Nelvana has secured multiple global distribution deals for the 3D animated preschool series "Builder Brothers Dream Factory." One of the deals was secured with ITV for the new streaming platform ITVX in the UK. Co-produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment and Scott Brothers Entertainment, the recent sales slate for the series reaffirms Nelvana’s position as a world leader in distribution and entertainment.
“Expanding the distribution of ‘Builder Brothers Dream Factory’ to even more territories is a testament to Nelvana’s strong relationships with our partners and the international appetite for premium family-friendly content,” Mellany Welsh, VP of Nelvana Enterprises and Kids Can Press, said. “Sinking Ship Entertainment and Scott Brothers Entertainment have done a fantastic job of capturing inspiring messages and innovative learnings, and our team can’t wait for families all over the globe to enjoy the series.”
In addition to the recent ITV sale of "Builder Brothers Dream Factory," the series has made additional deals with Warner Brothers Discovery for Southeast Asia, Genial Media for Spain, and NRK for Norway. Currently, the series airs on Discovery Kids in Latin America and on Corus Entertainment’s STACKTV and Treehouse in Canada. “Builder Brothers Dream Factory is a wonderful addition to our growing selection of content available via ITVX Kids,” Darren Nartey, Senior Acquisitions Manager for ITV and ITVX, said. “Families can visit ITVX to stream the series straight away.”
The series is inspired by the real-life Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott. The twin brothers are a pair of regular kids who use their extraordinary imagination, creativity, grit, and heart to help friends and solve problems in the neighborhood by dreaming big. Along with best friends Mel and Ayana, the Builder Brothers navigate the highs and lows of trying to make their world a better place – one big dream at a time. Life for the Brothers and the Dream Factory Crew in the harbor town of Steamport centers on friends, family, school, and community as they use their combined individual skills and interests to fear up and get it done.
In addition, Nelvana and Toikido have unveiled six new Piñata Smashlings shorts on Nelvana’s ‘Keep it Weird’ YouTube channel, featured on the YouTube Kids home page. In addition, the company. Produced by Nelvana and based on the popular Roblox game, the original shorts immerse kids into the Piñataverse world ahead of the highly anticipated series in development that was announced earlier this year. “Our team has loved the challenge of giving these adorable and iconic characters their distinct personalities,” said Mellany Welsh, VP of Nelvana Enterprises & Kids Can Press. “With their eclectic and hilarious escapades, the Smashlings will surely captivate kids worldwide with their shenanigans. As the game continues to soar in popularity on Roblox, YouTube is the ideal stage to bring everyone’s favorite Smashlings to life and connect with the younger digital generation.”
In the Piñata Smashlings shorts, viewers meet five friends thrown together by fate to form a team of very, very unlikely heroes. Whether questing across the land, pranking the Piñatas in Piñata Village, or rescuing Smashlings from the no-good Bitter Bashlings, the Smashlings make the most out of every day as they learn to be heroes while celebrating being exactly who they are. Some of these shorts are enhanced by music and an opening theme song performed by Grammy-winning producer Jason Perry, along with Adam Nagy and Rich Savage. For an extra treat just in time for the spooky season, viewers can enjoy a Halloween-themed song performed by Jason Perry, Lana Carillo, and Adam Nagy.
Nelvana is also developing a brand-new animated children's series inspired by the gaming IP, which has been played 2 million times since its debut in the summer. Fans in Canada and the U.S. can currently explore the extensive Piñata Smashlings™ toy collection, featuring plush toys, figurines, and playsets, both online and at Walmart retail locations. “Piñata Smashlings™ is an ever-expanding, multi-platform franchise that encompasses gaming, animation, music, toys, publishing, collaborations, and more,” Darran Garnham, CEO of Toikido, said. “Nelvana is the perfect partner for the brand as they breathe vibrant life into our cherished characters, promising a vivid and engaging entertainment experience for kids as we launch the new shorts on YouTube."