Banijay Kids & Family and TheSoul Unveil Digital-First Co-Production
- TheSoul Publishing
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
TheSoul Publishing announces a new co-production with Banijay Kids & Family, a global leader in children’s entertainment, behind hit shows such as Totally Spies! and Mr Bean: The Animated Series. The deal triggers the launch of original IP, Ava & Digger, a digital-first 2D animated series set to debut on YouTube and streaming platforms later this year. Banijay Kids & Family will spearhead global distribution.
The all-new series follows the adventures of two animal friends living with their psychologist owner. Beneath the surface of their cozy domestic life lies a vibrant, secret social world, where animals navigate emotional challenges, friendships, and self-discovery.
Supported by an insight-driven, comprehensive rollout strategy, the approach is designed to be agile and responsive, with adaptive content formats and storylines to reflect audience preferences and current trends as the show progresses. The series will also be supported by a robust social media strategy, leveraging both partners’ expertise in platform-native storytelling and community engagement.
The news follows the recent expansion of a partnership between the two companies, triggering the rollout of localized versions of their joint YouTube and FAST channels, expanded AVOD coverage, and announcement of a Totally Spies! x 5-Minute Crafts crossover.
Dan Lewsey, Global Head of Digital, Banijay Kids & Family says: “Ava & Digger is a fresh, funny, and emotionally resonant series that really showcases the best of what our teams can do. Co-developed by Banijay Kids & Family and TheSoul Publishing, both teams have put an incredible amount of heart, creativity, and effort into shaping the show. A self-funded, digital-first IP is a strategic first for us, and we’re excited by the opportunity to react in real-time to audience feedback, refine the direction of the show, and build a strong brand with a vibrant community around it.”
Jonathan Shrank, VP of Streaming & Content Partnerships at TheSoul Publishing adds: “This co-production marks a natural evolution of our successful partnership with Banijay Kids & Family. Together, we bring premium, cost-effective, high-quality production values, quick turnaround capabilities, and a deep understanding of digital platforms and audience behaviours. This foray into adaptive content using viewer insights represents an excellent opportunity to innovate on a large scale, and it’s exciting to be in the middle of a game-changing opportunity, extending our partnership to launch an original new show.”
Julia Rowlands, SVP Co-productions, Sales and Acquisitions, Banijay Kids & Family comments: “Co-developing the series with TheSoul Publishing has been a fantastic experience. The series is built to thrive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape, and the opportunity to take it to market with deep audience insights an already engaged and growing community behind it gives us a real advantage. It’s a fresh approach to IP development, and one that opens up exciting new possibilities for distribution and audience connection.”
Banijay Kids & Family’s collective of first-class producers and talent is behind some of the biggest kids brands in the world. As brand builders and experts at amplifying IP, it delivers creative and impactful 360 brand strategies for its shows. Led by Benoît Di Sabatino, Banijay Kids & Family is part of content powerhouse Banijay Entertainment.
