Production on UK-based Coolabi’s preschool series Poppy Cat is now underway for Nick Jr. UK.

The 52 x 11-minute series, a collaboration between Coolabi and fellow UK-based studio King Rollo Films, was commissioned by the preschool net and is due to air on the channel in 2011.

In anticipation of its debut, Coolabi has secured a raft of international pre-sales for the series, including Nick Jr. Australia, RTE Ireland, YLE Finland, TV2 Norway, as well as Canada’s TVO, SCN and Knowledge Network. Other international broadcast partners are expected to be announced in the near future by Cake Entertainment, which has signed on as global TV distribution partner for the series and will be showcasing it at MIPCOM Jr.

Poppy Cat brings Lara Jones’ popular literary character to animated life. With a third of Poppy book sales coming from international markets, there is strong international appeal for the brand.