Greg Lynn plans innovative digital approach for post-Chapman series

The former managing director of Chapman Entertainment, Greg Lynn, has told TBI of the unique digital-first approach he is taking with his first preschool series since leaving the Roary the Racing Car producer.

Lynn’s production company Adrenalynn has partnered with Technicolor Digital Productions on the 52x10mins Airside Andy, a stop motion/CGI preschooler about an enthusiastic airport controller and his group of ground-based vehicle friends.

Lynn left Chapman in 2011 at around the same time that the company made a spate of redundancies. The UK producer, which is behind hits such as Fifi and the Flowertots and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion, went into administration last year. Another of Chapman’s founders, Keith Chapman, is here in Cannes working on new projects.

Lynn is executive producing the project, which comes from Robert Cooper and Peter le Masurier. Tim Harper is directing, while Davey Moore is lead writer. Lynn said he was introduced to the project by Technicolor’s VP, IP sales, acquisitions and coproductions Alison Warner.

Lynn told TBI the series will debut this summer as a 2D gaming app, an eBook and a website, which will all be promoted through a variety of marketing partnerships. Among these, a deal with airport serivces firm Servisair will see the free app will be loaded onto tablets at certain airport lounges, where children will be able to play on it while they wait for their flight. The option will then be given to download the app onto their parents’ tablets for future use. The lounges will also be branded.

“The idea is to build a proper preschool brand – the series is unashamedly commercial,” said Lynn.

No broadcaster or distributor is yet attached.