By: Ryan Tuchow, Jeremy Dickson and Carolyn Gruske

• Canal+ has commissioned a new 2D-animated preschool series called Max & Rabbit (pictured) from France’s Dandelooo that will start production in September and deliver in Q4 2025. This 26 x five-minute series is based on a same-name 13-book series by French author Astrid Desbordes and illustrator Pauline Martin. Dandelooo is handling worldwide distribution.  

• Outright Games and Paramount Game Studios have partnered to bring the first-ever video game featuring SpongeBob’s lovable starfish BFF to market. The Patrick Star Game, a single-player sandbox adventure title developed by PHL Collective, will be released on October 4 for Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S and Steam. Patrick’s ascendance began in 2021, when Nick launched its spinoff animated series The Patrick Star Show.       

• Video game players will have an opportunity to clean up Shrek’s swamp this fall. Maps of the ogre’s home and other well-known locations from the film franchise are being added to PowerWash Simulator. In the game, developed by FuturLab and distributed by Square Enix, players clean up dirty places with a high-pressure hose. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but similar Special Packs for SpongeBob SquarePants, Back to the Future and Warhammer 40K have sold for US$7.99. 

• Australia’s Moose Toys is debuting a brand-new magnetic build-a-playset system called Tile Toys in October. Along with non-branded sets that depict a pet clinic and a fire station, the first range will include licensed sets such as the Bluey Heeler Family Home ($59.99) and two Jurassic World SKUs—Dino Rescue (US$34.99) and Gate Escape (US$99.99).  

• Three series from Sinking Ship’s catalogue will soon be available in new international regions. The Canadian producer/distributor has sold its math-based live-actioner Odd Squad to ABC Australia, NRK (Norway) and Canela Media (for its Canela.TV Spanish-language streaming platform). Meanwhile, YLE (Finland) and VRT Ketnet (Belgium) have picked up Phoenix Rise seasons three and four. And Alma’s Way, produced by Fred Rogers Productions and Pipeline Studios, is also heading to Canela.TV.