We're delighted to announce that Brown Bag Films and publishing house Scholastic UK have formed a partnership to jointly develop publishing and animated content for children’s audiences!

Under the terms of the partnership, Brown Bag Films and Scholastic UK will enter a mutual first-look deal. Brown Bag Films will bring their original content to Scholastic UK for publishing opportunities, and Scholastic UK will share upcoming titles with potential for animation development with the studio.

The partnership will allow both companies to review content at an early stage and ensure that properties will be developed for both publishing and animation platforms simultaneously.

Brown Bag Films’ co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Darragh O’Connell said:

“Brown Bag Films has a great track record of bringing much-loved books to the screen, and Scholastic UK’s vast experience and expertise in publishing for children means they are the perfect partner to continue doing this with. I’m hugely excited about the wonderful properties we are going to develop together.”

Scholastic UK Co-group M.D. Catherine Bell said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Brown Bag Films in this way. Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do and we’re looking for great content that really resonates with kids.  This partnership represents an exciting route to new project acquisition and one that we very much hope will open opportunities to work with some of our authors and illustrators.”

Brown Bag Films’ Development Producer Jennie Stacey said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to develop our original content for publishing from the ground up. Scholastic UK has an incredible catalogue of brand new titles with huge potential for animation. We look forward to partnering with Scholastic and exploring how to bring these titles to life on screen.”

Scholastic UK Commissioning Editor David Maybury said:

“Brown Bag Films have an incredible slate and some of the best creative talent in the world, I can’t think of a better partner to develop new books and characters with. Working with them will help us create stories with wide audience appeal to complement our stable of stellar authors and illustrators.”

Brown Bag Films produce award winning animated television series such as ‘Doc McStuffins’, ‘Octonauts’, ‘Henry Hugglemonster’, ‘Peter Rabbit’ and ‘Bing’. The studio has just kicked off production on the brand new series ‘The Stinky & Dirty Show’ for Amazon Studios, based on the books by Kate & Jim McMullan.

Scholastic is home to some of the best-selling and most loved children’s books, including The Hunger Games, Horrible Histories, Tom Gates and the UK’s No. 1 picture book duo, Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler. Forthcoming publications include a collaboration with CBeebies presenters, Sam and Mark and a re-launch of the popular Goosebumps series ahead of a new live action film.             

Click here to read the full Press Release.