A New Pre-School Animated Fantasy Adventure Series Will Use Emmy-Winning Digital Puppetry Technology.
Alchemy II, Inc. has teamed up with The Jim Henson Company to develop an animated fantasy adventure series for kids ages 3-7 with Teddy Ruxpin, one of history’s most successful, trusted and cherished children’s entertainment properties.
The new Teddy Ruxpin series will have an all-star team, including showrunner John Tartaglia (Splash and Bubbles, Johnny and the Sprites); producer Russell Hicks, the Original Head Illustrator for Alchemy II during Teddy Ruxpin’s initial launch; global master toy partner Wicked Cool Toys, winner of the recent TOTY award for the 2017 Teddy Ruxpin relaunch; and the team at The Jim Henson Company led by executive producers Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford. World-renowned Jim Henson’s Creature Shop will bring the series to life with its Emmy Award-winning Henson Digital Puppetry Studio (Sid the Science Kid, Word Party), which allows performers to puppeteer animated characters in real time allowing for more organic and natural movement.
With last year’s highly successful Wicked Cool Toys toy relaunch, Teddy Ruxpin is as relevant as ever to today’s kids and ripe for a magnificent full franchise return! The new series will focus on important themes and skills like fostering self-esteem, empathy and individuality.
“Teddy Ruxpin started out 35 years ago as a puppet created by Ken Forsse. He is returning to his roots with this dynamic form of puppetry and I am so excited to start this creative adventure with The Jim Henson Company,” said Jan Forsse, President of Alchemy II. Mary Becker, Vice President of Alchemy II, adds, “Fortune continues to smile upon us. Wicked Cool Toys has been hugely successful with Teddy Ruxpin and now we are in Henson’s gifted hands. I foresee nothing short of greatness.”
“After all of these years, I am so proud and excited to be working again with my dear friend Teddy Ruxpin. The Jim Henson Company has assembled an incredibly talented dream team to work on this beloved property and I am privileged to be part of this miraculous project,” said Russell Hicks, Producer of Alchemy II.
“Kids need to love themselves and appreciate their own individuality. Who better to teach that than Teddy Ruxpin?” said Halle Stanford, President of Television for The Jim Henson Company. “Teddy is a loving sensitive hero and will be a favorite ‘first friend’ for our viewers, taking them on adventures to discover all they can become.”
“We are absolutely thrilled at this brilliant collaboration for an animated series with our partner Alchemy II and The Jim Henson Company. The timing is perfect and imperative in all of our efforts to furthering the extension of this monumental brand,” says Michael Rinzler and Jeremy Padawer, Co-Presidents and Partners, Wicked Cool Toys.
“Teddy Ruxpin was a huge part of my childhood and the original stories about friendship, adventure, and kindness have always stayed with me,” said showrunner John Tartaglia. “This incredible team will bring brand new Teddy Ruxpin adventures to life for a whole new generation. Teddy and his friends are about to go places they’ve never been before!”
