Guru closes in on deals

Canadian animation studio Guru is close to inking its first development deal with a broadcaster and is already getting to work on widening its slate of animated series.

Ex-Disney, Canal+ and Viasat exec Mary Bredin joined Guru in September of last year in a development and acquisitions role. She is talking to broadcasters about the company’s current slate of three shows.

A Canadian free-to-air broadcaster is understood to be interested in The Buds, a 40x5mins preschool series about different tastebuds. There will not be any dialogue with the four primary characters communicating with different noises and using sound effects. Guru has a 50 second trailer, which it is showing broadcasters and will have a two-minute pilot by MIPCOM JR.

It also has Justin Time, which skews a little older than The Buds. It follows Justin in the period just before dinner when his mother is too busy to entertain him and, along with his friend Olive, he embarks upon a series of adventures. The third series being developed is more action-adventure oriented.

Toronto-based Guru previously concentrated on work for hire and commercials. It produces the animation for Nick Jr.’s Backyardigans. Looking ahead, Bredin told TBIvision that Guru wants to develop a couple of shows for the grown up animation market.