Dublin, Ireland’s Kavaleer Productions has joined forces with Germany’s WDR mediagroup for the first time in a development and distribution deal for its forthcoming 2D-animated action-comedy series Dougie Noir.

Cologne-based WDR mediagroup and Kavaleer will be on the hunt to procure presales for the estimated US$5.1-million series at MIP Jr. this fall, with WDR backing the final script and art development phases and handling international distribution. Pre-production is expected to begin in summer 2017.

Created by Kavaleer CEO Andrew Kavanagh, the 52 x 11-minute series for six- to 11-year-olds follows the adventures of eight-year-old hero Dougie, who would rather focus on his career as a kid detective than follow in the footsteps of his mom, dad and peers—who are circus performers in a family-run big top show. Although he has problems paying attention and focusing on tasks, Dougie gets by just fine with help from his best friend and partner Mnemonica Memoire.

Kavaleer expects the production cycle will create an additional 20 to 30 jobs for the company, which is currently working on three other projects, Kiva Can Do!, Alva & The Trolls and recent CBeebies commission Pablo being co-produced by Belfast-based Paper Owl Productions.

With financing from Creative Europe’s slate initiative and the Irish Film Board’s Animation Development scheme, Dougie Noir the series was introduced at Cartoon Forum 2015 and was a top-attended project.

Kavaleer and Irish neuroscience lab Cortechs initially launched the IP as a suite of brain-fitness apps for kids with autism and ADHD.