“Little Princess,” the British pre-school animation classic, is heading to Sky UK, in a deal struck with Banijay Kids & Family which sees the pay TV buying its complete catalog.
Further new distribution deals on “Little Princess,” a four-time BAFTA nominee, have been struck with Nordisk Film, RTV Slovenia and Italy’s TIM.
Based on the best-selling children’s books by award-winning author and illustrator Tony Ross, “Little Princess” launched on the U.K.’s Channel 4 “Milkshake” children’s TV block in 2006 and ran through four seasons of a total 135 episodes, the last ending in 2020.
First time round, when on linear TV, “Little Princess” was released in 140 territories. The deal announced by Banijay Kids & Family on Wednesday at Mipcom o underscore that what the market is looking for is evergreen brands, not necessarily brand new linear TV shows.
“Little Princess” has, however, cultivated from 2008 to a fandom base on YouTube and other platforms, underscoring its resilient appeal.
Sky U.K. has acquired all series and specials. Nordisk Film has acquired Seasons 1-3 and the series’ specials for SVOD across the Nordics; RTV Slovenia has Seasons 1-2, and Telecom Italia’s TIM for its Italian streaming platform aggregator, TIMVision.
“Little Princess” is produced by The Illuminated Film Company, also behind Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories” and the RTS Award winning “The Rubbish World of Dave Spud.”
Set in a comfy world of gentle blocked colors, an ever blue sky, lovely grass low hills stretching to the horizon, and a purple-bricked castle, “Little Princess” turns on the antics of the bubbly, ever inquisitive and endearing titular character.
Sporting a permanent yellow crown teeth and craggy mild teeth who confronts every day problems – such as getting a scratch after a very minor accident on “I Need a Plaster. Coddled by her parents and the cast service, she learns, however, that she might be a princess but won’t always get her own way. Each episode, as Banijay Friends & Family notes, is told with a warm blend of humor and surprise.
“Across the industry, we’re seeing continued demand for trusted, established IP that can cut through in an increasingly crowded landscape. With a new U.K. home on Sky and partners across Europe, ‘Little Princess’ demonstrates the enduring value of distinctive characters and storytelling that audiences know and love,” said Julia Rowlands, SVP Sales, Co-Productions and Acquisitions, Banijay Kids & Family.Led by CEO Benoît Di Sabatino, Banijay Kids & Family brings together leading production companies – Monello Productions, Movimenti Production, Procidis, Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, Zodiak Kids & Family France, and Zodiak Productions UK – spanning France, Italy, and the U.K.
It is behind preeminent kids’ brands including “Totally Spies!,” “Mr Bean,” “Once Upon a Time…, LoliRock,” “Super Happy Magic Forest,” “Street Football” and “MiniHeroes of the Forest.”