“Ella The Elephant” Book Series Set for Animated TV Series
(Burbank, CA, February 7, 2012) – Cookie Jar Entertainment (CJE) and FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) today announced a global partnership to exploit the TV distribution and merchandising rights to 26 half-hour episodes of a new animated “preschool” television series tentatively known as Ella the Elephant based on the lovable, award-winning Ella The Elegant Elephant book series created, illustrated and written by Carmela D’Amico and Steve D’Amico.
“Ella the Elephant will make its U.S. debut in 2013 on Disney Junior, which has picked up all 26 half-hour episodes of the new animated series. Additionally, Cookie Jar has granted U.S. home entertainment rights to the “Ella the Elephant TV series to Warner Home Video (WHV), a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. After Disney Junior’s initial broadcast of the “Ella the Elephant episodes, Warner Home Video has rights to release it in all home entertainment formats.
The series follows Ella a sweet, thoughtful and inspired little elephant. Ever an optimist, Ella always finds a way to help her elephant friends using her creative thinking and her magic hat. The series will be produced in CGI against 2D backgrounds.
Cookie Jar Entertainment maintains the television, brand licensing, home entertainment (excluding U.S. rights granted to WHV) and other ancillary rights rights in the U.S., Canada, Middle East, and India. FME will serve as the distributor for television, brand licensing, home entertainment and other ancillary rights throughout the rest of the world.
“Ella is a magical property about an ever ebullient, optimistic, responsible, compassionate little elephant whose kindred spirit will delight our preschool audience,” said Toper Taylor, President and Chief Operating Officer of Cookie Jar. Â “We are thrilled to be working with both Disney and Fremantle on the series’ global launch.”
Sander Schwartz, President, Kids & Family Entertainment, FME, said “We are very pleased to be partnered with Cookie Jar on what we believe will be a hugely successful series. Bringing these wonderful books to life is a labour of love for everyone working on this stunning series”.
