Hoho Rights, the commercial arm of kids production company Hoho Entertainment, has announced three new publishing partners for its flourishing pre-school property Cloudbabies, which will see the launch of magazine and games apps and an annual.
The deals add to a busy start to the year on the publishing front for the popular CBeebies show with the release in early February of the first books from Penguin under the Ladybird imprint. The books follow hot on the heels of the successful autumn toy launch from Vivid which included Cloudbabies plush, puzzles, figurines, and a Cloudyhouse Playset.
In an exciting extension of its existing partnership with Immediate Media Company, Hoho has now agreed a further licence with the publisher to create a magazine app, bringing the paper-based magazine content to the digital market. Cloudbabies has featured in CBeebies Weekly magazine since launch and a dedicated Cloudbabies ‘Special’ is planned in Spring.
A further app licence has been secured with Studio Liddell, the studio behind the animation of the much-loved CBeebies show. Inspired by the Cloudbabies’ characteristics and drawing on some key themes from the show, the app will focus on games and music to stimulate and enchant pre-schoolers.
In addition to the published format offering from Penguin, Hoho Rights has teamed up with Century Books to publish a Cloudbabies annual, due for release this autumn.
Helen Howells, Joint Managing Director, Hoho Entertainment, said: “Building on the huge success of Cloudbabies on CBeebies, we’re thrilled to announce these new deals. Apps are a great way for our young audience to interact with Baba Pink, Baba Blue, Baba Yellow, Baba Green and their friends. It’s especially pleasing to be working on an app with Studio Liddell as they are so immersed in the brand and we think that the annual will be a lovely addition to our other published formats.”
Pauline Cooke, Publishing Director at Immediate Media Company, said: “Cloudbabies has proved to be a hugely popular addition to CBeebies Weekly and we’re delighted to be able to offer the content in a new and inspiring way for children.”
Created by award-winning art director Bridget Appleby, Cloudbabies made its colourful debut on CBeebies in the UK with a full launch in May 2012. Aimed at pre-schoolers, the enchanting series features the adventures of four adorable, childlike characters whose job it is to look after the sky and their Sky Friends, and teaches children about caring for others and the world around them, introducing them to the wonder of the sky and the concepts of day and night, sun and moon and rainbows and stars.