Banijay Kids & Family Close Raft of Package Deals in Latin America

Building on its impressive lineup of premium children’s content, Banijay Kids & Family has secured a series of package deals across Latin America, timed strategically ahead of this year’s Annecy MIFA market.

A significant agreement has seen Warner Bros. Discovery Latin America acquire the eighth season of the teen spy series “Totally Spies!” as well as the Italian 2D adventure comedy “Topo Gigio.”

U.S. Spanish-language network V-me Media, which targets family audiences, has finalized a wide range of shows for Vme Kids. This includes the preschool eco-adventure “MiniHeroes of the Forest,” the musical shorts series “Sweet Tweets,” the preschool comedy “Mumfie,” the space-themed game comedy “The Game Catchers” Season 1, and the nature-themed mystery series “Stan & Gran” for children aged 4-7.

The Mexican public broadcaster Canal Once has acquired a selection of shows for its kids channel Once Niñas y Niños. These include the fantasy series “Chimera Keepers,” the scientific experiment adventure “Hey You! What If…?,” the teen trainee vet reality show “Junior Vets,” the globally popular “Moominvalley” Seasons 3-4, the sci-fi teen series “Silverpoint” Seasons 1-2, and “Street Football” Season 4, which features tween players competing in a street football World Cup. 

Additionally, the Hispanic Information Telecommunications Network (HITN) has acquired what Banijay Kids & Family describes as an extensive content package for its U.S. Latino and Latin-American preschool platform Edye. The titles include “MiniHeroes of the Forest,” “Sweet Tweets,” CBeebies preschool adventure tales “Tee and Mo,” and “The Game Catchers” Season 1.

Further Details on ‘Totally Spies,’ ‘MiniHeroes of the Forest,’ ‘The Game Catchers’

While the deals are varied, three titles stand out. “Totally Spies” Season 8 represents the second installment after a Season 7 revival of the original series, which was a global hit for six seasons from 2001 to 2012. The seventh season was a major success in France, capturing a 37% share among the 4-14 demographic. Season 8 is being produced by Zodiak Kids & Family France in cooperation with French kids TV network Gulli and Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA.

Produced by Movimenti Production and MoBo, the Italian-French 3D comedy adventure series “MiniHeroes of the Forest” follows four young animal friends who gain mini superpowers. The animation combines vibrant character colors with naturally toned, detailed backgrounds. The series topped the charts among kids aged 4-5 and ranked second for those aged 6-7 on Rai Yoyo (Italy). It also ranked among the top 15 preschool programs on France 5 and Okoo (France). 

“The Game Catchers” Season 1, distributed by Banijay Kids & Family in 2023, features young children exploring the universe to discover and collect new playground games.

Strategic Assets of Banijay Kids & Family

Banijay Kids & Family’s recent Latin American sales arise as animation continues to be a critical component of audience retention, ranking second to comedy (27.0% vs 25.4%) on Netflix, and the most significant (20.5%) on Max, according to PlumResearch.  

Supporting these sales, Banijay boasts major brands in children’s entertainment, including “Totally Spies!” and “Mr Bean: The Animated Series.” Its shows often draw from well-loved IPs. “Topo Gigio” is inspired by a character that gained fame on Italian pubcaster RAI from the late 1950s. 

Banijay Kids & Family also leverages its expertise in expanding brands beyond traditional platforms. Titles that establish themselves as brands can evolve into what PlumResearch terms “neo-evergreens”—like “One Piece” in anime or “Peppa Pig” in animation—driving much of the longtail viewership on global streaming services, which accounts for 90% of their viewership.

“These latest deals highlight the ongoing demand for Banijay Kids & Family’s premium catalog, along with our dedication to our long-term partners across Latin America,” stated Cécile Cau, SVP of sales, co-productions, and acquisitions at Banijay Kids & Family. 

She further stated: “By working closely with commercial and public service clients in the region, we’re able to deliver a rich mix of entertainment and educational content that fulfills audience needs, solidifying our role as a preferred supplier of kids and family programming.”

Banijay Kids & Family, led by Benoît Di Sabatino, is part of the media and entertainment giant Banijay Entertainment.

Annecy’s Mifa market is scheduled for June 23-26.