Penguin to Publish Animated Animalia
By Karen Raugust -- Publishers Weekly, 1/28/2008
The Penguin Group has been named the U.S. publisher for books tied to the new 3D-animated television series Animalia, which launched on PBS Kids Go! earlier this month. Tie-ins will appear on store shelves beginning with four or five titles in January 2009. Penguin holds worldwide rights for the tie-in books; Penguin Australia was the original publisher of the hardcover by Graeme Base on which the show is based.
“The art from the show is beautiful and lush, and the educational aspect of it is appealing,” said Debra Dorfman, president and publisher, Grosset & Dunlap and Price Stern Sloan. “It’s really funny and entertaining. It has all the elements that really work for books.” Initial titles will include readers and activity books, with novelty, picture and other formats, possibly including some educational titles based on curriculum being developed for the broadcast, rolling out later. “We think this could be a big property in the school market as well,” Dorfman added.
Abrams, the U.S. publisher of more than 13 Graeme Base children’s titles, including the original Animalia, intends to repromote that book along with Base’s newest release, Enigma, coming out this fall. “Booksellers love Graeme,” said Jason Wells, director, publicity and marketing, who notes that Base will do a month-long U.S. tour—as he does for all new releases—starting September 25, featuring two events a day at stores and other venues. The tour will include a reading at California’s Legoland in conjunction with the Legoland Beginners Book Club, for which Abrams is one of the publishing partners. Abrams will sticker its Animalia hardcovers (available in two trim sizes) with a reference to the TV series and distribute event kits promoting both Enigma and Animalia.
The TV series is set in the world of Animalia, populated by talking animals inspired by the original alliterative alphabet book, which has sold three million copies in the 20 years since its publication, as well as new characters. Although the book had no storyline, the producers had a lot to work with when developing the series, according to Bruce Johnson, president and CEO of Porchlight Entertainment, which oversees U.S. licensing rights and is one of the companies behind the show. “The book as much as anything is about words and language,” he said. “This artist is so whimsical and funny, and there’s really a style there. Graeme was deeply involved at every level.”
Other licensed products are planned for a 2009 release, with toys, playsets and electronics among the primary categories, according to Stephanie Friedman, Animalia’s licensing rep.
