The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Calgary-based Shaw Rocket Fund (SRF) are teaming up to launch the Kids Digital Animated Series program, aimed at stimulating the creation of animated series bound for digital platforms.

The CMF-SRF Kids Digital Animated Series Program will distribute US$2.5 million (CAD$3.3 million) in its first year, with individual projects eligible to receive up to US$396,000 (CAD$525,000) or 75% of the project’s eligible costs. The CMF will contribute two-thirds of the funding to each project, and SRF the remaining one-third.

The Kids Digital Animated Series Program is designed for animated series in their first season, with priority given to titles with the potential to evolve into a subsequent season, as well as innovative use of technology to increase animation quality.”

The fund is designed to create content for an “incredibly tech-savvy Generation Z [that] is constantly exploring digital platforms to find new content that speaks to them,” said Shaw Rocket president and CEO Agnes Augustin (pictured) in a statement.

While the CMF has joint funding initiatives with many domestic and global organizations, this is the first time it has partnered with Shaw Rocket, which has been synonymous with digital innovation in the kids space for the past two decades. Reboot: The Guardian Code, Yaya and Zouk, The Breadwinner, Felix and the Treasure of Morgäa and Genius Genie are among the animated projects backed by Shaw Rocket in recent years.

According to CMPA’s annual profile report, animation production in Canada fell by 19.9% to US$200 million (CAD$266 million) in 2016/17 (the most recent data available) after hitting a 10-year high of US$243 million (CAD$322 million) in 2015/16.