Kiddets (original) (raw)

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New Zealand children's television show

Kiddets
Genre Children's television seriesComedy
Created by Martin BayntonRichard Taylor
Written by Terri BayntonPeter SalmonRoxane GaiadharSacha CotterSarah HarpurLauren Jackson
Directed by Matthew DarraghDries Naude
Voices of Ian HarcourtRichard SaadeDebbie FishLiz MullaneJacob RajanSimon LearyEmma Draper
Narrated by Martin Baynton
Theme music composer David Long
Composer David Long
Country of origin New Zealand
Original language English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 52
Production
Executive producers Martin BayntonRichard TaylorClive SpinkJianfeng WenBing WangLisa Chatfield
Producers Angela LittlejohnJan HaynesJane Robertson
Production locations New ZealandChina
Editor Owen Ferrier-Kerr
Running time 11 minutes (television series)
Production companies Pukeko PicturesHengxin Shambala Kids Cultural Industry Development Co., Ltd.
Original release
Network TVNZAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
Release 3 September 2018 (2018-09-03) –present
Related
The WotWots

Kiddets is a New Zealand-based children's television show which debuted in 2018 and sister series to The WotWots.[1] Created by Martin Baynton and Richard Taylor, the series uses computer animation mixed with live-action clips to follow five alien friends as they learn about life in their playroom. It currently consists of one season and a total of 52 eleven-minute episodes.[2]

The show follows five young alien friends called "Kiddets" each with an area of interest and learning; Patches (health, wealth, and safety), Dapper (arts and culture), Bounce (mechanics), Stripes (leadership) and Luna (science). They are space cadets, explorers-in-training at a space academy on planet WotWot. They learn through play in their playroom that overlooks a space port floating above their planet and occasionally reach out for help from SpottyWot and DottyWot on planet Earth.[3]

Kiddets was created and developed by children's author Martin Baynton in partnership with filmmaker Richard Taylor. Kiddets is co-produced by Pukeko Pictures and Hengxin Shambala Kids Cultural Industry Development Co., Ltd. (formerly Guangdong Huawen Century Animation Company) and is the first official children's television co-production between New Zealand and China.[4]

The Kiddets characters and their space station are animated with occasional clips from The WotWots over live-action footage by the Weta Workshop,[5] the visual effects company founded by Taylor and Rodger, known for its work on the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Country Broadcaster Screen date
New Zealand TVNZ 2, TVNZ On-Demand, TVNZ HeiHei 17 September 2018
Australia ABC1, ABC2, ABC Kids 3 April 2018.[6]
China China Central Television December 2018 [7]
  1. ^ "The WotWots to get sister series". Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Pukeko's 'Kiddets' Take Off in Australia & New Zealand". www.animationmagazine.net. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Cake partners with Pukkeko Pictures to launch Kiddets – Toy & Hobby Retailer". Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Pukeko Signs Co-Production Deal for 'Kiddets'". Animation World Network. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Weta Workshop | Weta Workshop – The WotWots". www.wetanz.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Kiddets extends WotWots brand on ABC KIDS" TV Tonight, 7 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Pukeko & Hengxin Shambala's 'Kiddets' Touch Down in China Animation Magazine, 5 December 2018