Granny Ranny's Coming Attractions

Meet Christopher Skala, Senior VP Programming of HIT Entertainment. Recently, I spoke with Christopher about his work at HIT and their incredibly successful line up of programs.

Christopher joined HIT Entertainment in Autumn 2004 as Vice-President, Programming & Development and was promoted to his current position in December 2005. He refers to himself as a “late-bloomer” who worked as a secretary for longer than his father wanted to see. Yale educated, he took his time before he figured out his true niche. Obviously, he has done that and done it well. At HIT, his responsibilities include overseeing the creative and production of current properties such as Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends, Pingu, Angelina Ballerina and perennial favorite, Barney. Additionally, he’s the MAN with whom the responsibility lays in developing new programming for HIT.

When asked what his favorite HIT show is, Christopher gulped. I guess it’s like asking a Mom or Dad which of their kids is their favorite. “Actually, I had a favorite when I first came here but after you work with the properties, each one takes on its own special characteristics.” Today, he sees the value in every property, from Barney which “appeals to that kid who needs unconditional love” to Pingu in which the characters speak their own brand of language – penguinese.

I have to admit, I have my own HIT favorites: As a former dancer and avid reader, I was a die-hard Angelina Ballerina fan from the get go. This literature-based animated film tickles my funny-bone. And, my grandson loved Thomas so much when he was four that we thought he’d never outgrow it. But, enough about me. What makes HIT tick and where is it going? Christopher has certainly found many animated hit properties, no pun intended. So, I asked him if they were only going to focus on animated shows. He quickly pointed out that Barney is not an animated show and neither is Thomas. What they are really looking for are excellent properties that can be wholly-owned, wholly-funded or partially funded properties. Literature-based properties are a plus.

What about digital platforms, online presences, all the buzz things that everyone is talking about. How important is that to HIT? What is most important is that they make a great TV show first and foremost. All of those other things weigh in but if they can’t pass criterion #1, they won’t get out of the starting gate. They are looking for new properties, so all you indie producers out there, keep your heads up.

HIT Entertainment PLC is a children’s entertainment company. Its portfolio includes Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, Barney, Angelina Ballerina, Pingu and Guinness World Records. The Company has developed into a mini studio with activities spanning television and video production, publishing, consumer product licensing and live events. With operations in the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Germany and Canada, approximately 45% of its revenue comes from home entertainment sales, with another 45% deriving from consumer product licensing. With over 1,000 episodes of young children’s programming, it sells programs to over 180 territories worldwide.

The latest HIT show that is playing in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival circuit this quarter is ‘Pingu: On Thin Ice.” Created by Swiss animators Otmar Gitman and Harold Muecke, Pingu is a charming, cheeky young penguin who connects with kids of all ages and has a knack for mischief and a flair for flippered fun. Pingu spends his time playing with his friends and family and gets into all sorts of comical situations. Part of his unique appeal lies in his hilarious “penguinese,” and his exceptional ability to turn his beak into a trumpet to express feelings.

Check out these snippets on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGPhXrc78Jg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTWv63RyLP8

Pingu is currently seen in the US on PBS KIDS Sprout. The show has received numerous awards and honors including Best Animated Short at BAMKids Film Festival, a Finalist Certificate at the New York Film Festival and the Audience Award at the New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival. For more information on Pingu visit www.hitentertainment.com or http://www.pingu.net/.

About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners, is one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT’s portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Fifi and the Flowertots™ in North America and Japan and acts as a worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company’s library of classic family brands and as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. HIT also owns the Guinness World Records™ publishing and television property. Launched in 1989, HIT’s lines of business span television and video production (including studios in the US and the UK), publishing, consumer products licensing and live events. With a catalogue of more than 1,000 hours of young children’s programming, HIT sells its shows to more than 240 countries worldwide, in more than 40 different languages and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. In 2005, the Company joined Comcast Corporation, PBS and Sesame Workshop to launch PBS KIDS SproutSM, a 24-hour digital cable channel and VOD service for preschoolers. In 2007, HIT and Chellomedia, the European content division of Liberty Global, Inc and its subsidiary ChelloZone, announced a joint venture to launch and distribute JimJam, an international preschool TV channel (excludes the US, UK and China). For more information, visit http://www.hitentertainment.com/.

According to yesterday’s news, HIT Entertainment is the latest company to join the rush to lend its IP to a theme park based in the oil-rich kingdom of Dubai. (more)

You loved the book when your kids were growing up and now, Genius Products and Classic Media are releasing the DVD of “Pat the Bunny” this Spring. I have not seen this DVD yet but it promises to be as engaging as the original books and includes special “touch-and-feel” packaging as well as an interview with child education expert Jean Kunhardt, the granddaughter of the original author, Dorothy Kunhardt. The 62-minute DVD features four, 15-minute shorts with the iconic rabbit and will be available starting March 4, 2008.

PBS KIDS GO! will be offering a collection of age-appropriate entertainment for Presidents’ Day that teach elementary school-age kids the basics of civics and government through fun, curriculum-based entertainment. Featuring a two-hour block of ARTHUR, CYBERCHASE, MAYA AND MIGUEL, and, in a special Monday premiere, WORDGIRL, kids’ favorite PBS KIDS GO! characters learn what it takes to run their class, local and cyberspace government.

Monday, February 18 (check local listings):
WORDGIRL (New episode) – “Mr. Big’s Big Plan” WordGirl must get to the bottom of Mr. Big’s plan to steal the local election when he claims he’s reformed and runs for Mayor.

ARTHUR – “The Election” ‘I, Muffy Crosswire, do solemnly swear to uphold the office of the President of the United …’ Actually, it’s only a mock election in Mr. Ratburn’s class, but Muffy takes it just as seriously. How far will she go to win?

CYBERCHASE – “True Colors” – A new, reformed Hacker runs for election against Motherboard, claiming to have done five good deeds, and promising to turn over a new leaf. Can the kids find a counter example that proves his claims to be false – or will Hacker be elected the new ruler of cyberspace?

MAYA & MIGUEL – “Politics Unusual” – Maya has a bright idea to support her friend Maggie’s campaign for Class President in order to reorganize the upcoming School Assembly Day show. Unfortunately, someone else decides to run, an unassuming kid named Simon. Can Maya and Maggie out-glitz Simon’s campaign? Or is Simon the right choice because he listens to the concerns of the other students?

In addition, pbskidsgo.org offers online resources to continue kids’ learning while online. Supporting material is also available on pbsteachers.org.

The Democracy Project (pbskidsgo.org/democracy/)
Kids can explore being President for a day, learn how government affects each person, and go inside a voting booth to learn how a small number of votes can have a big impact on history.

Presidents: The Secret History (pbskids.org/wayback/)
Kids can hit a fictitious campaign trail to check out historic and unusual campaign memorabilia from American presidential campaigns, as well as explore a dossier of little-known “presidential secrets.”

Ni Hao, Kai-lan, the new animated series from Nick Jr. is a play-along, think-along series that introduces preschoolers to both the Chinese language and the Chinese culture. The premiere episode, “Dragon Boat Festival,” debuts on Nick Jr. on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. ET, the first day of Chinese New Year.

Ni Hao, Kai-lan is Nick Jr.’s first play-along, think-along series to feature an intergenerational family. Through the eyes of five-year-old Kai-lan, the series explores the colorful aspects of her upbringing and background. The series is based on creator Karen Chau’s memories of growing up in a bicultural and is steeped in her personal experiences from living in a bicultural Chinese-American household. Ni hao means “hi” in Mandarin Chinese. Kai-lan is Ms. Chau’s given name before it was Anglicized to Karen and the character resembles Ms. Chau as a young child. Kai-lan Chau is an exuberant Chinese-American five-year-old who invites viewers to come play with her and her best friends.

Just as Dora and Diego popularized biculturalism for the Latino culture, Kai-lan represents the next generation of preschool programming exploring biculturalism in an expanded way for Chinese-Americans. Kai-lan weaves together being bilingual with being bicultural. The show familiarizes viewers with aspects of Chinese American culture while it introduces its language. At the same time, it celebrates growing up in an intergenerational family and having friends from diverse backgrounds.

Along the way, the show incorporates other concepts important in preschool programming. Ideas such as taking turns, disappointment and jealousy. And, it supports an emotional intelligence curriculum lighting cause and effect thinking in the social/emotional world. The show provides simple coping strategies, often set to catchy simple songs. Every episode follows the adventures of Kai-lan and her friends as they learn to identify their emotions and stop to consider the feelings of others. They tackle issues such as what causes Rintoo to get mad or how patience and practice help Tolee get better at rhyming.

Kai-lan’s world is brimming with magical sights and sounds that are colorfully and simply executed. The animation is based on Ms. Chau’s drawings which are engaging but simple. The characters are also quite charming. YeYe, Kai-lan’s grandpa, is a character whose world is full of Chinese customs and traditions that he wants to pass on to his granddaughter. Tolee is a five-year-old panda-loving koala who is the thinker of the group. Hoho the monkey brings his boundless energy to the group and Rintoo is a rambunctious five-year-old tiger with a thirst for adventure and thrills, but beneath it all is sweet and caring.

The stories range from The Dragon Boat Festival to the big lantern festival which celebrates the end of Chinese New Year. Emotions are explored such as anger, “when you feel too mad, the first thing you do, is calm, calm down.” Or, listening, “I put my hand to my ear that helps me to hear. Ting! I use my eyes to see who’s talking to me. Listen, listen, listen. Ting!” Or, patience, “When waiting is really hard for you, just do something you like to do.”

Interest in learning the Mandarin Chinese language is increasing dramatically in the US where an estimated 50,000 American children are being taught Mandarin in public schools, with an additional 50,000 studying in private settings. At the same time, some 300 million Chinese are learning English – a sign of China’s increasing impact on our global culture. This series, and others like it provide a growing desire for US citizens to learn this somewhat complicated language.

“Good luck Ni Hao Kai-lan – we hope you are a grand success.” From your fans at KIDS FIRST!

Who doesn’t know Elmo, the furry red three and a half-year-old Muppet on Sesame Street who refers to himself in the third person – “Elmo has a question.” Elmo’s World is aimed at toddlers just like him. On his show, he is joined by his goldfish Dorothy and the Noodle Family, Mr. Noodle, Mr. Noodle’s Brother Mr. Noodle, and Mr. Noodle’s Sister Ms. Noodle. His puppeteer is Kevin Clash who serves as Sesame Street Muppet Captain, Director and Co-executive producer. You might remember when, in 1996, an interactive doll called “Tickle Me Elmo” came out at holiday time and was a smashing success with consumers fighting over the limited supply. Elmo has also been in the movies, starring in “Elmo in Grouchland” and “Elmo Saves Christmas and appearing in “Follow That Bird,” “The Muppets Take Manhattan,” and “A Muppet Family Christmas.” Elmo has been involved in politics, appearing in “The West Wing” and testifying before the U.S. Congress. Elmo appeared on Emeril Lagasse’s show as part of the Food Network’s second annual “Cook With Your Kids Week.” Today is Emo’s birthday and I had a chance to talk with him last week to find out about his birthday plans.

Note to parents: Elmo’s new DVD, “Elmo’s World: Opposites” arrives in stores in just two days, on DVD February 5th,

RL: Happy Birthday Elmo! How old are you going to be?
Elmo: Still 3 1/2. In monster years we age very, very slowly.

RL: How will you celebrate your birthday this year: Any big plans?
Elmo: Elmo’s Mommy and Daddy are going to throw him a party with all of Elmo’s friends and family on Sesame Street!!

RL: You have done so MANY things on Sesame Street over the years. What has been one of your favorite experiences?
Elmo: Getting to sing and dance with Chris Brown. He’s a really good dancer but, Elmo kept up with him.

RL: What is the most fun thing that you and your friends have ever done on Sesame Street?
Elmo: One of the most fun things for Elmo is getting to ride Snuffy sometimes and having playdates with Elmo’s friends!!

RL: You appeared on Emeril Lagasse’s show and also made a DVD about eating healthy called “A Magic Cookbook.” What was that like? What was your favorite food that you made with Emeril?

Word out this weekend is that it looks like there’s an end in sight of the Writer’s Guild of America strike. Apparently, the WGA and the studios came to a happy resolution on Friday and the drafts for contracts were being written up over the weekend. Once everyone agrees, it goes out to vote by the WGA members. The terms concerning the Writers Guild’s key issue about Internet streaming apparently are slightly different from those in the Directors Guild of America agreement but, according all reports – agreeable to both sides.
So, keep your fingers crossed.