Evergreen publishing franchise Maisy is scurrying back onto the small screen in a new 2D-animated series called My Friend Maisy (52 x five minutes).

Now in production, this first project to come out of Trustbridge Entertainment is a co-production with BBC Studios Kids & Family. Scripts from lead writer Matilda Tristram (Peppa Pig) will follow the adventures of the titular mouse and her friends in situations ranging from the mundane (fixing a car) to the fantastical (getting lost in a dream of squiggles while eating spaghetti). 

Maisy originated in 1990 as a picture book by writer/illustrator Lucy Cousins that eventually spawned 100-plus titles that have sold more than 46 million copies worldwide. The screen potential of the brand was obvious to Trustbridge Entertainment president Bob Higgins, who has been shepherding a book-based content slate derived from the company’s vast publishing catalogues (including the one belonging to Maisy’s publisher, Walker Books/Candlewick Press).

Whether we see Maisy become a doctor or fly to the moon on a whim, the character represents “a world of limitless possibilities” that are primed to be explored in vibrant animation, Higgins explains. Unlike the kidlit franchise’s first series adaptation in 1999 (which followed Maisy through everyday life), Trustbridge’s take will feature the mouse in colorful and surreal scenarios that resemble a child’s colorful daydreams.

The inspiration came from Cousins (who has been involved closely throughout the series’ development) when she recalled a quirky story about Maisy simply having a fun day exploring a world of stripes with her zebra pal. “That sparked the idea of thinking out of the traditional preschool storytelling box, which tends to follow a problem-problem-solution pattern,” Higgins says.  

The partnership with BBC Studios Kids & Family came about organically. “When I was at Fremantle and Boat Rocker, I worked extensively with the BBC, so there was a strong existing working relationship already,” explains Higgins. It also made sense to work with a UK producer/distributor to adapt what is an iconic British property, he adds. And that sentiment also extended to the selection of two studios to shoulder the animation work—Bristol-based A Productions (JoJo & Gran Gran) and London’s Karrot Entertainment (Sarah & Duck).

Despite the fanciful approach to stories, the team was also conscious about integrating a gentle tone into My Friend Maisy—another factor that Higgins feels will help the show stand out in today’s preschool market. “It’s definitely less frenetic. There’s so much out there on kids TV that’s loud and relentless, so we went the opposite way to give kids space [to escape] the anxiety that’s sometimes created [by such programming.]”

The team is currently in the process of introducing My Friend Maisy to broadcasters, and the plan is to begin delivering episodes around this time next year.