WildBrain and Younuo Animation Join Forces to Distribute Preschool Series 'Hey Toma'

In an exciting development for preschool programming, Canada’s WildBrain has teamed up with Hangzhou Younuo Animation to handle the global distribution of the charming 2D animated series *Hey Toma*, with the exception of Mainland China and Russia. 

The partnership was officially announced during a ceremony at MIPCOM 2024 in Cannes, where WildBrain’s EVP of commercial and corporate strategy, Anne Loi, and Younuo Animation CEO, Zhang Lei, signed the agreement on stage. 

"Hey Toma" consists of 26 episodes, each 8 minutes long, and follows the comedic escapades of four distinctive characters known as the "Colour Boos." These colorful friends use their unique ability to change colors, along with their creativity and kindness, to tackle everyday challenges in the vibrant Colour World. The series beautifully weaves in themes of empathy, teamwork, and diversity through the lens of color psychology, sparking imagination and helping children understand their emotions and the influence of colors.

Directed by Dalton Grant Jr., known for his work on "Shrek 2", "Duck Tales", and "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run", and written by Dan Clark, who has credits including "Yo Gabba Gabba!" and "We Be Monsters", "Hey Toma" also features music by Italian composer Gigi Meroni. Additionally, the series has already gained traction by being picked up by the Chinese streaming platform MangoTV.

With its focus on creativity and emotional expression, "Hey Toma" promises to be an engaging and educational addition to the world of children's animation!

                   Anne Loi and Zhang Lei

After nearly five years of development, "Hey Toma" is ready to charm preschool audiences worldwide, thanks to a collaborative effort involving talented animation artists from China, the USA, and Italy, including several Emmy Award winners. This creative team has crafted a rich, immersive world that blends traditional Chinese elements—like pandas, ink, watercolors, and murals—to introduce international audiences to the spirit of Chinese culture.

WildBrain's senior content partnerships manager in China emphasized the significance of this region for the company, stating, “China and APAC are a huge priority for WildBrain as we continue to grow our content and licensing business across the region. We’re witnessing strong global demand for preschool content that promotes empathy and teamwork. *Hey Toma* is an engaging series that embodies these themes, featuring colorful characters that are sure to delight preschool audiences and their families.”

WildBrain is renowned for its diverse lineup of projects, including "The Snoopy Show", "Snoopy in Space", "Camp Snoopy", "Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City", "Sonic Prime", "Chip and Potato", and "Teletubbies Let’s Go!" Meanwhile, Younuo Animation has made a name for itself with original productions such as the "Xiajiang" series, "The Wolo Family: Save The Elf", "Rice Fish", "Good Killer", and more.

With its focus on creativity, cultural richness, and important life lessons, *Hey Toma* is poised to make a splash in the preschool animation market, promising to engage and entertain young viewers while imparting valuable messages about teamwork and empathy.