Channel 5′s preschool strand, Milkshake! has announced its slate of kids’ commissions and acquisitions at The Children’s Media Conference 2023, which takes place in Sheffield this week.
Speaking at the Commissioner Conversations Pre-School panel this morning, Louise Bucknole, General Manager, Kids & Family UK & Ireland at Paramount revealed the fresh slate.
Milkshake! will introduce five new series to its existing content mix including two all-new preschool commissions, a new acquisition and two stop-motion animation series.
Milkshake’s brand-new commissions are:
Stan & Gran (52×11”, Jellyfish Originals / Jolly Wise)
A funny and heart-warming CG animated series following the mystery-busting adventures of Stan Breakwater, a curious and excitable young nature lover, and his fun-loving, dynamic Gran, as together they investigate the strange goings-on in the fictional British coastal village of Porthole. Stan & Gran blends comedy and intrigue with factual entertainment and focuses on core themes including discovery, exploration, nature, science and inter-generational relationships.
Animal Care Club (25×11”, eOne Unscripted)
Animal-loving kids get a chance to get up close and personal with all sorts of amazing pets, farm animals, wildlife, and exotic critters in this new factual entertainment series. Across the UK, pets, farm animals, wildlife, and zoo animals are in real need of help. Thankfully, there are a dedicated bunch of experts working hard every day to help them, but assistance is required, so young helpers, many with limited animal care experience, are about to get their opportunity!
In each episode, two different pairs of young carers team up with experts at a variety of locations around the UK. One episode might see the pairs team up with a vet, in others they’ll help a zookeeper care for amazing exotic animals, or they might be helping at an animal sanctuary or at a farm.
Each episode will feature natural history, behavioural content, showing why animals do what they do and tips for how we can all help make the lives of all kinds of animals better through our own actions and behaviour.
New acquisition:
Chip & Potato (40 x 11’”, WildBrain Studios / Darrall Macqueen)
Chip is a cute, friendly, curious and big-hearted 4-year-old pug puppy. As Chip takes little steps towards independence at kindergarten, she always has Potato with her for comfort, snuggled deep down in her pocket. Everyone thinks Potato is just a funny little fluffy pink snuggly toy! But shh…Potato is actually a teensy tiny, furry, curled up real mouse, who springs out of her hoodie and into action whenever Chip needs her!
Potato is Chip’s secret friend, there to discreetly and daringly provide Chip with all the security, comfort and confidence she needs to embark on the new stages of her life, without her Momma and Poppa, challenge by challenge, adventure by adventure, giggle by giggle—yip yip!’
Stop motion shows commissioned last year – Tweedy & Fluff from Second Home Studios and Stitchy Feet and Mixmups from Raydar Media/Mackinnon and Saunders – will debut on Milkshake! this Autumn
The new titles will be joined on Milkshake! by returning favourites, including the second series of Odo (52×11”) produced by Sixteen South and Letko, the second series of Milo (26×11”) by Fourth Wall, the second series of Meet The Experts (21×11”) by Boom Kids, series 14 & 15 of Fireman Sam (26×11”) from WildBrain and series 27 & 28 of Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! from Mattel Television.
“Milkshake! is a beloved brand for preschoolers and families in the UK with a compelling combination of top-rated UK power brands and new, highly anticipated children’s series,” said Louise Bucknole, General Manager, Kids & Family UK & Ireland at Paramount. “We’re excited to announce our expanding lineup of content for 2023 and beyond, which will engage our preschool audience through universal themes of creativity, play, adventure, friendship and teamwork, to help them understand their world.”
Jon Creamer
Share this story
