INK Group will showcase two major projects at stand E70 at BLE 2018 – Zafari and Masha and the Bear.

Zafari is the new series that’s taking the globe by storm, thanks to beautiful animation and an uplifting story that highlights and celebrates diversity. Broadcasters across the world are snapping up rights, with season one already showing, or due to show, in the Czech Republic (Czech Television), Finland (YLE), France (France TV for FTA, Tiji for Pay TV), Canada (French-SRC), Hungary (TV2), Indonesia (ANTV), LAT AM (Nat Geo Kids), MENA (Spacetoon), South Africa (E.TV), South Korea (CJ E&M),Switzerland (French RTS), UAE (E Junior), U.K. (Pop TV) and Vietnam (ITB TV), Italy (Rai), Amazon Prime (Global), China (IQIYI). Thanks to this huge popularity season 2 is already in production.

Special effects legend David Dozoretz is the genius behind Zafari, which weaves a beautiful story around the adventures of Zoomba – a curious and fun-loving baby elephant and his adventures in Zafari, a secret valley at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. But Zoomba is no ordinary elephant, as he is mysteriously born with the stripes of a zebra and not the rough gray skin of an elephant! He quickly finds out that all the animals in the magical, hidden valley of Zafari have also been born with the skin of other animals, and together they discover that being different, makes all the difference. Through these wonderful tales of Zafari; the audience watch Zoomba grow; see what he sees and laugh with him at his failures and triumph with him at his successes.

The licensing community has been quick to spot the potential of Zafari, with Ultimate Source currently developing a toy line and Hachette on board for publishing. This inspiring tale has also attracted the attention of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), with each episode of Zafari featuring a video aimed at educating viewers about wildlife and wild places on our planet – the first ever deal of its kind.

Masha and the Bear is the worldwide smash hit that is broadcast to millions through broadcasters in nearly every country in the world – as well as online through YouTube. The tale of the mischievous little girl who wraps her bear friend around her little finger transcends cultural boundaries and makes everyone laugh, regardless of who they are or where they live.

Season three recently launched and has already been snapped up by channels in the UK, Italy, Turkey, MENA, France, Germany, Nordics, Asia, Greece and elsewhere, with the last few episodes set to be delivered in spring 2019. The hit series has also branched out into a cinematic release, with audiences across Europe flocking to special screenings of previously unseen content. This initiative has been so popular that it’s been extended across a host of other countries around the world, with release dates set between Q4 2018 and Q1 2019

Claus Tømming, Managing Partner, INK Group, says: “Both Zafari and Masha and the Bear demonstrate the overwhelming power of good storytelling, as this is at the heart of both these shows. They weave engaging and relatable tales that draw in audiences and keep them enthralled, which is why they are both so astonishingly successful.”