French animation distributor Folivari International has announced it has acquired international rights to The Baker Street Four (12 x 26’), an original animated series co-produced by European animation powerhouses Folivari and Blue Spirit, with the support of French broadcaster Canal+. It has also acquired international rights to Guitar and Drum, co-produced by Hype Animation and Punkrobot.
A premium tween animation series spin-off to the Sherlock Holmes franchise, The Baker Street Four is based on ten French comic books, “Les Quatre de Baker Street,” written by Jean-Blaise Djian and Olivier Legrand and illustrated by David Etien. The books are inspired by original characters from Arthur Conan-Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes novels, a gaggle of street urchins, led by Wiggins, whom Holmes paid to act as grass-roots intelligence agents.
Guitar and Drum is an animated series aimed at 3-6 year olds which tells the story of two musical instruments who are best friends. They live in a small town with other musical instruments, where they go around everyday adventures with their friends that celebrate diversity. Through a wide range of characters that are all different in different ways, Guitar and Drum is all about showing how our differences make us special, and empower us to build a better world.
The acquisitions come after Folivari International launched earlier this year, with former Dandelooo head Melissa Vega heading up the company’s distribution pipeline. Vega is also co-founder of Folivari International alongside the Folivari management team Damien Brunner, Thibaut Ruby and Sarah Delmas.
Since launch, Folivari International has acquired four series including The Baker Street Four and Guitar and Drum alongside Folivari originals Nino Dino and Kiki & Ailen. The distributor continues to develop its slate of acquisitions of animated content with strong international potential.
Damien Brunner, Founding Partner of Folivari, says “After a successful kickstart to Folivari International this year, we’re really proud to be onboarding two children’s series with wide appeal for international audiences. With 3D and 2D animated hybrid The Baker Street Four based on such a beloved franchise and pre-school animation series Guitar and Drum, the series represent the diversity of Folivari International’s slate and mark just the start of our plans to acquire strong and unique series from across the world.”
