A Productions has been chosen as the UK producer for The Underglow, a new 2D animated pre-school series pitched at Cartoon Forum.
Working in partnership with Finnish animation production studio Gigglebug to produce the new series, our involvement was announced at Cartoon Forum in Toulouse.
The Underglow, which is all about inspiring curiosity and wonder in children, was developed in partnership with the BBC as part of BBC Ignite. Chosen from over 1,000 pitches and following an 18‑month development period with the BBC, The Underglow was selected as one of only three Ignite projects to be commissioned. Finnish broadcaster YLE has signed a letter of intent.
Created by Tanya Scott and Sam Morrison, The Underglow introduces preschoolers to a hidden, magical garden — a world just out of sight from humans. The Underglow inhabitants portray an understanding of the value of everything: from the world they live in, to the people they know, to the items they often find, which they use in new and imaginative ways.
Predominantly aimed at a pre-school audience, parents can also enjoy the Underglow thanks to the inherent humour and warmth. It’s a place of adventure, exploration, play and comedy, with a fuzzy boundary between what’s real and what is magical.
Katherine McQueen, managing director of A Productions, said: “We are thrilled to be working with such a talented group of people on this unique, playful and imaginative show with plenty of heart and humour threaded throughout.”
Cartoon Forum focuses on pitching sessions of pre-selected TV projects, where animation producers from across Europe can find cross-border partners and speed up financial arrangements.
The Underglow was selected from the BBC’s inaugural Ignite submissions in 2023, a talent programme to find the UK’s next animation hit.