Broadcasters have been giving the greenlight to second seasons this month and shows about trains are getting some serious love. Like last month, female-led series continued to earn renewals, while poetry makes the grade with orders for shows inspired by Dr. Seuss and Shakespeare.
Setting up another plate of Green Eggs and Ham, Netflix has renewed the 2D-animated series for a second season, titled Green Eggs and Ham: The Second Serving. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the new season will have 10 half-hour episodes. Season one debuted worldwide on November 8. The show is created and executive produced by Jared Stern (The LEGO Batman Movie) and executive produced by Ellen DeGeneres, Sam Register, Mike Karz, David Dobkin and Jeff Kleeman, with Helen Kalafatic producing.
Cartoon Network is laying down the track for a second season of its mystery adventure anthology series Infinity Train (pictured), airing January 6. Named, Infinity Train: Book 2, the show tracks a train that carries bizarre and fantastical environments in every car, which ultimately help unwitting passengers resolve their issues. It was created by Own Dennis and developed through Cartoon Network’s show development lab the Global Artists program. The show is executive produced by Cartoon Network Studios, and season one debuted this past August. No episode details for the new season have been announced yet.
Disney Junior US is boarding its own train, picking up the sixth season of Herschend Entertainment Studio’s Chuggington. The relaunched preschool series will air its first new episodes since 2015, next year. Created by Sarah Ball (Bob the Builder), the series revolves around three trainee train engineers who learn about cooperation, respect and perseverance. First premiered in 2008 on UK kidsnet CBeebies, the series and has been sold to more than 178 broadcasters, though no new episodes have been made since 2015. The new season is made up of 52 x 10-minute episodes and 26 x 1.5-minute live-action/animated shorts. Michael Stern (Doc McStuffins) is the co-executive producer and head writer on the new season, with Herschend’s VP of development and production, Julie Phillips serving as EP.
Disney Junior news has also ordered a second season of Mira, Royal Detective ahead of the show’s spring 2020 debut. Set in the magical land of Jalpur, a brave and resourceful commoner is appointed to the role of royal detective, traveling throughout the kingdom helping both royals and peasants. Becca Topol (Elena of Avalor) developed the show and serves as the story editor and co-producer. Produced by Wild Canary (Puppy Dog Pals and The Rocketeer), in association with Disney Junior, and animation is provided by Technicolor India.
To renew or not to renew, that is the question: And Hopster has answered by ordering a third season of animated series Two Minute Tales, focusing on William Shakespeare’s plays. The 10 x two minute season is branded as Two Minute Tales from Shakespeare and will adapt his classic plays, including Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth for four to sixes. The show’s first two seasons revolve around Grimm’s Fairy Tales and have been picked up by international broadcasters WDR (Germany), Zarok TV (Turkey) and France TV. Produced by UK studio The Consortium of Gentlemen, the show is written, animated and directed by Mole Hill with Hopster’s Ellen Solberg as EP.