marblemedia, Big Soul Productions and APTN collaborate with Alexander Bar to develop a new animated series SNOW JOE
(March 27, 2013 – Toronto, Canada) Award-winning content creator marblemedia, Big Soul Productions, a leading producer of Aboriginal programming and Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), collaborate with Alexander Bar, creator of the hit series Lunar Jim and Mike the Knight, to develop a new animated preschool series, Snow Joe.
“Through delightful storytelling, Snow Joe provides a wealth of opportunity to celebrate relevant touchstones for First Nations Peoples by inviting a wider global audience to discover a vibrant culture through its engaging characters and themes that are relatable to many cultures today,” said Mark Bishop, Co-CEO and Executive Producer, marblemedia.
Set in the wintery wonderland of Snowflake Peak in the Mackenzie Mountains, all 11-minute episodes of Snow Joe follow Joe, an Aboriginal boy of Dene descent who dreams of becoming a hero – just like the ones in his grandfather’s stories.
With a talent for turning the simplest activities into derring-do fun adventures, Joe and his friends take on all obstacles this world of snow has in store for them by developing their own brand of role-play. Wearing homemade hero gear inspired by their favourite Dene animal heroes marks the transition between hanging out and empowering Joe and his friends – the spirited girl next-door Nina and the reliably accident-prone Buddy – to tap into their unique abilities, all the while respecting their heritage.
“I’m thrilled to be working with such great partners on Snow Joe, a show that promises to inform, inspire and entertain kids everywhere,” said Alexander Bar.
“We are breaking new ground with this show and with our partnership with marblemedia and Alexander Bar. Big Soul is confident that our combined talents will result in a show that is unique, whimsical and universally appealing,” said Laura Milliken, President, Big Soul Productions.
marblemedia’s interactive division will extend the Snow Joe brand online through the development of mobile and online assets. marblemedia’s partner company Distribution360 (www.distribution360.com) will be handling all international television, interactive and format sales for the series.
marblemedia develops, produces and distributes engaging multiplatform entertainment experiences for audiences around the world. Named Transmedia Producer of the Year (2011) by Playback, marble has won two Gemini Awards, been nominated for an Emmy® Award and was identified as a Next Generation Content Producer (2009) by The Hollywood Reporter. The company owns a 50-acre production ranch and operates a Toronto-based studio, home to 50 staff. With nearly 200 hours of programming distributed in more than 200 territories, notable projects include the award-winning hit preschool series This is Daniel Cook and This is Emily Yeung; the award-winning series Taste Buds; Skatoony, North America’s first animated/live-action quiz show; the animated comedy Dating Guy; the teen competition series The Adrenaline Project; the physical game show Splatalot; What’s in a Name, a discovery of the history behind popular household names; and the first multiplatform series in American Sign Language, deafplanet.com. The company was co-founded by Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg in 2001. Experience marblemedia at www.marblemedia.com.
Big Soul Productions Inc. is a 14-year-old award-winning, Aboriginal-owned and operated television and film production company based in Toronto. Co-founder, Laura J. Milliken serves as President and CEO of the company and was Co-creator and Showrunner for Moccasin Flats, a series that earned the company a Gemini Award nomination for Best Dramatic Series in 2006. Big Soul develops and produces original television and film content, such as By The Rapids, a comedy animation series produced entirely in Big Soul’s in-house animation department for four seasons. Big Soul also boasts an impressive array of digital image capturing gear and post-production facilities through which they produce music videos, industrials, corporate productions, commercials and public service announcements. Currently, Big Soul is producing it’s first music and performance series entitled “The Guilt Free Zone” and developing its highly anticipated one-hour drama series, “The North End”.
About APTN: September 1, 2012, marked the 13-year anniversary of the launch of the first national Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in approximately 10 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite, telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers. The network launched its high definition channel, APTN HD, in the spring of 2008. APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming with 56% offered in English, 16% in French and 28% in Aboriginal languages. For program schedule or for more information, please contact APTN at (204) 947-9331 or toll-free at 1-888-278-8862, or visit the website at www.aptn.ca.