The countdown to MIP is on and a number of prodcos have been racking up sales in the lead-up to the October event in Cannes, along with prepping a number of series for the show.

Discovery Kids Latin America has licensed the TV cable broadcast rights for My Big Big Friend (52 x 11 minutes), the preschool animated series about three children and their imaginary friends from Breakthrough Films & Television, co-produced with Brazil’s 2DLab, set for a 2011 premiere.

ZDF Enterprises has been busy down under, as Australian pubcaster ABC TV picks up a four-pack of children’s animation series from the distributor, including Fun with Claude (52 x 10 minutes), Shaolin Wuzang (26 x 26 minutes) and Igam Ogam (26 x 10 minutes) for ABC1 and digital channel ABC2. Laura’s Star (35 x 10 minutes) will air on ABC2. ABC has also taken the all media rollouts for Igam Ogam and Fun with Claude, to be formatted for ABC Australia’s audiences’ needs.

DQ Entertainment’s CGI-animated Twisted Whiskers, a co-pro with American Greetings and Mike Young Productions, will be premiering on India’s kids TV channel Hungama TV, airing Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. and a repeat telecast at 9 a.m.

Paris-based indie prodco producer Moi j’aime la télévision (MJTV) is heading to MIPCOM with two brand new shows: a spin-off from Genie in the House and Big Family, a co-pro with Big Nose.

Comedy series Big Family follows a 29-year-old who accepts the challenge of becoming a foster parent to 15 kids of all sizes, colors and characters and live in a shelter she’s inherited from her aunt. MJTV’s Phil Ox and Big Nose’s Xavier Pujade-Lauraine will co-executive produce the 26 x half-hour show, which enters production in 2010.

The yet-to-be-titled Genie live-action comedy spin-off, will shoot in 2010 and is commissioned by Canal J. It’ll feature new characters and special effects, to be produced by MJTV and Helion Pictures, which will be on hand in Cannes to talk to potential partners and broadcasters.