The Mouse plays with Canada's marble
Canadian indie marblemedia's live-action preschool series, This is Daniel Cook, has been picked up by Disney Channel US for its Breakfast With Bear block, running Monday to Friday.
The deal for pick-up of 65 six-minute episodes was finalized here at the Banff World Television Festival, negotiated on marble's behalf by Picture Box Distribution.
Scott Garner, Disney's vp of programme planning and scheduling spoke about what attracted him to the project: "(Daniel's) genuine enthusiasm and inquisitive nature will help fulfill our brand promise to help our preschool viewers imagine and learn," he said.
The show was coproduced with fellow Canuck indie Sinking Ship Productions. It currently airs on Canadian preschool network Treehouse TV, along with TVO, Knowledge Network, Access Alberta and SCN, and has been okayed for a second season.
"Part of Daniel's charm and the series' success comes from the fact that each episode is driven by his real-life curiosity," said marblemedia's Rita Carbone Fleury, describing the show which features an inquisitive seven-year-old learning, exploring, and creating as he visits with all types of people, such as chocolate makers, artists and zoo keepers.
This Disney deal follows the multi-platform preschool series picking up awards for best programme, all genres aged 3-5, best website and the grand prize for best programme overall at last week's Alliance for Children & Television Awards in Toronto.
marblemedia has received additional funding through Canada's new media Bell Fund, which is fueling expansion of the show's website.
Publishing and DVD deals are also reportedly in the works.
The Toronto-based indie is currently in development on several kids and youth-oriented projects, including multi-platform series Project: Adrenaline and The Flash Mob.