Happy Films has secured their first international format sale for pre-school kids series Bookaboo. The indie has sold the format rights to Russian children’s content production company StoryTime, who in turn secured a series order from Carousel and SVOD service START.
Bookaboo features world-famous rock puppy, Bookaboo, who tours the globe with his band playing to adoring fans with just one hitch. He just can’t play without a story a day! Luckily celebrity guests drop backstage to share their favourite picture books and coax him back to his drums.
The Russian adaptation launched on March 21st to huge acclaim, quickly becoming START’s most popular kids show and outperforming its slot on Carousel. The twelve-part series includes footage, animation and books from the original series read by leading Russian celebrities including actors Andrey Burkovskiy and Olga Shelest.
“Format production is an exciting next step in Bookaboo’s international journey”, said Lucy Goodman CEO of Happy Films. “It has been hugely rewarding to work with StoryTime’s talented production team. They have expertly adapted Bookaboo, making it totally bespoke and highly relevant for their audience.”
“I am pleased that, with START and Carousel, we are able to bring to Russian audiences a format already admired by parents and children internationally”, commented Julia Mindubaeva CEO of StoryTime. “Bookaboo delivers something different and refreshing for Russian audiences and we hope to encourage families to share more books together.”
While Tatyana Tsyvareva, Editor-In-Xhief of Carousel TV, added: “We are very pleased to present such a unique, internationally acclaimed show for children and parents on Carousel TV. It’s very important – in our digital age – that reading books remains a valued activity that brings families together. We hope to inspire audiences to read more!”
