RTÉjr
New RTÉJr animated series Puffin Rock comes to air as second series confirmed
Puffin Rock, the animated pre-school series narrated by Chris O’Dowd, will launch on RTÉjr on Monday 12 January at 8:10am and 1:10pm, airing daily on the television channel. The episodes will also be available to view on the RTÉjr app on the RTÉjr website: www.rte.ie/rtejr.
Puffin Rock follows a family of lovable puffins living on a wild and beautiful Irish island. Young puffling, Oona, and her little brother, Baba, explore the island with their friends, and their stories are filled with laughter and adventure. Puffin Rock has a gently educational tone, appealing to 2-6 year olds and their parents. As narrator, Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Moone Boy and The IT Crowd) adds an extra twinkle of comedy, mixing amusing observations with interesting facts about the wildlife on the island.
The co-producers of Puffin Rock – Oscar-nominated Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, global publisher Penguin, and Derry-based children’s media company, Dog Ears – are delighted to announce that a second series of Puffin Rock has now been confirmed. Production has already commenced on the new series of 39 x 7-minute episodes, which will be animated in Derry and Kilkenny.
RTÉ Executive Producer Pauline Macnamara said: ‘Puffin Rock is a gorgeous addition to the RTÉjr schedule and will delight our under 7s audience. We’re particularly pleased to be bringing stories of Irish coastal wildlife to young Irish children through the world of Oona and Baba puffin and friends. It’s a rich and magical series which will capture the imaginations of children everywhere.’
Chris O’Dowd said: “I love the whole idea behind Puffin Rock and the style of the artwork. I can’t wait to be involved in it, but then I do love anything with puffins.”
Fionnuala Deane, Managing Director, Dog Ears Ltd said: ‘After a year of animation production with our co-producers Cartoon Saloon and Penguin Books, we are incredibly proud and excited to see Puffin Rock on TV for the first time. The fact that we have been able to start production on a second series, immediately on completion of series one, is testimony to the quality of the characters, storytelling and the creative team behind the show. We hope that the RTÉjr audience get as much enjoyment watching Puffin Rock, as we have during production.’
Paul Young, CEO, Cartoon Saloon said: ‘I can hardly wait to see our Puffins on RTÉjr for Irish children, with their lovely Derry accents joined by the ever-dulcet tones of Chris O’Dowd. RTÉ’s Sheila De Courcy and Pauline McNamara deserve a big thank you for their support in getting Puffin Rock to Irish screens along with the Irish Film Board for their support right through development and production.”
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Date: Thursday 8 January 2015
For more information please contact: Tara O’Brien, Communications Manager, RTÉ Television, T: 01 208 2267, M: 0863544481
Editors’ Notes:
About RTÉJr
RTÉjr is a dedicated Irish children’s channel on TV, Radio, Online and Mobile. Launched earlier this year, this new channel is part of public service broadcaster RTÉ’s strategy in the development of services for young people. Completely advertisement-free, the channel is specifically for children aged 0-7, allowing viewers to watch, listen and play with brand new channels on television and digital radio from around 7am to 7pm daily. RTÉjr also offers online and mobile services which allow children to access original, entertaining and educational content that reflects their lives and is made exclusively for them.
About Dog Ears Ltd
Dog Ears Ltd is a children’s media company based in Derry, Northern Ireland. Formed in 2010, Dog Ears develop and produce children’s IP, and run the annual Humdinger! Children’s Book Festival. www.cheersdogears.com