Producers Paxolotl Media and Zoot Pictures Ink Deal with Global Distributor Serial Maven Studios on the 3D Kids Animation Series “CHUMS”
Season Two of “CHUMS” to Premiere on APTN and APTN Languages on May 10, 2025
(17th March 2025 – Toronto / Winnipeg / Saskatoon) Eric Jackson, of Saskatoon’s Paxolotl Media Inc., and Leslea Mair, of Winnipeg’s Zoot Pictures, are delighted to announce today that they have inked a deal for their 3D Kids animation series CHUMS with Toronto-based global distributor Serial Maven Studios.
18 x 22’ episodes (Seasons 1 & 2) of the series, made for pre-schoolers aged 3-6, have already been completed, with 9 x 22’ episodes in production for Season 3.
Serial Maven Studios has been engaged as the worldwide distributor for all rights outside of the Commissioning partners. On the heels of another Kidscreen Summit, Serial Maven's network will be offering the series to buyers across all platforms.
Said Solange Attwood, CEO of Media Maven Studios, "CHUMS is a great example of a long running and successful franchise with incredible creative talent. We look forward to showcasing the latest episodes to the international marketplace as we continue to expand and diversify our content offering.”
In Canada, CHUMS has already been greenlit for three seasons by its broadcast partners APTN (who are premiering Season 2 on May 10 in English on APTN and in Anishinaabemowin and Cree on APTN Languages), Citytv Saskatchewan and Ontario French-language network, TFO. The first two seasons of the series have also been licensed by National Indigenous Television (NITV)/SBS Australia.
Leslea Mair, executive producer of CHUMS for Zoot Pictures, said, “Serial Maven has tremendous experience, and we are excited to see share CHUMS around the world.”
Added Eric Jackson, executive producer of CHUMS for Paxolotl Media, "We are beyond excited to be working with Serial Maven and cannot wait to share what our amazing cast and crew have accomplished on this production. Let's Go, Chums!"
In the world of CHUMS, Flies with Eagles, a young girl who is always willing to help, and her rag tag group of animal friends on Turtle Island are discovering their relationships to each other and to their environment on Mother Earth. Flies with Eagles’ group of “Chums” – friends – includes Ira, a young Eaglet learning how to help others; Emiree, a baby beaver with the softest heart; Romper, a rabbit that has trouble paying attention; and Pterry, a ptarmigan who wishes he could fly better. Our newfound chums take it upon themselves to be the explorers of Turtle Island, and to discover and learn about the world around them. CHUMS is designed to encourage the discovery of traditional Indigenous relationships to the animals and environment around us. In addition to being produced in English and French versions, the series is being produced in Cree and Ojibwe, with the aim of encouraging the learning of Indigenous languages by children. CHUMS is formatted for lip synching and versioning the characters into various languages.
CHUMS is produced by Chums Media Inc, a new animation studio based in the Canadian Prairies. The producers have assembled an amazing new animation team of talented people from across the two provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to create a show with all Indigenous creative and cast.
CHUMS is written by Eric and Dennis Jackson, as well as by Justina Neepin, directed by Dennis Jackson, produced by Paxolotl Media’s Eric Jackson, and executive produced by Zoot Pictures’ Leslea Mair. Art director is Stephanien Boulet. Tech design is by Frank Digital.
CHUMS is produced by Paxolotl Media and Zoot Pictures in association with APTN, Citytv Saskatchewan, and TFO. It was developed with APTN, the Canada Media Fund and the Indigenous Screen Office, and is produced with the participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund, the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Manitoba Provincial Tax Credit, the Saskatchewan Feature Film and Television Production Grant Program and the Indigenous Screen Office.
Visit the Website: http://www.letsgochums.ca/
Watch the Trailer: https://youtu.be/uc4vlq4L_UE
Access and Download Press Materials & Photos: https://bit.ly/40QuvMq
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For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Jeremy Katz, Publicity, CHUMS
416-997-6970 jeremyjohnk@gmail.com
Serial Maven to Distribute CHUMS (Worldscreen)
Serial Maven Brings “Chums” to International Audiences
About Serial Maven Studios
Headquartered in Toronto, Serial Maven Studios is a forward-thinking, globally focused studio dedicated to creating, financing, producing, and distributing original, returnable intellectual property. Led by Solange Attwood (CEO), Julie Chang (COO), Michael Kot (President), and Betty Orr (Managing Director of Production), Serial Maven Studios is renowned for delivering innovative, solution-driven content partnerships and premium programming with an international offering of 350+ hours of content from best-in-class production companies in the US, UK, Australia and Canada.
About Zoot Pictures
Over its 25-year history, Winnipeg-based Zoot Pictures has produced a range of award-winning one-off documentaries, feature documentaries, and limited and returning series. They cover a variety of genres, from social-political, science, environmental and cultural documentary, lifestyle programs and drama for the web. Principals Leslea Mair and Leif Kaldor have fostered a collaborative approach on projects that are focused on entertainment that makes the world just a bit smarter place. Along with three seasons of the 3D kids’ animation series CHUMS (co-produced with Paxolotl Media), for APTN, Citytv Saskatchewan and TFO, recent projects include the feature documentary Building Bastille, as well as Fall of the Maya Kings, produced for PBS NOVA, Smithsonian Channel Canada and ARTE France. http://www.zootpictures.com/
About Paxolotl Media
Paxolotl is a Saskatoon-based film & television production company founded in 2022 by Eric Jackson, an emerging Indigenous Producer with a passion for Indigenous storytelling and a determination to connect with his culture through new avenues to share with the future generations. Paxolotl is focused on telling amazing stories through the visual aspects of animation and giving a space to creative individuals where they can hone their skills and talents. The company intends to strive to bring about a fresh wave of creative projects with new perspectives on First Nations oral history, folklore and creation tales of Turtle Island. But Paxolotl’s aspirations don’t end there. The company is working to pursue other forms of media for storytelling; through animation (2D and 3D), live action, online content, prose and comic books, to reach a wider audience.
About APTN
APTN launched in 1999 as the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world. Since then, the network has become a global leader in programming that celebrates the rich diversity of Indigenous Peoples from home and beyond. A respected charitable broadcaster, APTN shares authentic stories to Canadian households through basic channel packages via two distinct HD channels: APTN (English and French language programming) and APTN Languages (Indigenous language programming). APTN proudly features over 80% Canadian content and inspires audiences via multiple platforms, including its Indigenous-focused streaming service, APTN lumi.
About TFO
TFO is a Franco-Ontarian public media company offering an interconnected French discovery experience across its educational, cultural and current affairs content. Audiences lie at the heart of TFO’s multi-platform mission and vision, where they are able to grow alongside its innovative and award-winning creations. Through its strong educational mandate, on television, digital platforms, and through its mobile initiatives and applications, TFO puts knowledge within arm’s reach. Watch TFO's high quality programming on tfo.org https://www.tfo.org/