The 2023 edition reconfirms Kidscreen Summit as an insightful event of the global entertainment industry

Events

With a Miami edition just ended, and an appointment for 2024 in San Diego already confirmed, Kidscreen Summit affirms its position as a must-attend event for the global kids’ entertainment industry

Three days of appointments dedicated to the industry with a focus on the innovation of stories and languages, but with an -always- open dialogue on how to reach audiences and consumers in this post-pandemic world.

Hot topics

The Metaverse has been one of the hottest spots on the market. While creators and producers discuss how to find narrative tricks to integrate the metaverse within their storytelling, industry experts suggest launching brands in already existing immersive realities. Meanwhile, the platforms themselves (Roblox) declare their plans for a new educational vocation and a regulation that can favor a better positive environment for social connections.

Diversity remains a hot topic of the event, both pre and post-pandemic since all the major industry players have strongly declared inclusiveness as a major point of their guidelines for the development of new shows and IPs for kids.

Meanwhile, the experts tell us that audience behavior is changing. In a children’s offering saturated by streaming platforms, there is a coming back to linear TV. In this context, co-viewing is gaining ground as a way for young people to enjoy content together with their families, which opens up a space on the market for brands and stories with a more family flavor.

The Kidscreen Awards 2023

Several big franchises reconfirm their success on the market at the 2023 Kidscreen Awards.

Bluey – Season 3 (BBC Studios Kids & Family, Ludo Studio, ABC Australia) triumphs as Best Animated Series Preschool. Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (DreamWorks Animation, Netflix) receives a triple award for Best New Series Kids, Best Design, and Best in Class Kids. Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir (Zagtoon, Method Animation, Disney Channel) receives the award for Best Animated Series Kids. Madagascar: A Little Wild (DreamWorks Animation, Hulu, Peacock) wins the Best Special and Best in Class Preschool awards. Other awards have been assigned to evergreen brands such as Shaun the Sheep, Central Park and the Peanuts. Two noteworthy novelties emerge among the winners. Deepa & Anoop (Mattel Television, Netflix), the series starring an Indian girl wins four awards as Best New Series Preschool, Best Inclusivity, Best Music, and Best Voice Talent. And The Tiny Chef Show, a unique series that reaffirms Nickelodeon’s vocation to always be on the lookout for innovative products, wins the Best Mixed-Media Series and Best Directing awards.

Italy at KS2023

Italy was present at the event with a dedicated pavilion organized by ICE. Placed next to the UK, France, Canada, and Spain pavilions, the strategic position confirms Italy as one of the leading countries in the kids’ entertainment industry. The Italian Trade Agency, as always, has played a key role in facilitating market access for Italian companies and supporting their participation. ICE, with the collaboration of the industry association Cartoon Italia, brought together Italian producers and service providers. With twenty-one participating companies, Italy has reconfirmed its strong presence in the market. Thanks also to the new opportunities represented by funding and tax incentives to the sector and the growing synergies between Italian companies and large European groups, Italy is increasingly representing an important partner in the development of international co-productions of audiovisual products for children and in the creation of new IPs for the L&M market.

The Italian broadcasters Rai Kids and DeAgostini also shared their guidelines with the Kidscreen audience. Rai, with the channels Rai Yoyo and Rai Gulp, refresh its mission as a European public broadcaster and aims at stories that can involve the audience of youngsters, guiding them along their coming of age and acquisition of new knowledge and experiences. DeAgostini shared the opportunities for the Italian market offered by the collaboration with its KidsMe branch specialized in the development, production, and distribution of content for children, open to collaboration with other Italian broadcasters as well. Turner Italia also participates in the event under the wider Warner Bros. Discovery group.

The Italian attending the Kidscreen Summit 2023: Animoka, Atlantyca Entertainment, BeQ Entertainment, Cartobaleno, D-Hub Studios, DogHead Animation, Good Karma, Graphilm, Green Ink Animation, Gruppo Some, Licensing Magazine, Maga Animation Studio, Mindset Media, Mobo , Notes’n’Post & Sonic Vault, RainFrog, RedMonk Studio, ShowLab, Studio Bozzetto, Studio Campedelli.