● Global Entertainment Property from Outfit7 Limited Revealed as a Flagship Brand of New Kids Content Platform
● Talking Tom and Friends Animated Series Features All-Star Voice Cast Led by Colin Hanks
MIAMI, Feb. 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Talking Tom and Friends, Outfit7's all-new animated series based on the entertainment juggernaut of the same name, has today been announced as a flagship brand on Google's new YouTube Kids app. Set to launch in April 2015, the series will chronicle the adventures, hijinks, and inventions of Talking Tom and the gang as they shoot their own reality television show. The announcement was made today on the YouTube Official Blog and from the 2015 Kidscreen Summit - the global kids content market, taking place in Miami, Florida.
"We're thrilled to partner with YouTube on their new kids-specific initiative," said Samo Login, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Outfit7 Limited. "The new YouTube Kids app is the perfect platform for our brand new series with its cast of characters who were born in the mobile space."
"Outfit7 is a proven leader of family entertainment in the digital age," said Malik Ducard, Global Head of Family and Learning Content, YouTube. "Together with fun, humor and friendship - elements that have contributed to the enormous popularity of the Talking Tom and Friends franchise - the new series has top-notch talent, stellar writing and engaging animation making the animated series an obvious fit for our new kids app."
Based on the entertainment phenomenon that has achieved over 2.5 billion mobile downloads and 1.4 billion views on YouTube, the new Talking Tom and Friends animated series features an all-star voice cast led by Golden Globe®-nominee Colin Hanks ("Fargo," "Orange County," "Mad Men," "Dexter") as wisecracking Tom, and Tom Kenny ("SpongeBob SquarePants," "Adventure Time With Finn & Jake") as Hank - the latest character to join the Talking Tom and Friends gang.
The series also features YouTube star Lisa Schwartz as Angela ("Not Cool"), James Admomian ("Comedy Bang Bang!," "Gravity Falls") as Ben, and Maria Bramford ("WordGirl," "Adventure Time With Finn & Jake") as Ginger.
The 11-minute, 52 episode series premieres on 30 April, 2015, with new episodes launching weekly.
The free YouTube Kids app launches today in the U.S. for Android and iOS mobile devices. Designed specifically for kids, the app will provide a range of age-appropriate videos and channels. The interface is built for smaller fingers, with a pared-down screen and large tiles through which kids can easily swipe. A mix of entertainment and education, the YouTube Kids app comes with parental controls, including limiting time spent watching videos.
Fans and social media followers of the franchise got a sneak peek of the Talking Tom and Friends series in late December 2014, when the prelude episode was unveiled. It quickly catapulted to more than 9 million views in less than a month, illustrating the characters' global reach and popularity. The first episode will stream on the YouTube Kids app from 30 April with new episodes being launched weekly from the Talking Tom and Friends YouTube channel.
Armed with cameras, tech gear, loads of ideas, and an unfailing sense of optimism, the animated series follows Tom and the gang as they make their own show from the (relative) comfort of Tom's garage-turned-app studio! Although their adventures and inventions never quite turn out the way they planned, together Tom, Angela, Ben, Hank and Ginger are unstoppable!
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Outfit7 Limited
Best known for its global phenomenon Talking Tom, Outfit7 is one of the fastest-growing family entertainment companies on the planet. Outfit7 is a multinational entertainment company headquartered in Cyprus, and was founded in 2009 by entrepreneurs on a mission to bring fun and entertainment to all.
Talking Tom and Friends has grown from an instant app success into a fully-fledged media entertainment franchise, with a movie in production and a CGI animated series in the works, a global licensing and merchandising program and a chart-topping sensation on YouTube. These lovable 3D animated characters have skyrocketed in popularity with fans across the world, with over 2.5B downloads since its launch and over 250M active users each month.
Outfit7's family-friendly apps are certified by PRIVO, an FTC approved COPPA safe harbor program. For more information, visit www.Outfit7.com, www.TalkingAngela.com and www.TalkingTom.com, or visit our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube pages as well as Talking Angela's LinkedIn page.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=30935
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
