By Andrea Hernandez and Cole Watson

Toikido 

Toikido is putting all of its “surprise eggs” in one basket with game-first IP Piñata Smashlings. The British toyco has teamed up with Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana to adapt its June-launching Piñata Smashlings Roblox game as a 2D-animated series (52 x 11 minutes). The brand revolves around tiny benevolent creatures called Smashlings exploring their magical world and dealing with the evil Meañatas who want to corrupt them. 

A toy range will hit North American retail this fall, featuring more than 100 collectible characters contained in eggs that kids must break open, à la the popular paper-mache party game. 

ITV 

CG-animated series Tara Duncan (pictured, 52 x 13 minutes) is launching in the UK on streamer ITVX in July. Princess Sam Entertainment produces the show for six to 10s about a girl with magical powers who must protect her family from evil. 

Tara Duncan premiered on Disney Channel France and Gulli last spring, and it has also sold into Switzerland (RTS), Canada (Télé-Québec), Ireland (RTÉ), Norway (NRK), New Zealand (TVNZ) and Italy, where it started airing this month on Rai Gulp and Rai Play.

Bejuba! Entertainment 

The distributor has acquired worldwide rights to animated series Grounded, which LA-based Pipsqueak Animation and Scotland’s Hey Daisy Moon Productions are co-developing.

Aimed at six- to 11-year-olds, the 52 x 11-minute concept is about two free-spirited caterpillars who learn to embrace who they are when they don’t become butterflies. Bejuba! president Tatiana Kober is on board the project as an executive producer.