London distributor CAKE is partnering with Amsterdam-based The Dreamchaser Company on a new, aged-up version of preschool series Woozle & Pip.

The Woozle & Pip Adventures (working title, pictured) is a 52 x 11-minute, 2D-animated co-production for four to seven-year-olds based on a best-selling book series by the late Dutch author Guusje Nederhorst. Featuring a pair of lovable dogs and their best friends, the IP became a top preschool brand in Benelux and Germany after the first book was published in 2005. It expanded into consumer products, theater, apps, music, TV and movies.

Dreamchaser bought the property in 2008 and manages its commercial strategy including TV, publishing, licensing, online, theater, music, film and events. The original Woozle & Pip series was a 52 x five-minute, 2D show co-produced by Dreamchaser and Dutch pubcaster KRO NCRV Youth. CAKE signed on to handle international distribution in 2015 (the series performed best in Benelux and Germany), and will shop the reboot globally, beginning at MIPCOM.

While the original series is based on the younger-skewing books, the comedy-adventure reboot is inspired by Dreamchaser’s more adrenaline-packed 2016 feature film Woozle & Pip In Search of the Scallywagger! The Dutch release introduced new locations and characters to the world for an older preschool audience.   

The concept for the new series is a joint idea by Nederhorst’s husband and Dreamchaser co-founder, Dinand Woesthof, and CAKE CEO and creative director Tom van Waveren. Screenwriter Davey Moore (The Octonauts, Thomas & Friends) is partnering on the development of the show’s bible and scripts, while Paris-based Caribara is working on visual development.