Cartoon Network is adding four Australian animated projects to its regional lineup in 2016.
The quartet of shows from Australian creators includes Cartoon Network-commissioned short-form comedy series Bill & Tony from Sydney’s Flying Gherkin and The Sketchy Show out of Brisbane by The Sketchy Show/Ludo Studio in Brisbane.
Cartoon Network has also greenlit a pilot episode of Melbourne-based Bogan Entertainment Solutions’ Monster Beach: The Series (pictured), based on a TV movie of the same name that won a 2015 ASTRA award, and Cartoon Network Studios will soon go into production on Aussie short program Lasso & Comet from Melbourne’s Rubber House Studios. Content from all four programs will also be featured on the Cartoon Network Anything app and Cartoon Network Watch and Play digital platforms.
The push into more original Aussie content comes on the heels of the success of both the Monster Beach TV film and Exchange Student Zero – Cartoon Network’s first full-length Australian-made series.
Cartoon Network is looking to build upon the virtual studio model approach it used for Exchange Student Zero, which for the first time had the full team physically together, including the voiceover artist, during production of the 13-part comedy adventure.