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SLR Productions, along with partner ZDF Enterprises, will develop the Alice-Miranda books into a 26 x half hour animated drama-comedy television series which will be aimed at the 6 to 9 year old audience, a demographic that has been extremely successful for the books both domestically and internationally. Australia’s NINE Network will be the local broadcaster. The 14 part book series (and counting) has been a phenomenal success in Australia with 650,000 copies sold locally. Alice-Miranda has also achieved international acclaim with the books being published in over 80 countries including the UK, North America, Indonesia, Turkey and Brazil. Combining comedy, drama, friendship and mystery, the stories pivot around Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, an extraordinary young girl who at the age of ten has organized her own early entry into boarding school along with her cheeky pony, Bonaparte. She’s the youngest girl ever to attend Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies, a delightful country boarding school with a difference! Alice-Miranda’s two best friends are Millie and Jacinta, and the boarding school they attend is a dream come true for these young girls. A home away from home, where you never have to leave your friends and can have all the exciting adventures any girl can dream of; like riding ponies across the emerald green fields, the excitement of camping out in the woods, skiing in the Alps, acting in the school play with a famous celebrity, fabulous midnight feasts, exotic overseas excursions and outings with the Fayle School for Boys. They even experience a brush with Royalty. “We are absolutely thrilled to be developing this extraordinary book property into a 26 x half hour animation series with our partner ZDF Enterprises and for the local broadcaster to be the NINE Network. This is the first time SLR has optioned a book property under the banner of the newly formed Penguin Random House and it is an honour to be working with the very talented Australian Author, Jacqueline Harvey and the publishing team. The Alice Miranda TV series will focus on friendship, fun, mystery and intrigue – all the elements 6 to 9 year olds love,” said SLR Productions’ CEO and Executive Producer, Suzanne Ryan. “I am so excited to be working with Suzanne and her incredibly talented team at SLR Productions. It’s a huge thrill to know that Alice-Miranda and her friends are destined to reach an even broader audience around the world via a television series that has the support of ZDF Enterprises,” said Alice-Miranda series Author, Jacqueline Harvey. “Alice Miranda has all the ingredients it takes to make a children’s series an international success. We are sure it will capture the hearts not only of young girls but entire families. It is a delight to be working with Suzanne Ryan’s team at SLR Productions again,” said VP of ZDFE.junior, Arne Lohmann. “Having seen firsthand how well the Alice Miranda series has been received in Australia and internationally, I am thrilled to see it in the very capable and experienced hands of SLR Productions. This is a series whose characters and themes will translate perfectly to television and will no doubt bring joy to all its viewers,” said Penguin Random Australia House Senior Rights Manager, Nerrilee Weir. |
