Kids bulletin: Gaumont appoints UK-based VP; Discovery buys ‘Pirata’

Gaumont appoints Arumugam as Kids UK-based VP

Gaumont has appointed Courtney Arumugam to the position of VP of creative development for animation and family.

Arumugam will be based in London and will report into Terry Kalagian, the French company’s SVP of creative development for the division.

According to Gaumont, her appointment signifies the company’s continuing strategy to expand its animation and family division into key European territories.

Prior to joining Gaumont, Arumugam served as senior creative executive of children’s content at UK-based literary and illustration company The Bright Agency, heading their in-house film and TV division to develop projects.

She also worked as senior executive Mattel for several years, and has held commissioning and production roles at Channel 4, BBC and Fremantle Media.

‘Squish’ secures sales in Spain, Korea and Israel

Federation Kids and Family has announced international sales of the 52 x 11-minute slapstick animation series Squish, a co-production between its kids production division Cottonwood Media and the European entertainment outfit Planeta Junior.

The series, which puts friendships and how to fit in under the microscope by making the main characters amoebas, now has homes in Spain via Atresmedia’s NEOX; Korea through a deal with Tooniverse; as well as Israel through a joint SVOD venture between Hot and Yes.

NEOX will serve as a co-producer for the show in Spain.

‘Pirata & Capitano’ sells into Discovery

Hit 52 x 11-minute CG animation Pirata & Capitano has been picked up by the Discovery Family Channel for the US market, where it will premiere on 16 June.

Co-produced by national public broadcasters France Télévisions and Italy’s Rai, the adventure series follows Pirata and her crew on her ship, the Pink Skull and Capitano, her best friend who pilots a red sea plane.

Since it launched at MIPTV last year, the series has sold into over 15 territories including France 5 and Tiji in France, Rai Yoyo in Italy, SVT in Sweden, YLE in Finland, RUV in Iceland, CJ Tooniverse in South Korea, TV3 Spain and Globo in Brazil.

The animation is currently the second most-watched show on UK broadcaster Channel 5 kids’ TV strand Milkshake, according to a recent study conducted by Mediametrie/Eurodata TV.  A second 52 x 11-minute season is currently in production, with delivery set for Q1 of 2020.