Production of second season (52 x 11’ 3D animation) greenlit

ZDF Enterprises, the distribution and production arm of German pubcaster ZDF, has just signed a coproduction agreement with DQ Entertainment, India’s global entertainment production and distribution company, for a second season of the 3D HD animated series JUNGLE BOOK (52 x 11’). The first season, also 52 x 11’, has enjoyed a very successful launch around the world. ZDF Enterprises and ZDF have taken the lead as chief coproduction partner of the second season, budgeted at over 9 million euros. ZDF Enterprises will distribute the new adventures of Mowgli and his friends in more than 60 countries throughout Europe and Latin America. The first season has been an unqualified success and has been picked up by such marquee networks as BBC (UK), TF1 (France), ABC (Australia), TVO (Canada), ZDF (Germany), JCCTV (Middle East), Noga TV (Israel), Channel B (Indonesia), EBS (Korea) and several other networks covering over 160 countries worldwide. It will also be coming to multiple Disney channels in major parts of the world.

Based on stories from Rudyard Kipling’s immortal classic, the JUNGLE BOOK series features tales of wit, friendship, courage and loyalty with the man-cub Mowgli and his friends in the dense Indian jungle. The second season will further boost the merchandising and licensing of this property, which already boasts many deals concluded worldwide for toys, apparel, board games, outdoor action games, beach toys, food items and more.

Alexander Coridass, President and CEO at ZDF Enterprises, praises the cooperation with DQ Entertainment: “Ever since we started cooperating with DQ Entertainment, we’ve benefited from the positive attitude, the infectious enthusiasm and the exemplary efficiency of our Indian partners. We particularly appreciate DQ’s global outlook on production issues. They are enormously successful in transposing universally beloved stories into hit animation series, and the fact that an Indian company is producing JUNGLE BOOK, which is set in India, adds a particular twist to the project. This is just one of the reasons we at ZDF Enterprises did not hesitate to come aboard to coproduce not only of the second season of JUNGLE BOOK, but also the new 3D HD animated series PETER PAN and LASSIE.”

Tapaas Chakravarti, Chairman & CEO of DQ Entertainment says: "The second season of JUNGLE BOOK is a no-brainer after the tremendous success of the first season and the inherent demand by the global broadcasting community. Mowgli and his friends already have a tremendous amount of fans following and our JUNGLE BOOK has created the need to see more and more of Mowgli and his jungle friends by the kids. We are confident that the second season will also be a tremendous commercial success. It will be followed by a TV Movie special, a Christmas special, a Halloween special and many other spin-offs. The partnership with ZDF is symbiotic in the sense that we are producing several other projects with them.”