Egmont Imagination UK, the new London-based distribution arm of Denmark’s Egmont Imagination, is gearing up for some major production activity over the next couple of years, with a slew of kids shows, a mixed-media gothic feature and a Web-TV project in development.

Geared to the seven to 11 demo, the feature-length project Godion is set in medieval times and stars an innocent boy who is kidnapped by an evil wizard with a magical seashell that grants wishes to those who are pure-hearted. Set upon by a pack of dwarves, Godion unwittingly wishes for money to placate the thieves and discovers the secret of the shell. His wishes soon become self-serving and greedy and the shell stops performing, so Morcar the wizard absconds with another innocent-a young dwarf daughter of one of the thieves. Overcome with guilt, Godion leads the dwarves on a quest to find the wizard and reclaim the girl. Budgeted at about US$10 million, Godion will be rendered using puppets on a CGI background for completion in 2002. Denmark’s TV2 is on-board as a caster, and Egmont is looking for a co-pro partner for the flick. The prodco hopes to develop a 26 x half-hour TV series out of the tale, with a price tag of about US$400,000 per episode.

Egmont is also getting into the convergence game with Crime Crackers, a 26 x half-hour series for ages eight to 12 that has a sister on-line component available to broadcasters. The on-line version can link to a broadcaster’s site, enabling kids to tune in and click simultaneously. Budgeted at US$275,000 per half hour, the Flash-animated series is currently in development, with delivery slated for fall 2001. Each episode features Jerry the Clown Detective immersed in a mystery/adventure. A bevy of ex-circus pals help Jerry to solve the conundrum-or do they? Kids can go on-line and assist Chuckles the super-sleuth dog as he unravels the real solution. Egmont is looking for broadcasters for the co-pro with London-based Pesky.

Power Girls is the working title of a project currently in development with Munich’s TV Loonland that combines anime and European-style animation. Budgeted at US$350,000 to US$400,000 per episode, the 26 x half-hour series targets seven to 12-year-old girls and is slated for a spring 2001 delivery. Egmont is looking for broadcasters for the series, which centers around three 12-year-old girls who come from different parts of the world. The lonely trio meets at boarding school, where they discover supernatural powers that are triggered whenever they touch. With their enhanced sensibilities, the Power Girls set off to fight injustice in the world.