Granada International inks deals with three indies

Continuing its successful work with independent producers, Granada International has agreed deals with three leading independent producers who are creating brand new shows for children of all ages.
The deals, all brokered by Granada International’s Controller of Programming Emmanuelle Namiech, are with Endemol’s Initial Kids, award winning producer Honeycomb Animation and top French animation company Timoon Animation.
Initial Kids is starting production on a brand new live action series for kids aged seven to 11 entitled 'Bel’s Boys'. Commissioned by ITV, 'Bel’s Boys' (26 x 15 minutes) is a comedy drama about a nine year old girl whose dream comes true when she finds herself the manager of her very own boy band.
Honeycomb Animation, the award-winning animation studio based in the UK’s South West, is currently creating 'Funky Town' – a series to complement the hit pre-school animation 'Funky Valley'. The 40 x 5 minute series for kids up to the age of six has been commissioned by five in the UK.
Granada International has also acquired worldwide distribution rights (excluding French speaking territories) for Timoon Animation’s 'Boowa and Kwala', a fun animated series based on the hugely successful website characters created by Up to Ten. The 52 x 5 minute series is currently in production and will be fully delivered by the end of the year.
Granada International will launch all three children’s properties at MIPCOM in October 2006. (CD/GB)