London’s Silvergate Media has started production on a sixth season of its hit animated preschool series Octonauts.

Featuring new underwater environments, characters and vehicles, upcoming episodes from the 52 x 11-minute season are expected to launch globally from 2020.

With the company continuing to bolster its original IP output, library rights, digital capabilities and presence in China (CCTV partnered on Octonauts season five), Silvergate has also announced that it will produce two new one-hour Octonauts features for theatrical release in China. (The first-ever 4D movie experience featuring Octonauts, The Amazon Adventure, launched in 2016 from Silvergate and SFX-driven cinematic attractions company SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment.)

Since premiering on CBeebies in 2010, Octonauts currently airs in more than 100 countries with broadcasters including Disney Channel (US), CBeebies (UK), ABC (Australia), TF1 (France), Super RTL (Germany) and CCTV (China).

The company’s Octonauts growth comes amid newly announced kids shows including Fashion Ally (working title for Nickelodeon), Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt (Netflix for 2020) and Hilda (Netflix this fall), as well as a second season of Sunny Day now in production for Nick.