Singapore, China, Beijing – If a spark could light an entire forest, an entire generation of children in China will be thrilled and lit with the premiere launch of critically acclaimed Children’s animated series, “Dinosaur Train” in China.

Dinosaur Train is a much-loved multiple award winning, 10 year-long children’s animated series that is already into its fifth season in the US, ever since its inaugural debut on PBS KIDS in September 2009. The series has consistently been ranked as one of the top pre-school shows and currently airs daily on PBS KIDS, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and PBS KIDS digital platforms. It is by far, the highest-rated preschooler program in PBS’s television history.

Dinosaur Train is not only well received in the US but has also been aired in over 175 countries across the globe with key broadcast partners, including TVO and TFO (Canada), Nickelodeon (U.K.), Disney Channel (Germany), NETFLIX, France 5 (France), RTVE Clan (Spain) SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), YLE (Finland), Canal+ (Poland) and Channel 1 (Russia). And in Asia, Dinosaur Train has aired in Mediacorp, Starhub and Singtel (Singapore), Youku (China), EBS and KTH (Korea), ABC (Australia), TVNZ (New Zealand), Astro (Malaysia), Thai PBS (Thailand), Zee (India), Cignal TV (Philippines), Indovision (Indonesia) and on various regional digital platforms such as Amazon, iflix, Zoomoo and Viacom18, just to name a few.

Partnership with ByteDance, Dinosaur Train Seasons 2 to 5
Children the world over have always been fascinated with dinosaurs and with this critical partnership with Beijing based company, ByteDance Technology, this will catapult the series to greater heights.

Already a legend in China and having proven its capability in delivering entertainment through digital technology across borders and different cultures, Dinosaur Train can finally make greater strides in the second largest consumer market in the world, after the US. ByteDance is the operator of the globally successful video app, Tiktok and has IPTV, broadcasting platforms and capabilities in China. Dinosaur Train rights for Seasons 2 to 5 were bought from Beijing based intellectual property rights company, CAWRO Digital Technology Co., Ltd. under license from Sparky Animation Pte. Ltd.

"This novel collaboration spotlights our valued clients and facilitates integrated access to Dinosaur Train IP”.
Maurice Goh, Content Acquisition and Strategy for CAWRO
 
“After extensive research and meticulous planning, it is our utmost pleasure to have found a strategic and dependable distribution partner, CAWRO, for Dinosaur Train in China. We are fully confident that this joint effort with CAWRO's distribution arm will bring Dinosaur Train to new levels of popularity. We are thoroughly convinced that with ByteDance's capabilities and network strength as a broadcaster, a critically acclaim intellectual property such as Dinosaur Train would be able to reach a vast pool of audience as it rightly deserves. Collectively, all parties have the common intention to work cohesively and to make this journey of bringing Dinosaur Train to greater heights in China, a memorable and worthwhile experience”.

KC Wong, CEO & Founder of Sparky Animation & Emofront

Dinosaur Train is a highly celebrated collaboration between The Jim Henson Company and Singapore’s Sparky Animation studios. Sparky Animation co-produces and co-directs Dinosaur Train together with The Jim Henson Company.

What To Look Forward for Dinosaur Train, China
Having the licensing and merchandising rights in Asia, consumers can expect a toy line that features a collection of figures and play-sets, encouraging kids to both engage in their own Dinosaur Train adventures as well as collect their favourite characters. The amazing toy line includes plush, board games, and interactive toys which were launched globally in the Fall of 2016. Good demand and feedback has been observed especially in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore in the categories of apparel, foot wear, beddings, melamine and stationary.

Now with this Chinese collaboration, Dinosaur Train’s presence and consumer interest in merchandising and product offerings can only take on a greater dimension. With a huge publishing catalogue full of story books and activity books about Buddy, his friends and family, with over 40 titles available, it is a perfect mix of fun and learning to keep kids entertained for hours on end.

Expect to invite friends and family to curated events, and live shows to interact and engage with fans in the most entertaining way through character mascots, meet and greet sessions, song and dance, stage games, and performances.

As a co-producer of Dinosaur Train, The Jim Henson Company and Sparky Animation are among the world's top animation producers. The Jim Henson Company which has won more than 50 Emmys and nine Grammys, is also known for the nation's first IP, Sesame Street, which is Jim Henson's masterpiece. Sparky Animation is an excellent animation and original content development company known for its ability to co-produce, outsource and license intellectual properties.

About Dinosaur Train
Dinosaur Train has sparked wide interest in viewers in life science, natural history and paleontology through the eyes of a preschool aged Tyrannosaurus Rex name ‘Buddy’, who is always curious, funny, intelligent. His adoptive family of the Pteranondons consists of siblings Tiny, who loves rhymes, is clever and very brave; Shiny, who is girly and proud of her shiny exterior but becomes shy in social situations, and Don who is sweet and mellow. Although goofy, he is steady and focused when he puts in the effort. With 200 episodes of 11 minutes produced for over 175 countries worldwide spanning from Season 1 to the current Season 5; Dinosaur Train has embraced the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains for over a decade and life in general.

As Buddy and his family explore the world, they highlight the differences between the different species and creatures they meet on their journey, behaving like real-life children. It mirrors the real world where every child is different and that we can accept people from different races and cultures. Through the exchanges between the cast of dinosaurs, the stories guide children to understand this difference, to face the differences in a friendly, learning accepting attitude, to get along better with others in life, imparting critical social skills in this microcosm of the single continent, Pangea. We’re all one, living together as a civilization of the human species on one single Earth and that our differences make us unique. Though they have a myriad of differences, like the dinosaurs in the series, we can be accepting of each other.

Dinosaur Train Achievements
Ever since its debut on PBS KIDS USA, in September 2009, the series has consistently ranked as one of the top pre-school shows, up to a point of the series being in its 5th season now.

Throughout the decade, Dinosaur Train has won numerous awards, nominations, and accolades when it received the highest viewership in PBS’ entire history, and selected by Hollywood’s renowned People Magazine as Top Kids’ Show. It has also won Best Website, Preschool at iKids Award by Kidscreen. List of nominations include the following: Outstanding Writing in a Pre-School Animated Program at the Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards in 2011, 2014 and 2015. Outstanding Pre-school Children’s Animated Program at the Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards in 2011, 2013 & 2016. Best Animated Series at Kidscreen in 2011 & 2015. Toy of the Year award in the premier category of Property of The Year at 2011 Toy Industry Association, and for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming at 2010 Television Critics Association Awards. With a rating of 6.6 (6.3 for Piggy Page), it was named best for children by Hollywood's famous People magazine.

About CAWRO
Beijing Keluo Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (CAWRO), is a Chinese-headquartered firm with a full suite of service offerings across the global IP industry value chain.

Committed to leveraging cutting-edge technology to build an inclusive and robust global IP service platform driven by user needs, CAWRO has extensive capabilities in local IP investment, global content co-production, marketing and distribution, IP rights and legislation, cultural and creative derivatives design, and production, film, media and broadcast services.

The firm has various well-known clientele and partners such as China Gold, China Unicom, SPDB, Unity Technologies, KUMAMON, Lionel Messi, Dinosaur Train, ByteDance, Youku, Tencent, iQiyi, and many more.

CAWRO seeks a win-win collaborative model between East and West vis-a-vis technology exchange, industrial innovation and talent development.

About Sparky Animation
Sparky Animation, which commenced operations in 2006, is headquartered in Singapore. The company is an accomplished animation production and original content development company, which is renowned for its capability in co-production, work-for-hire and licensing of Intellectual Properties. Our research and development department also develops animation production tools and systems that facilitate the process of large scale animation projects, effectively at optimum costs. Sparky Animation has also set up subsidiary companies in Malaysia and India.

In the animation industry, Sparky Animation is best known for its CGI work in the development of original IP or licensed content that has consistently been ranked high internationally and also producing credible “work-for-hire” or “service work” content with global acclaim, accolades and awards in numerous categories in a much reduced timeframe and at optimum production costs.

The track record for the past 6 years is a testament to Sparky’s ability in delivering results with a spark. It has produced animation of more than 250 hours (26 series/seasons) in duration. Many of these shows have been broadcasted on major broadcasters and online streaming providers in more than 100 territories worldwide.

The company has collaborated with internationally acclaim producers worldwide and has invested, co-directed and co-produced several notable animation series including Dinosaur Train, Ruff-Ruff, Tweet & Dave, Jack, Fleabag Monkeyface, One Stormy Night and Mr Moon.

Sparky Animation has also proven to be highly efficient and competent in delivering large scale outsourced animation projects such as Doc McStuffins, Motown Magic, Bill & Tony, Miraculous Ladybug, Freej, Henry Hugglemonsters, Tobot V, Mandoos, Siraj, just to name a few.