Ten years.
That's how long broadcasters have wasted time looking for another Spongebob. Of course, missing the fact that the big thing about Spongebob is that it wasn't another anything.
I've been flicking through a little section in Kidscreen magazine that outlines what current broadcasters are looking for. Yes, there's the usual requests for another Spongebob and more Dora, though they don't quite ask for it like that, but things are slightly different this year due to one thing -
The amount of requests for live-action.
It seems animation may well be falling out of favour. Cartoon Brew have had their own personal battle with Cartoon Network showing live-action shows but it looks like Cartoon Network aren't alone. The only mistake Cartoon Network made was putting the word 'cartoon' in their name.
ABC Australia - especially interested in live-action for preschoolers. Cartoon Network US - open to live-action. France Television - live-action for tweens. Nickelodeon UK - live-action sitcoms. There are more but my fingers are getting tired of typing 'live-action'. I really should just copy/paste it.
Not that there's anything wrong with live-action. There isn't at all. I just find the growing trend interesting and it certainly impacts on those of us in cartoon land.
I actually think it is at least better than chasing that elusive next Spongebob. Though it's entirely possible that the calls for live-action are chasing the next something that I don't know about. The next Hannah Montana? I don't know. I'm not well up on the live-action shows. Though I do enjoy Imagination Movers.
Sometimes (and I'm not speaking specifically about the live-action here), I think there is a huge gap between what broadcasters want and what children and parents want.
One quote, however, stood out to me in the Kidscreen pitch guide thing, one that as soon as I read it I thought, "Now these people, I like and would love to make a show for." It's from Jocelyn Hamilton from Corus Kids in Canada, who says she is looking for -
"Fun, character-driven preschool series with heart that make you giggle."
Now that's an aim I can support. That, as someone who works in children's television and, more importantly, a parent, is something I can get behind.
Jocelyn Hamilton, if you ever stumble across this, I hope you get exactly what you're looking for.
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4 comments:
Really? More live action? :O I might have to reconsider my career planning!
I'd just like to take this little moment to tell you I really enjoy your outlook on children and television. It feels very real and true, keeping the kids in mind yet also aware of how reality is. And the fact you yourself work in childrens programming shows how much you truly care about that.
Hope you can work for Jocelyn Hamilton, I'm sure you would do great!
What about a mix between live action AND animation? Or haven't the networks figured out this IS 2010?
Thanks, Humphrey. I really appreciate the kind words.
RPJ, BBC have a show at the moment called Badly Drawn Roy that is about a cartoon boy living in a real world so they've got that covered. But it does seem to be rather rare to mix the two.
"But it does seem to be rather rare to mix the two."
Examine what it is that makes the bond so odd.
Find ways to solve/improve it.
Pitch idea.
Become a millionaire ;)
I don't know why children's programs have no trouble with the interaction of live actors and puppets, but mixing live actors with animation is so rare.
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