Hot Picks: Bitz And Bob

Described as a “groundbreaking big new comedy adventure with a twist”, the animated show follows eight-year-old inventor Bitz and her younger brother Bob as they explore the world of science and engineering.

Bitz And Bob aims to inspire pre-school viewers to explore engineering from an early age, helping them understand how things are made and work, and to look more closely at the world around them.

At the time of its commission, the creators even talked about encouraging their audience to “lean in” – a clear indication of the Silicon Valley aspirations that it holds.

From their “maker space” treehouse, Bitz and Bob come up with inventions and creations that take them on magical adventures and epic journeys. But inevitably, things go a little haywire and Bitz has to use her special ‘engineer-ovision’ to save the day.

Working closely with the global writing team is a group of experts from the science and engineering sectors in the UK and US.

Alongside the animated series is a live-action show (44 x 4 minutes), which provides step-by-step tips on how to create some of the inventions – both serious and silly – shown in the main series.

As well as providing further bitesized pieces of information on the specific engineering principles at work in each episode, it allows children to interact and extend the experiences, on and off the screen and across platforms.

The series is being produced by CBeebies Productions and Fremantle Media Kids & Family as part of their five-year co-pro partnership, and is being animated in CGI by Jellyfish Pictures. Bob Higgins is executive producing for FMK and Vanessa Amberleigh for CBeebies. FMK holds the full global rights for the series.

In addition to selling Bitz And Bob, Fremantle’s kids’ division will be cooking up deals for Tasty Tales Of The Food Truckers, its first ever Thai co-pro deal.

The RTL-owned producer struck a deal in July with Thai kids’ firm Shellhut Productions to create two series as part of its expansion into Asia.

This food and vlogging-themed 52 x 11-minute series is the first fruits of that labour.

The show follows three animal friends – a bear, a monkey and a red panda – as they travel around the world in a souped-up food truck in search of exotic ingredients and new food ideas.

Team Smithereen producer Dan Clark is showrunner of Tasty Tales, with Tom And Jerry producer Bill Kopp directing and FMK’s Higgins exec producing.