Rocket Licensing has signed a deal to manage the consumer products programme for the award winning stop motion animation series, Kiri and Lou. This will bolster Rocket’s preschool portfolio.
Featuring two little prehistoric creatures, Kiri and Lou was launched in New Zealand, Canada and Australia and now airs on weekdays on CBeebies in the UK. Launched in the UK on 27 April 2020, the series received a strong reception and during its first week, also became the most requested CBeebies brand.
In four weeks, Kiri and Lou achieved over two million requests on iPlayer. New episodes are premiering today, 8 June, and a free Kiri and Lou Hide and Seek app is now also available on the App Store and Google Play.
Rocket will manage the licensing rights in the UK and Eire and will be discussing the exciting new brand with potential partners in a wide range of categories, including toys and games, stationery, publishing, homewares, apparel, accessories, food and drink, educational tools, partyware and digital. Rocket also sees great potential to explore options for sustainable and environmentally conscious products and partnerships, in keeping with the brand’s core values and messaging.
Comments Rocket Licensing Joint MD Charlie Donaldson on the deal, “Kiri and Lou bring something completely fresh to the preschool sector. The animation employs a traditional stop motion animation technique, which brings not only a different look, but a different pace to the screen and enables fully developed characters, environment and stories. The brand is the perfect mixture of a calm and gentle approach to exploring personal and social education for young children, with fun, laughter and adventure. The rich design and writing offer a huge scope for licensed products.”
The series revolves around Kiri, a feisty little dinosaur, and her best friend Lou, a gentle creature with a long and remarkably sensitive trunk. Targeted at children aged two to five, and created using clay creatures, set in a peaceful, beautiful forest formed from cut out paper, Kiri and Lou attracts and retains the attention of younger audiences.
The show focuses on music, the environment, nature, feelings and friendship, and explores values such as kindness, thoughtfulness and empathy. Each episode follows the charming creatures in a fun adventure story with an emotional theme.
Adding on the partnership, Stretchy CEO and producer Fiona Copland said, “We are delighted to partner with Rocket Licensing for the UK and Eire. They share the values of this brand and bring a wealth of experience working with high quality IP that is beloved across the UK.”
Written and directed by New Zealand writer, actor, musician and director, Harry Sinclair, Kiri and Lou also features original songs co-written for each episode with well-known NZ musician, Don McGlashan. A Kiri and Lou album will be released later this month. The characters are also voiced by famous names, including Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) as Lou.
CAKE handles all international television distribution of the animated series.
