A Stark Production and WildBrain, together with Infinite Studios, have confirmed additional broadcast partners for the fourth season of their global hit animated series, The Deep.
As the exclusive global distributor for the series, WildBrain has secured new deals for season four with MBC Group’s channel MBC3 and streaming platform, Shahid (Middle East and North Africa), RTP (Portugal), NRK (Norway), TVP (Poland), YLE (Finland), and Radio Canada (Canada). These all join commissioning broadcaster ABC (Australia), as well as CBBC (UK), MediaCorp (Singapore), WildBrain’s Family Channel (Canada), Super RTL (Germany), and SVT (Sweden), who have already committed to the new season, as previously announced.
Last year, ABC in Australia greenlit 13 new half-hour episodes for season four, alongside Mediacorp and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, with the support of Screen NSW, bringing the total number of episodes in the series to 65 half hours. The ABC began airing the new season from June this year.
Underlying rights holder, Australia’s A Stark Production, has handled the scripting, storyboarding and design, and original music score of the new series, while Canada’s WildBrain has managed editorial, directors, voice recording, and postproduction on the new episodes. Singapore’s Infinite Studios has overseen layout, animation, FX, lighting, and composition.
Previous seasons of the internationally successful show have been sold to over 130 markets. The Australian Children’s Television Foundation handles distribution rights for Australia and New
Zealand, with Infinite Studios managing rights for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, and China. WildBrain oversees sales for the rest of the world.
A Stark Production CEO Avrill Stark said, “We are delighted The Deep continues its journey
around the globe with season four now picked up by multiple broadcasters. Season four promises our audience another thrilling on-screen ride into the uncharted and mysterious depths of the ocean. The Nektons’ journey in this season is especially driven by a connection to family, something we all very much can relate to in a time where much of the world has endured being separated from loved ones.”
WildBrain global sales and rights strategy VP Caroline Tyre said: “It’s fantastic how The Deep continues to engage kids and families, winning new fans with each season in multiple markets across the globe. The stories are unique and relevant, with characters that resonate fully with this demographic, and these new deals underscore this international success and broad appeal.”
In season four of The Deep, after searching for generations, the Nekton family have finally found the fabled city of Lemuria, unlocking secrets and tantalising mysteries. But the greatest discovery they’ve made is also the most shocking proof that Ant and Fontaine’s grandparents made it to Lemuria! The Nektons had given up on ever seeing their loved ones again, but now they have hope. Now their most important search begins. While encountering more legends and myths, pirates and leviathans, the Nektons will explore The Deep…in search of their family.
Developed for a truly global audience of eight-to-12-year-olds, The Deep is based on the Aurealis award-winning graphic novel series, which was created by multi-award-winning, best-selling comic book author and playwright Tom Taylor and co-creator, artist James Brouwer, and published by Wolfgang Bylsma and Skye Ogden’s Gestalt Comics.
The Deep season four is an Australia-Canada-Singapore co-production produced by A Stark Production, WildBrain and Infinite Studios. Executive producers are Avrill Stark for A Stark Production, Anne Loi for WildBrain, and Seng Choon Meng for Infinite Studios. Developed and produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Deep season four is also produced in association with UK broadcaster CBBC; and with the participation of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, MediaCorp Pte Ltd, and Family Channel; and with support from Screen NSW and Telefilm Canada.