardians: Polar Rescue
Created by: ACOMMZ Co.
Distributor: Bomanbridge Media
Package: 52 x 11 minutes
Target Audience: Kids 4-7
Type of Animation: 3D
Synopsis: In the icy heart of the Arctic, a rookie joins a fearless team of heroes who take on wild adventures, help fellow citizens in danger and work as a team to complete impossible tasks … Welcome to Polar City, a frosty wonderland where folks cheer for snowball fights and cozy up in snowy homes.
Standout Qualities: Its depiction of humor, friendship and teamwork.
Exec Quote: Sonia Fleck, CEO Bomanbridge Media, says: “This adorable series is jam-packed with action, laughs and the coolest vehicles and gadgets. Super Guardians: Polar Rescue shows young viewers what it takes to be a hero, a friend, a good teammate and a responsible first responder. We’re thrilled to add Super Guardians to our kids’ portfolio and look forward to presenting the series to buyers at MIPCOM.”
Delivery: 26 x 11 minutes delivered / 26 x 11 minutes in development
bomanbridge.tv
Tuiga
Produced by: Copa Studio (Brazil)
Written & Directed by: Rodrigo Soldado
Package: 39 x 7 minutes
Target Audience: Kids 4-7
Type of Animation: 2D
Synopsis: A fun-filled adventure about a giraffe who makes deliveries around the world in a balloon and is accompanied by a young girl pilot, a feisty flower and an enthusiastic little rock. This strange team is the most fun delivery service in all of the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms! Tuiga the giraffe, Amelia the pilot, Nail the flower and Porridge the pebble bring their own special qualities to this colorful balloon crew.
Standout Qualities: The show stands out because it blends important social messages with captivating storytelling, all while keeping it lighthearted and accessible to children. The series addresses themes such as diversity, friendship and collaboration in a fun and respectful way, and in an ever-changing world, offers a valuable message for both parents and children to celebrate our differences.
copastudio.com
Louca
Produced by: Media Valley (France) and Belvision (Belgium)
Created by: Based on the comic books by Bruno Dequier
Package: 26 x 24 minutes
Target Audience: Kids 6-11
Type of Animation: CG
Distributed by: Studio 100 International
Synopsis: Louca’s a bit clumsy; his grades could be better and so could his football skills! He’s just a regular teen trying to figure things out. Then one day, he meets Nathan, who is confident, athletic, good at soccer and full of charm. He’s also … a ghost! And for some reason, Louca is the only person who can see him. What starts as a ghostly surprise turns into the unlikeliest of partnerships as Nathan becomes Louca’s secret coach in life.
Standout Qualities: The show combines the universal appeal of soccer with coming-of-age themes such as self-confidence, pushing one’s boundaries, courage and personal growth. The series is notable for its diverse cast — giving children of all genders and backgrounds the chance to identify with the characters. It also puts strong female characters in the spotlight. Its release shortly after the 2026 World Cup makes it well positioned to tap into the global enthusiasm for soccer.
Exec Quote: Dorian Buehrer, head of global distribution for Studio 100 International, says, “Louca is a vibrant comedy, blending humor, heart and high school life! Set against the backdrop of the football field, it showcases a wider story of courage, friendship and belief in yourself. With a diverse cast and values which transcend borders, Louca reflects the world young audiences live in and engages them through relatable characters and compellingly comedic stories.”
studio100international.com
Dino Ranch: Island Explorers
Created by: Matt Fernandes
Produced by: Industrial Brothers and Boat Rocker Studios
Package: 52 x 11 minutes
Target Audience: Preschool, 3-5
Type of Animation: CG
Synopsis: A spinoff of the hugely popular Dino Ranch series, Island Explorers sees the Cassidy clan trade their cowboy hats for explorer hats as they head off to the mysterious and exotic Dino Island. Home to Uncle Jack Cassidy, and teeming with new dinosaur species, humongous insects and prehistoric amphibians, Dino Island offers the intrepid clan a chance to explore a exhilarating jungle, active volcano and a previously undiscovered world under the water.
Standout Qualities: Packed with peril, adventure and fun, the series immerses audiences in fantastical new worlds and introduces them to concepts related to problem-solving, family, community, friendship and taking care of animals.
Exec Quote: Gia Delaney, senior vice president of global sales (kids and family) at Boat Rocker Studios, notes, “Dino Ranch: Island Explorers builds on the global success of Dino Ranch to transport viewers to an extraordinary backdrop of dino-filled jungles, spluttering volcanos and underwater worlds, fresh from the extraordinary imagination of Matt Fernandes.”
Delivery Date: Q4 2025
boatrocker.com
Chickies
Produced by: Xilam Animation, Cube Creative
Package: 78 x 7 minutes
Target Audience: Kids 4-7
Type of Animation: CG
Distributed by: Xilam Group
Synopsis: Chickies follows Chicky, Bekky and Poyo, three curious and cheerful chicks who have had enough of being cooped up. They slip away to explore the world any chance they get, because curiosity is written into the DNA of our trio! Venturing into this vast world becomes a true adventure, with the chicks’ naivete inevitably leading to hilarity and a series of disasters.
Standout Qualities: This spinoff from Xilam’s hit short-form comedy Where’s Chicky? allows fans to engage with their favorite characters in a new way, including by hearing their voices for the very first time. The new series also has an extended 7-minute length and provides even more hilarious and educational escapades with each episode.
Exec Quote: Marc du Pontavice, founder and CEO at Xilam Animation, says, “The world of Where’s Chicky? has brought viewers joy, education and humor for over 10 years, and it’s one of our most popular IPs across both traditional broadcasters and digital channels. For us, it’s a natural step forward to expand the universe with Chickies and bring a longer-form, dialogue-driven series to global audiences, and we’re sure both new and existing fans will be highly entertained by the fresh and extended adventures of our cute and mischievous characters.”
Delivery Date: June 2027
xilam.com
The Scarecrows’ Wedding
Produced by: Magic Light Pictures; Barney Goodland and Michael Rose
Package: 30 minutes
Target Audience: Kids and families
Type of Animation: CG
Synopsis: An enchanting story about two devoted scarecrows, Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay, who are planning a wedding to remember. When Harry insists on leaving the farm to collect one last thing for their big day, a smooth-talking scarecrow named Reginald Rake swoops in with plans of his own. Chaos ensues, and soon Betty is in danger and everything’s at risk. Can Harry get back in time and save the day?
Standout Qualities: Full of heart, humor and adventure, this is a joyful tale about loyalty, love and learning that the most important thing isn’t a grand gesture — it’s simply being together.
Exec Quote: Producer Barney Goodland says, “The Scarecrows’ Wedding is a beautiful story of ‘love conquers all’ and the joy of relationships. The voice talent has embodied these characters wonderfully, and there’s great chemistry between Jessie Buckley and Domhnall Gleeson as Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay. The animation is looking absolutely stunning, and we’re excited to share the film with families this Christmas.”
Delivery Date: December 2025
magiclightpictures.com
Pablo: Next Level
Created by: Gráinne McGuinness
Produced by: Paper Owl Films, co-produced with Crayola Studios; exec produced and internationally distributed by CAKE
Package: 40 x 11 minutes
Target Audience: Kids 5-8
Type of Animation: Mixed media
Synopsis: Pablo’s creativity is more important than ever as he tries to make sense of a strange new world where adventures spring from meeting the everyday challenges of school. By recording events in his sketchbook diary, Pablo processes his emotions, and through his drawings, is able to showcase his perspective on the world.
Standout Qualities: This is the eagerly anticipated spinoff from the groundbreaking, multi-award-winning and BAFTA-nominated Pablo, one of the first children’s series to feature an autistic central character. The show became a global success, airing in more than 190 territories and in 35 languages. Pablo: Next Level reflects the real-life experiences of autistic children and is written and voiced by young autistic talent. With fun and humor at its heart, it’s more than just a comedy. It’s a new way of seeing the world.
Exec Quote: “It’s fast and funny and powerful as through Pablo’s perspective we see how silly and nonsensical the world can be and the simple things we take for granted. By seeing life through Pablo’s eyes we can see how simple changes could make the world better if we all work together. This is truly an international comedy hit that will change the world by changing how we see it. I am so excited to be working with the BBC, CAKE and Crayola. I am eternally grateful to all the amazing talents that have come together to make it happen,” says Gráinne McGuinness, creative director, Paper Owl Films.
Delivery Date: 2026
cakeentertainment.com
Howly & Wooly
Produced by: Ánima Kitchent
Package: 57 x 7 minutes
Type of Animation: 2D
Target Audience: Kids 4-7
Synopsis: Meet Howly, a wild, untamed wolf with a big heart and Wooly, a calm, thoughtful sheep with gadgets galore — most of them poorly made. Wooly’s tinkering ways often leads to chaos but together, this unlikely duo builds a world full of friendship, discovery and connection.
Stand-out Qualities: This slapstick-inspired comedy series for preschoolers is packed with visual gags, and heartwarming moments and delivers clever, non-dialog family-friendly humor and strikes the perfect balance between laugh-out-loud chaos and clever storytelling, captivating both adults and kids alike. When chaos and order collide, Howly & Wooly find their own way.
helloanima.com
