Boomerang, a premium video streaming subscription service, has acquired US domestic rights to a brand new series of animated stories based on Kenneth Grahame’s classic book ‘The Wind in the Willows’ from UK distributor Hoho Rights, it was announced today.
The series of 52 eleven-minute episodes is being created and produced by veteran UK producer Martin Gates, who produced the earlier half-hour specials. Hoho’s Oliver Ellis is serving as one of the executive producers and Hoho Rights, who will be in the UK Village Pavilion at MIPCOM, is distributing the series internationally.
Part of Britain’s great literary heritage, ‘The Wind in the Willows’ was first published in 1908 and the riverside adventures of Mole, Rat, and Toad have been enchanting children ever since. Harking back to a gentler era of altruism, good manners, community, and citizenship, the values in ‘The Wind in the Willows’ continue to endure.
Launched in April 2017, Boomerang is home to the world’s greatest animation library including the massive Hanna-Barbera, MGM, and Looney Tunes catalog including “Scooby-Doo,” “Tom & Jerry,” “Bugs Bunny,” “The Flinstones,” “The Jetsons” and many more beloved series. Additionally, Boomerang is the exclusive home to new originals including Dorothy and “The Wizard of Oz” and the new “Wacky Races.”
“As home to the world’s greatest collection of animation, we are proud to add ‘The Wind in the Willows’ to Boomerang’s original programming offering,” said Sundance Feniger, Vice President and General Manager of Boomerang. “We know this next chapter in the adventures of Mole, Rat, and Toad will resonate with and delight fans of all ages.”
“We have lived with this beautiful book for so long, it has become part of the fabric of our lives,” says Martin Gates. “Twenty years on, we feel the time is right to breathe new life into the stories for a whole new generation of children, rediscovering beloved old characters and introducing some new female ones including adventurous Squirrel, resourceful Rabbit, and the scheming Chief Weasel. There are just so many more stories to tell.”
Helen Howells, Joint Managing Director of Hoho Rights added. “With over 85 million copies of the book sold in 29 languages, ‘The Wind in the Willows’ has worldwide recognition and so together with Boomerang we look forward to introducing these much-loved characters to a new generation of American children.”
