Serious Kids and Channel 5 have inked a commissioning agreement for RD Content’s preschool series, “Treehouse,” created by Ryan Dean and Lowri Williams. Louise Bucknole is the commissioner for Channel 5’s preschool block Milkshake! and Serious Kids will represent the worldwide distribution rights.
Narrated by Milkshake! presenter, Olivia Birchenough, the series is written by newcomer Lowri Williams, produced by Lilly Pollard and directed by Jamie Langton (“Twirlywoos”). The “Treehouse” costumes are created by Tim Simpson at Plunge Creations (“The Masked Singer”) whilst the live action sequences are blended with animation and special effects from Beakus (“Big Lizard,” “Yakka Dee”). The series is due to air on Milkshake! in 2025.
“Treehouse” is filmed in live action and features a mix of actors in costume, puppetry and 2D animation. The 30x7’ preschool series is a celebration of nature, exploring the themes of kindness, inclusion and empathy, as the characters navigate the world around them.
The series stars Squiggle, a curious young squirrel who lives in a magical treehouse in the heart of the countryside, with his best friends, Fluff, a mischievous mouse and Nok Nok, the nosey woodpecker. Each episode follows Squiggle as he visits his woodland friends via the magical wall of windows encountering energetic owl, Magnus, badger and hedgehog duo, Badger and Scratch, or his dancing ladybird friend, Dotty. Squiggle learns valuable lessons or new skills with his friends which he teaches to Fluff on his return to the treehouse, from mastering the art of ballet dance to celebrating Diwali.
A friendly narrator guides the characters, prompting the action or communicating the lesson. The characters are non-verbal, and communicate physically, encouraging young children to get involved.
The series is produced at RD Studios which is powered by zero-carbon energy harnessed from solar panels on the roof where the water for the facility is also harvested. The studio nurtures biodiverse gardens as a haven for bees, birdlife, and local flora. This environmental ethos also extends to the sets which are built from recyclable cardboard, later pulped and repurposed rather than stored.
Louise Bucknole, General Manager, Kids & Family, Paramount UK & Ireland, said: “We were captivated by ‘Treehouse’s blend of fantastic characters, artful storytelling, play, music and dance, all perfectly capturing the spirit of the Milkshake! brand. With Milkshake! presenter, Olivia narrating to bring these wonderful stories to life, we hope that our young audience will enjoy learning about the world around them alongside the Treehouse crew.”
Ryan Dean, CEO of RD Studios, added: “As the co-creator of ‘Treehouse,’ I am thrilled to announce the launch of this unique show. My vision when building RD Studios was always to establish a completely sustainable film studio, capable of producing shows that reflect those values. Treehouse is a testament to that commitment, offering children live-action content that is both educational, entertaining and sustainably produced.”
Genevieve Dexter, CEO of Serious Kids, concluded: ‘We are so pleased to conclude this deal with Channel 5’s Milkshake!. We are aware of the attraction of live action character series that engage the audience in a unique way and we’re delighted to produce a show full of inclusive, fun and engaging stories like ‘Treehouse.’ We look forward to seeing this wonderful series launching on Milkshake! and introducing it to the international market.”