Jetpack Distribution has acquired worldwide rights to Moscow-based animation studio Soyuzmultfilm’s Claymotions edutainment shorts for preschoolers.

Animated in stop motion, the 62 x 2.5-minute series revolves around a group of clay characters who can transform into anything as they teach kids about topics like numbers, animals and plants. The show premiered on Russian kidsnet Karusel earlier this year.

Jetpack picked up Claymotions to bring a unique aesthetic to its kids content catalogue, says CEO Dominic Gardiner. The London-based distributor’s portfolio also includes Vinewood Animation’s Welcome to Cardboard City, which has a distinctive cardboard art style. And Gardiner says Jetpack is on the lookout for more shows with one-of-a-kind looks.

Broadcasters want programming that stands out visually with a different style or method of production, he explains. Claymotions is different from the typical CG animation that tends to dominate the market, and it has a more calming appeal for preschoolers. But it also checks another important box for the distributor.

“Jetpack doesn’t have as much educational content as I’d like,” says Gardiner. “This short-form series gives us something with an edutainment spine that we can offer to both broadcasters [looking for interstitials], and to streaming platforms that want bingeable content.”

This marks Jetpack’s first deal with Soyuzmultfilm, which has also produced kids shows such as Orange Moo Cow and Pirate School.