French animation company Something Big and Ireland’s animation studio Kavaleer Productions have partnered to co-produce the animated series titled Bobby & the Bottle Brigade. The series has been selected for presentation at Cartoon Forum 2024 in Toulouse, France.
The official synopsis for the series reads: Bobby & the Bottle Brigade is an upper preschool animated comedy series (52 episodes, each of 11 minutes) that follows the underwater adventures of eight year old Bobby and his aquatic rescue team. Set on Planet Zuplez, Bobby leads his friends on missions to help sea creatures with relatable kid-sized problems, all while navigating silly obstacles and having lots of laughs along the way. The series combines the excitement of rescue missions with a strong focus on comedy, offering a fresh take on the “rescue show” genre for young audiences.
The show emphasises on humour and features a positive representation of disability, as Bobby uses a wheelchair-adapted bathyscaphe for his underwater adventures. The show is aimed at young viewers aged four to six with its blend of rescue action, creative problem-solving, and celebration of differences.
Something Big producer Frédéric Puech said, “This series represents our commitment to creating content that is not only entertaining but also promotes inclusivity and celebrates differences. By combining the appeal of a rescue show with comedy, we’re offering something truly unique in the upper preschool space. We’re excited to present it at Cartoon Forum and share Bobby’s world with potential partners and audiences alike.”
Kavaleer producers Gary Timpson and Andrew Kavanagh added, “Our company has always been a strong advocate for programs that champion diversity, and we believe this series strikes the perfect balance between authentic representation, exciting rescue adventures, and comedy. We’re proud to be part of a project that will help preschoolers navigate their world through fun, friendship, and fantastic underwater missions.”
The creative team includes renowned talents such as co-creator and artistic director Vasili Hahalushka, co-creator, voice director and producer Michael Mennies, series director Virgile Trouillot (What’s the Big Idea, Go Astro Boy Go), editorial consultant and scriptwriter Alan Keane (The Amazing World of Gumball), and Oscar nominated disability consultant Jim LeBrecht (Crip Camp) among others.
The presentation of the superhero comedy series at Cartoon Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, 17 September at 10:30 am in the Pink Room. The animation co-production event is taking place from 17 to 19 September 2024 in France.
Something Big is founded by Frédéric Puech (ex-Planet Nemo, ex-Ankama), who has produced nearly 20 animated series including Go Astro Boy Go, What’s the Big Idea, Groove High, Where’s Chicky and features such as Dofus, Mutafukaz, Big Fish & Begonia.
Founded in 200, Kavaleer has contributed to projects such as Boy, Girl, Dog, Cat, Mouse, Cheese, Pablo, and Circle Square.