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ABC 2016 Upfronts: Children’s Programming

Tomorrow When the War Began, Nowhere Boys & Danger Mouse coming in 2016.

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This week ABC announced new and returning Childrens’ titles for 2016 across its broadcast channels and iview.

Nowhere Boys: The Book Of Shadows (telemovie)
The boys are back in Bremin and are struggling with everyday teenage life. Felix has high hopes for the four heroes. He wants them to push the limits of their magical ability, working as a team to become masters of the arcane. But although he’s unwilling to admit it, the boys have grown apart. The boys, once in perfect magical and elemental alignment, are a tangle of rivalry and distrust. On the verge of separating, the Nowhere Boys are drawn together for one last spell when Felix discovers a magically sealed ‘Book of Shadows’. Unwittingly this releases a powerful force of chaos, and the gang is reluctantly drawn into a showdown that threatens their world and all they love… Matchbox Pictures

Nowhere Boys
When Luke, a tech-nerd, arrives for his first day at Bremin High all appears to be tiresomely ordinary, but what he doesn’t know is that Bremin is located at the convergence of magical ley lines and that someone has been awaiting his arrival to put together a new gang of Nowhere Boys. Three have already been identified: Heath, the school’s ‘bad boy’, is Fire; high achiever and track athlete Niyanta is Earth; and musical theatre geek Jesse is Air. Unbeknown to him Luke is the fourth element –Water. Matchbox Pictures.

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Prisoner Zero
A classically styled animation from an exciting new Australian creative team: Prisoner Zero is a science fiction, action adventure series following the exploits of teen heroes, Tag and Gem, and their mysterious friend Prisoner Zero. The Imperium have enslaved humanity and taken control of the population via a digital system wired into every cell of their bodies. Tag and Gem’s mission is clear: stop the Imperium and free humanity. Thrown together on a mission to help those in trouble across the cosmos, our hero-adventurers become inter- galactic Robin Hoods, in a breathtaking struggle against the evil Imperium’s General Vykar. Planet 55 Studios

The Deep
An action-packed aquatic family adventure! The sea is deep and full of secrets. More people have walked on the moon than have been to the very bottom of the ocean—but that’s where our heroes, the Nekton family, dare to go. While most of us look up to the night sky, the Nektons know that in nite mysteries lie deep in the darkness below. For generations, members of this family have been explorers of the deep. A brilliant team with advanced technology and an unquenchable thirst for discovery, they boldly explore this spectacular world of mystery. It’s a place where leviathans swim through sunken cities; where modern day pirates lurk amidst floating black markets and mysterious Guardians conceal long lost secrets. A Stark Production

Good Game SP
ABC3’s version of the popular ABC TV show all about the wonderful world of video games. Hosted by passionate gamers Hex (Stephanie Bendixsen) and Bajo (Steven O’Donnell) Good Game SP is the show for younger gamers by gamers which makes sure all your games are good ones. Also stars Gus ‘Goose’ Ronald and Darren the Robot. An ABC3 production.

Bushwhacked! Bugs
In every child’s backyard lives a secret world of rarely seen or understood insects. Every day and night these guys do extraordinary things. Sometimes these creatures act out deadly encounters with each other, going head to head in miniature duels to the death. Kamil Ellis presents a mini-Bushwhacked! complemented by high- quality macro-photography. Mint Pictures

This Is Me
This Is Me showcases children 9-13 years from around the country as they share their thoughts about their life, friends and family with humour and energy, local stories that their peers can relate to, something they might learn from. This Is Me provides a unique perspective that will inspire, move or surprise them! Locations include Norfolk Island, the Kimberley region, Cairns and the Torres Strait. Air Pig Productions

Tomorrow, When The War Began
Based on the era-de ning novels by John Marsden, this dramatic adventure series tells the story of a group of teenagers who are separated from their families following an invasion of their country, a con ict they never saw coming. The dilemmas faced by these characters are important and compelling. In a time of rapidly changing world events, the themes of Tomorrow, When The War Began have never been more relevant. The series will star Molly Daniels, Jon Prasida, Narek Arman, Madeleine Madden, Fantine Banulski, Keith Purcell and newcomers Madeleine Clunies-Ross and Andrew Creer. This fresh new talent will be complemented by a line up of acclaimed Australian actors including Sibylla Budd (Winners and Losers, The Secret Life of Us), Deborah Mailman (Redfern Now, Black Comedy, Offspring), James Stewart (Hiding, Packed to the Rafters) and Alison Bell (Offspring, Laid). Ambience Entertainment.

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Trip for Biscuits
In an iview first for young teens, sci-fi fanboy Bajo has landed his dream job: Intergalactic PI at Spatial and Existential Phenomena Investigations (SEPI). The job is awesome! Except that his boss seems to work on both sides of the law, his goofy partner Tosh prefers social media to snooping and his weapons specialist Amy is the boss’s 16-year-old niece, who is a ‘blow things up rst, ask questions later’ kinda girl. This team have turned ‘out of control’ into an art form – reminding us all that when you mess with space and time, things can go horribly, horribly wrong. Robot Panther

Winston Steinburger and Sir Dudley Ding Dong
A fast-paced, high-energy animated tween comedy, the series follows the intergalactic exploits of three unlikely amigos as they seek out adventure in the Globulus Galaxy; a busy stretch of alien-infused space, millions of moons from earth. Our cast is led by Winston: a brainiac earth-kid with his best friend (and pet cat) Dudley and an alien named Hampton. Sticky Pictures

You’re Skitting Me
Sketch comedy You’re Skitting Me returns for a new season of edgy, upbeat, quirky, comedy sketches made for kids featuring young Australian talent as the stars who perform characters, monologues, parodies, ads and animations, with themes especially relevant to a switched-on generation. This new series will source new creative talent from across the country, in an exciting new multi- platform format. Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder

Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse is a fast and loose comedy series, spoofing the world of spy/ action genre movies. At the heart of the show is a relationship between the two lead characters – the heroic, witty, fearless Danger Mouse and his cowardly, bungling, buttoned up partner, Penfold, a small bespectacled hamster. The tone of the show is irreverent, imaginative, occasionally surreal and full of crazy comic twists in a wild, breathless plot with huge stakes. This exciting reinvention of a children’s classic features the voices of Stephen Fry and Alexander Armstrong. Fremantle Media.

Behind the News, BTN Specials, ABC Education and 3News
Throughout 2016 ABC3 will continue to provide Australian children, their families and the schools community with the best local and international education and factual content and News & Current Affairs. Especially designed for, and inclusive of, young Australians keen to understand and develop their place in a changing world.

Operation Ouch!
Back to entertain and inform the whole family, Operation Ouch! returns for a new season of children’s educational television packed full of incredible facts about the human body. Fronted by identical twins Dr. Chris and Dr. Xand van Tulleken, Operation Ouch! explores the world of medicine and biology and demysti es hospitals for younger viewers. Serious Lunch

Scream Street
After twelve-year old Luke Watson started transforming into a werewolf, he and his parents are permanently relocated to Scream Street, an otherworldly neighbourhood inhabited by mummies, vampires, zombies, poltergeists, bog monsters and many other ghouls. Along with his new friends, Luke tackles mysteries, faces o against an evil landlord, and helps his comically perpetually-terri ed parents navigate their frightful new life. Coolabi Productions

So Awkward
Lily, Martha and Jas return in brand new episodes of the dramedy So Awkward. Academically bright but socially awkward, these girls just don’t fit in with their peers and don’t want to. They obsess over their grades, are baffled by teen trends and have absolutely no understanding of boys. Channel X / CBBC.

Slugterra
Popular sci- comedy animation Slugterra returns with all new fast-paced adventures. Set in a luminous, high-tech, underground world where every cavern holds a new adventure, new battles and weird little slugs are discovered! Nerd Corps Entertainment

Hoot Hoot Go!
Hoot Hoot Go! is a pre-school adventure series that explores the core concepts of friendship, laughter and problem solving. Hoot, Hootabelle and Hootly are the best of friends who live together in the Land of Giggle and Hoot. Whenever someone needs help, they work together to solve the problem. Hoot Hoot Go! An ABC TV production

Maurice’s Big Adventure
Play School’s much loved teddy bear Maurice is invited along to experience important events in a preschooler’s life for the very first time. Maurice will join his young friends as they embark on exciting adventures into school, new family members and beyond. Maurice’s Big Adventure will act as a playful, optimistic guide into the unknown and serve as a great conversation starter for the whole family. An ABC TV production

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Kazoops!
Kazoops! is about one boy’s quest to challenge preconceptions about life, and the world we live in, through the power of his imagination. How do we know that all monsters are scary and is it always important that your socks match? Do all games need rules and is the night really just for sleeping? Monty explores these ideas by embarking on a journey into his imagination, accompanied by his best friend Jimmy Jones, the family pet pig, where they find fresh perspectives and have lots of fun. These adventures are narrated by a unique song in every episode, so music is at the core of property. The concept of critical thinking is also fundamental as Monty never takes things at face value and is happy to use his imagination to play with contradictions and think new thoughts. Cheeky Little Media

Play School 50th Anniversary
In July 2016 one of Australian television’s most iconic programs will celebrate 50 continuous years as the most respected and trusted children’s program in the nation. A range of special events and content culminating in the week of July 18 will celebrate this milestone birthday with children and all the Australians who have grown up with this program as an essential part of their childhood. We will produce a week-long 5 episode special series of Play School as well as a special celebrity interstitial series featuring an exciting line up of Australian celebrities to perform various songs, nursery rhymes and stories to celebrate 50 years of Play School. An ABC TV production

Clangers
The Clangers are pink, long-nosed, inventive and loveable mouse-shaped creatures who live on a small blue planet, out in the starry stretches of space, not far from Earth. Its surface is peppered with holes topped with metal dustbin lids, which ip open with a clang! to reveal steps down to their home beneath the surface of the planet – containing a series of interconnecting tunnels and caves. Kind and generous creatures, they communicate with distinctive whistles and a narrator comments on the thrilling and often hilarious events which occur in every episode. Narrated by Michael Palin. Coolabi Productions

Peppa Pig
A brand new Peppa Pig special comes to ABCKIDS in 2016 with Peppa and her friends travelling the globe in Peppa Pig: Around The World. This year also brings all new episodes of the world’s favourite preschool pig – catch up on her new adventures with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and little brother George in an all new season of Peppa Pig.

Jamillah & Aladdin
A modern twist on the classic Arabian Nights story, Jamillah & Aladdin follows Jamillah, a 21st century London girl, who after finding a mysterious lamp in her attic, is transported back to ancient Baghdad by the lamp’s resident genie. There she meets Aladdin, who shows her a whole new world of adventure and magic. A co-production between Kindle Entertainment, Toonz Entertainment and Mediabiz for CBeebies and CBBC

Sesame Street
All new episodes from perennial favourite Sesame Street where you can join Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Grover, Big Bird, Oscar and many other characters and celebrity guests to learn the alphabet and to count with Count von Count, but most of all just have a good time. Sesame Workshop

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