KidsCo launches Boo & Me in Malaysia

MALAYSIA: KidsCo, the international children's channel, has announced the launch of its new animated programme Boo & Me which will take place on 22nd October. The show, which has been developed with Malaysian animation studio Inspidea, adds to KidsCo's original content portfolio which also includes arts and crafts show Jass Time!

Boo & Me follows the exploits of a mischievous orangutan called Boo who is rescued from poachers and delivered to the safety of a nature reserve in Malaysia. Stories revolve around Boo's adventures with two children, Aiman and his cousin Yasmin, who befriend him. The show aims to increase kid's awareness of the importance of conservation and caring for the environment.

Paul Robinson, Managing Director at KidsCo said,"Boo & Me is a pivotal development in KidsCo's original programming. It brings together the expertise and creativity of our global TV channel and the Malaysian innovation of Inspidea. The endorsement of our goals by the Malaysian Department of Education to raise awareness of environmental issues amongst children and families is very rewarding."

Director of Programming at KidsCo, Eileen McCarthy, believes Boo & Me also has strong relevance in today's setting. "The environment is an important issue but it can be difficult to make the subject relevant to children. However, given that this generation of children will inherit the world of tomorrow, environmental education is vital. We want to help equip children with the knowledge to develop into conscientious, eco-aware adults."

Speaking to AnimationXpress Asia Pacific, Inspidea Managing Director Andrew Ooi shared "Boo and Me! is an original idea that grew out of a brief from KidsCo for a Malaysia produced show that would entertain children whilst teaching them about conservation. We were picked to pitch the idea and KidsCo was impressed by Inspidea's creativity and energy and thought our values were very similar to those of theirs. The global children's channel loved the concept and commissioned the show for KidsCo.

The launch of Boo & Me will take place at the Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpar and will be attended by The Honourable Datuk Dr. Puad Zakarshi, Deputy Minister of Education for Malaysia. Representatives from KidsCo, Inspidea and Astro Entertainment will also attend the launch. Following the launch, Malaysian Airlines will also begin airing the show on selected routes.

KidsCo has also lauched the first stage of its global marketing campaign. A three-month drive will see two buses being branded with the name of the channel starting in Singapore. Chosen routes will cover the city, passing through high traffic roads, and a long haul route passing by local schools.This is the first in a number of initiatives across the globe designed to raise awareness of KidsCo.