BBC sets up online portal as a destination for British animation

BBC kids channel CBBC is expanding its online Cartoon Works portal with the aim of making it a ‘creative cartoon playground for the UK animation industry.’

It is expanding the site, which launched last year, to accommodate a range of new animated series from new and existing producers. The best of the submitted content will then be showcased on the CBBC channel in spring 2010.

Meanwhile, CBBC has commissioned a new animated series, Muddle Earth, based on the books by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. It has also ordered another season of Aardman Animation-produced series Shaun the Sheep, which will return to the digital channel this autumn.

Muddle Earth is a CBBC Production with UK studio Hullabaloo handling the animation. The 26x11mins series will bow next spring.