CBBC orders Scream Street animated series
CBBC is working on an ambitious new project to bring the popular comedy horror books written by Tommy Donbavand to screen in 2016.
The 13 Scream Street novels, published by Walker Books, focus on the adventures of Luke Watson, a boy who has to move with his family to Scream Street - a secure location for vampires, zombies, monsters and more - after he begins to change into a werewolf.
Luke quickly makes friends with a young vampire called Resus Negative, and Cleo Farr, an Egyptian mummy. His parents, however, are terrified of their new neighbours, and Luke sets out to find a way to take them out of Scream Street and back home.
CBBC are working on 52 Scream Street episodes, each 11 minutes long. The show will use stop-motion animation to bring the books to life, with renowned puppet and model-makers Mackinnon & Saunders creating the characters.
The show is set to be sold around the world, with some distribution deals already in place.
CBBC Controller Cheryl Taylor said: "Scream Street is a stylish, spooky comedy, full of wonderful characters that will have instant appeal for the older end of the CBBC audience. The style and pace promise to be like no other CBBC stop-frame animated show."
Phil Chalk, Managing Director of Manchester-based production company Factory TM, commented: "The show is innovative and combines cutting edge digital technologies with stop-motion. We are looking forward to creating a genre busting show."
Zoë Bamsey, who is working on the series via co-producers Coolabi, adds: "Scream Street is a truly individual book series that we know will translate into a fantastic and funny animated show for TV. We're excited to be working with such amazing partners to bring to life the books for existing fans and new audiences."
Due to the length of time it takes to produce stop-motion animation, the new episodes won't be seen on CBBC until 2016. Meanwhile the channel's current animated comedy hits include Shaun The Sheep and Strange Hill High.
In the below video, author Tommy Donbavand reads a short story: