Canadian production company Little Tugboat  is hosting a three-day workshop for professionals and beginners who want to learn what it takes to make and sell preschool television content in Canada and throughout the world.

The first-ever Little Tugboat Academy will take place at Toronto’s Cuppa Coffee Studios between July and 10. The seminar will focus on the fundamentals of creating a preschool series from pitching through writing, character design, directing and producing both live-action and animated shows.  Other topics will include licensing, business affairs, distribution and transmedia.

Courses include a workshop from Josh Selig, founder and president of Little Airplane Productions and Little Tugboat VP and director, on pitching and bible creation. JJ Johnson of Sinking Ship Entertainment is hosting a session on directing live-action series. Featured panelists include Kim Wilson, creative head of CBC Children’s and Youth Programming, Sarah Landy, executive in charge of production and development, Nickelodeon Preschool, and Jocelyn Hamilton, VP of Original Programming – Kids, Comedy, Drama at Corus Entertainment.

Selig, along with former Corus programming exec and partner Brenda Nietupski, kicked off the Canadian studio in February with the live-action/animated series The Adventures of Napkin Man (pictured).

For more information about the Academy contact tone@littleairplane.com or brenda@littletugboat.com.