Studio 100 International

Studio 100 International Curates Catalog of Fresh Ideas & Cherished Classics

As Studio 100 International heads into MIPCOM, it is curating “a diverse catalog of kids and family entertainment, featuring a seamless mix of cherished classics, innovative CGI reboots and fresh, original series,” says Dorian Buehr, head of global distribution.

The company’s constant search for “IPs with broad international appeal” has led to the addition of productions such as DINO MATES, Waiko and BFF, all of which will be brought to buyers at the upcoming market.

Inspired by Europa-Park’s family attraction Madame Freudenreich Curiosités, in which a group of friendly dinosaurs are kept in secret by a grandma, DINO MATES transports 6- to 10-year-olds into an amazing story where the characters deal with everyday issues revolving around social interaction, problem-solving and helping others.

The sci-fi series Waiko, meanwhile, journeys into another world and sees its lead characters—teenage alien Nova, robot Ion and humans Bibi and Otto—work together to help aliens return home safely. It “encourages viewers to embrace the unknown, showing that what we fear can often be understood and welcomed,” Buehr explains. “Nova and her friends approach each extraterrestrial with open minds, helping them without hesitation. Through these characters, the series subtly encourages young viewers to approach the world and its mysteries with openness and empathy.”

BFF, like its title suggests, centers on genuine friendship and belonging and depicts relatable characters and imperfect families. Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, it follows a trio of friends made up of a clumsy bear, an enthusiastic squirrel and a cool cat, who, “despite their differences, share a deep bond and enjoy each other’s company,” Buehr says.

These brand-new titles fit in nicely with Studio 100 International’s portfolio, which “is rooted in our dedication to creative quality, strong values and powerful storytelling” and also features the timeless IPs Maya the Bee and Heidi, as well as global hits such as Mia and me and 100% Wolf, Buehr notes.

The company also has plenty of programs deep in the development phase. “We’ve established collaborations on new series for younger target groups, including families, from the genres of comedy and adventure, with respected studios and talents like Gigglebug, Karrot Entertainment and Josh Fisher,” Buehr states.

“In recent years, we have carefully surveyed the market to lock in distribution deals for new TV shows inspired by successful comics and novels that have already gained popularity in several regions,” he adds. This includes a partnership with Gaumont and Gingersnap Productions to co-develop Jungle Book: Cub Club Adventures (w.t.), drawing inspiration from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.

Though the landscape today is causing buyers to prioritize established brands and known IP that already have recognition, “the need to innovate remains crucial,” Buehr emphasizes. “Developing fresh IPs that feature not only memorable stories and characters but also ones that resonate deeply with audiences is key. Now, more than ever, a standout USP is essential for any IP to break through the noise and achieve lasting success.”

Studio 100 International has filled its catalog with the likes of DINO MATES, Waiko and BFF to satisfy this need and offer buyers new stories with tried-and-true themes. The development of titles such as Jungle Book: Cub Club Adventures (w.t.) complements these by providing buyers with programs that are familiar but also brand-new.

And beyond MIPCOM, into the new year? “Studio 100 International’s goals are clear: to keep constantly evolving, stay at the forefront of entertainment trends and deliver content that inspires audiences across generations and platforms,” Buehr says.

Imaginative Adventures Abound in Studio 100 Media’s Vegesaurs

Set in a prehistoric era full of the juiciest and crunchiest creatures ever to rule the planet, Studio 100 Media’s Vegesaurs follows the adventures of the young Tricarrotops Ginger. Ginger lives in the colorful Vegesaur Valley, a little garden of Eden bathed in sunlight with nutrient-rich soil, lush vegetation and even temperatures, and has adventures with three baby pea-rexes: Wasabi, Split and Minty.

“One of the creators of the show, Gary Eck, was in a supermarket a few years ago and saw a young child sitting in a shopping trolley playing with a banana and some broccoli,” explains Martin Krieger, CEO of Studio 100 Media. “He was making monster growls and roars, so clearly in the child’s imagination, the banana and broccoli were huge creatures locked in battle. Gary was fascinated and wondered what these ‘monsterly’ fruit and vegetables might look like. Perhaps they were a mash-up of fruit, vegetables and dinosaurs. Vegesaurs maybe? He phoned his creative partner Nick O’Sullivan, and shortly afterward, the initial concept of Vegesaurs was born.”

Producer Cheeky Little Media then developed Vegesaurs into “a rich and colorful world filled with extraordinary creatures that combine the visual characteristics of a fruit or a vegetable with a dinosaur,” Krieger says. “It’s an absurdly silly idea, but it’s presented as a credible world for young kids to immerse in, complete with a narrator in the style of a wildlife documentary.”

By channeling young kids’ universal love of dinosaurs, the show offers something “completely fresh and new,” says Krieger. “It’s an entertainment show, but it also provides the opportunity to spark kids’ interest in fruit and vegetables in a unique and compelling way, which we hope may promote healthier eating and greater engagement with the natural world.”

The series premiered on ABC Australia in May 2022 to much success. It immediately jumped into the top three shows commissioned by the broadcaster and was ranked among the top five popular Australian children’s programs in general. On ABC’s iview streaming platform, it hit the number two slot for the most-watched kids’ shows. There was a similar reception in the U.K., where the series launched in February 2023 on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer and immediately jumped into the top ten titles.

“Vegesaurs has found a strong footing and an enthusiastic fan base on every channel where it has been aired or streamed,” Krieger says. “Season two, which premiered on ABC Australia this May, is on track to exceed last year’s audience engagements. The series and its concept were received exceptionally well among early license partners such as BrandLoyalty, which believed in the brand’s great potential right from the start. The same applies for Macmillan Children’s Books, our global publishing partner, which launched the first titles of its book program in mid-2023.” Spurred on by these successes, production of a third season is already in motion.

The producer’s ambition for season two, according to Krieger, was to create 20 more episodes featuring the beloved Ginger, introduce even more species of Vegesaurs and make use of the tools available in the Unreal Engine to enable the Vegesaurs world to feel even more expansive and appealing. “The messaging will continue to concentrate on the key attributes of the show that make it stand out: encouraging children to enjoy healthy fruit and vegetables via unique and funny characters,” he adds. “On top of that, the stories are aiming to give kids the opportunity to learn social skills such as respecting diversity, teamwork and helping friends to find their confidence.”

For the new season, the producers concentrated on the visual comedy that the characters naturally generate between themselves. They also lean into relatable themes for upper preschoolers, such as mealtimes, getting to sleep, sharing, friendship, nurturing and play.

A robust L&M program is in the works, to be strategically rolled out, especially in key markets where Studio 100 Media initially introduced retail loyalty programs developed and implemented by BrandLoyalty, such as with Lidl in Spain and Austria.

To bolster its presence and engagement, Studio 100 Media has taken a multiplatform approach. “We have successfully launched dedicated YouTube channels, featuring regular updates with episodes, clips and shorts in various languages,” says Krieger. “Additionally, our brand enjoys an active presence on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, with a continuous stream of fresh content keeping these channels vibrant and engaging.” 

“We’ve also amplified our brand through tentpole campaigns, forming strategic partnerships with local entities in each key market,” adds Krieger. “In cases where a broadcasting partner is yet to be appointed, we have implemented tailored digital strategies to ensure that the brand continues to gain presence.”

He adds, “Our commitment to keeping all the channels buzzing with dynamic content is exemplified by the production of season three. Set to be unveiled in the summer of 2024, this season promises 20 new entertaining episodes that will undoubtedly captivate our audience and fortify our brand’s presence.”

The overarching vision at Studio 100 Media is to “elevate our European content portfolio to new heights, and this ambition is prominently guided by our Munich-based team,” Krieger says. “Within this strategic framework, we are dedicated to expanding our portfolio of feature films and series. This expansion is also spearheaded by our animation subsidiary, Studio Isar Animation, which operates from Munich and collaborates closely with esteemed international partners.”

He adds that the foremost goal is to diversify and enrich the company’s content portfolio by exploring new genres and harnessing innovative animation techniques. “This commitment reflects our dedication to staying at the forefront of the global entertainment industry and delivering captivating content experiences to audiences worldwide,” says Krieger.

SHOWCASE: Studio 100 Inspires Kids to Create, Dream, Imagine & Grow

Increasing its output is a key priority for Studio 100 Media. The company continues to expand its slate of owned and co-produced IPs with various projects, including FriendZSpace, which had a successful launch on ABC Australia and Discovery Kids in LatAm, among others. With Vegesaurs, it is offering a visually striking concept for streaming and broadcast platforms, as well as licensing and merchandising. The show recently sold to the BBC and will launch on CBeebies later this year. A global master publisher agreement is in place with Macmillan Children’s Books, with the first books being released in spring 2023. Then there is SeaBelievers, which has established a genre of eco-tainment and will be showcased at MIPJunior on Sunday, October 16, at 11 a.m. in the main auditorium. The company is also adding new content for some of its key brands, like a second season of 100% Wolf and Mia and me season four.

On the licensing side, Studio 100 owns a strong portfolio of IPs and has added some high-value third-party licenses in the last couple of years. Those include renowned brands such as Sesame Street, NASA, Tetris, Die Wilden Kerle and Lucky Luke.

“We are seeing an increase in the importance of issues such as diversity and sustainability in the kids’ content area,” says Martin Krieger, CEO, on what buyers are looking for. “Producing a kids’ series that brings awareness and puts these key matters center stage is a wonderful development. Our industry has a certain responsibility when it comes to inspiring children, and it’s important that we contribute to making new generations understand what is going on in the world. With shows like FriendZSpace and SeaBelievers, we are clearly addressing those issues of diversity and environmental protection.”

Krieger calls Vegesaurs “the perfect edutainment for upper preschoolers, offering unique characters and a hilarious twist to the dinosaur genre. Kids and their parents fall in love with these fruit- and vegetable-shaped creatures, which obviously has a great side effect as it brings children playfully in touch with healthy food. Apart from translating this fun show into healthy eating concepts at retail, Vegesaurs addresses preschool themes like mealtimes, sharing, friendship and play.”

With Mia and me in season four, he says that it’s important to keep the show “at the top of the target group’s minds, and this highly successful brand has done so for ten consecutive years. Its key elements are fairies, elves and unicorns, while addressing values like teamwork, trust and true girl power (the latter is the most important).” Before the fourth season, Studio 100 successfully launched Mia’s first theatrical adventure, Mia and me—The Hero of Centopia, which will further be released in over 20 countries this year. With the series, the franchise has made its way to more than 170 countries. Another strong pillar for the brand is its online presence, with more than 1.5 billion views on YouTube and YouTube Kids and more than 207 million hours of viewing time.

Another returning success for Studio 100 is 100% Wolf. “First and foremost, the concept of the heir to a werewolf dynasty turning into a pink poodle instead of a werewolf is hilarious!” Krieger says. “At the same time, 100% Wolf allows us to tap into important values while delivering an amazing adventure comedy to the audience. With its claim ‘heroes come in many forms,’ it addresses the essential idea of diversity.” He adds that by releasing a theatrical movie parallel to the first season of the series, the awareness for 100% Wolf was significant. And announcing a second movie and season two of the series after two years signals continuity and franchise potential.

“Great kids’ entertainment leaves room to change the point of view, to create, dream, imagine and grow—this is our motto and branding not only for this MIPCOM; it also describes what we pursue at Studio 100 with our programs and brands, on top of entertaining kids and families,” says Krieger. “With all our business activities—from content production to licensing programs as well as the attractions in our theme parks—we want to create emotional experiences for audiences around the globe. This is reflected in our lineup for MIPJunior and MIPCOM with programs that inspire [kids] to dream big and grow (100% Wolf season two, Mia and me season four and SeaBelievers) or that provide a new point of view (Vegesaurs and FriendZSpace).”