LONDON, 14 February 2011: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has signed a development deal to co-produce and distribute two new shows, co-developed by Random House Children’s Screen Entertainment (RHCSE), a joint venture between Random House Children’s Books (RHCB) and Komixx Entertainment, a Komixx Media Group company.

The two shows, based on original RHCB stories, will be jointly produced and financed by RHCSE and FME, with FME taking on worldwide distribution, licensing and home entertainment rights. The initial focus for both properties will be for television broadcast, with scope to develop into additional areas including games and toys. Both properties will appeal to kids across a broad spectrum of demographics.

The chosen titles are Fish Head Steve and The Amazing Adventures of Charlie Small.

Fish Head Steve is based on the Jamie Smart comic strip originally published by David Fickling in the weekly children’s comic, the DFC. Fish Head Steve is a surreal comedy-soap about everyday events in Spumville where, in a flash, the heads of the townsfolk have been mysteriously swapped for household objects and family pets.

The popular series The Amazing Adventures of Charlie Small by Nick Ward features the turbulent and perilous adventures of an intrepid boy Charlie Small as he travels through time and space. A special Charlie Small adventure was published for World Book Day 2010, selling over 115,000 copies. The stories include Professor Jakeman’s wondrous and wacky inventions the ‘Mechanimals’ which appear in the nick-of-time. The Charlie Small series is published by RHCB.

Sander Schwartz, EVP and Head of FME’s Children's and Family Entertainment Division said: “These two shows promise to entertain kids and families in countries around the world. Both series will feature compelling characters, great original storylines and themes from the books, and stunning visuals. We’re delighted to be working with RHCSE on these projects. With their unsurpassed portfolio of great properties and commitment to the family and kids’ entertainment space, I am confident that we will find many future opportunities for collaboration and mutual endeavour.”

Andrew Cole-Bulgin, Head of film and TV at RHCSE said: “RHCSE aims to create enduring entertainment brands, with original characters that have global appeal. The FME team has an impeccable track record in children’s and family entertainment and represents exactly our entertainment values and qualities. We share the same goals for these shows and with FME’s worldwide presence they will undoubtedly help deliver on our global brand-building aspirations.”

Philippa Dickinson, MD Random House Children’s Books, comments: “We are delighted that compelling storytelling from authors Jamie Smart and Nick Ward, combined with the DFB and DFC editorial expertise, has now created an opportunity for these wonderful characters to reach an even wider audience.  We are also very pleased to be working with FME and RHCSE on these projects.”

Random House Children's Screen Entertainment ('RHCSE') is delighted to announce that it has secured options for four projects based on RHCB books and characters: Fish-Head Steve by Jamie Smart, the Gargoylz series by Jan Burchett and Sara Vogler, the Princess Poppy books by Janey Louise Jones, the Charlie Small series by Nick Ward. These four options are in addition to RHCSE securing media rights to Monster Republic by Ben Horton from Hothouse in February.

Fish-Head Steve is a cartoon comic strip, which was first published in the DFC and will now be developed for TV animation. It is the quirky story of a group of friends who all wake up with bizarre new heads, and as they endeavour to find out exactly what is the cause of their freakish new features they are determined to have some fun along the way. RHCSE will be presenting Fish Head Steve at Cartoon Forum in September this year and is currently developing scripts and a pilot animation.

Gargoylz will be developed into live action CGI for TV. The series, aimed at 6- year olds, is fun and accessible, featuring mischievous little Gargoylz monsters that use their super powers to create magic, mayhem and mischief. Script and pilot development are well underway. A unique Gargoylz book will be created for World Book Day March 2011.

Princess Poppy will be developed for TV animation. The highly commercial picture books have sales of over two million copies to date and are enchanting stories about a little girl called Poppy to whom all girls can relate.

The Charlie Small series will be developed into live action CGI for film or TV. The series follows the adventures of an intrepid eight year old who has lived for over four hundred years as he tries to get back home. Recommended as 'buccaneering boy's books to grip the most reluctant reader' by the Telegraph the books are packed with thrilling scenarios. A special Charlie Small adventure published for World Book Day this year sold 115,000 copies.

Andrew Cole-Bulgin, Partner and Head of Film & TV, RHCSE comments: "The quality and variety of short-listed books from Random House provides us with a unique advantage at a time when many broadcasters are focused on finding global properties. We can deliver not only global brands but material with an established commercial audience. The speed at which RHCSE has selected these properties is testament to our specialist research techniques and the extraordinary willingness and enthusiasm of authors and agents alike. In a period of global austerity, our collaborative business model allows us to develop worldwide partnerships and co-productions that ensure not only commercial success for our brands but products with broad market appeal that will stand the test of time."

Philippa Dickinson, Managing Director, RHCB comments: "I am delighted that RHCSE is making such excellent progress and that we have a wonderful opening slate of projects already in development. The opportunities that this presents for our authors and artists is very exciting."