PRODUCTION / FUNDING Finland / Belgium / Denmark / France
European broadcasters back transmedia children's series Tadpoles
- Finnish studio Gigglebug Entertainment secures backing from major European broadcasters for its new animated series designed for both horizontal and vertical screens

As European children's animation continues to evolve, Finnish animation studio Gigglebug Entertainment has secured key backing for its innovative children's animated series, Tadpoles. Major European broadcasters, including Denmark’s pubcaster DR, Belgium’s VRT Ketnet, and France’s Canal+, are on board, underscoring a broader trend of cross-border collaboration within the European media landscape. This strategic partnership aims to bring a fresh transmedia experience to children's content, positioning Tadpoles as a frontrunner in the rapidly evolving digital-first animation market.
Unlike traditional animated productions, Tadpoles is natively designed for both horizontal and vertical screens, an approach that aligns with shifting content consumption habits. As younger audiences increasingly engage with media on mobile devices, this dual-format strategy enhances storytelling and ensures wider accessibility. The comedic series is set in a vast and perilous pond and follows the underwater adventures of two sibling tadpoles, Ted and Paula, as they embark on a daring journey to reach the surface of their pond, braving numerous challenges along the way. The upward narrative structure is enhanced by the vertical screen format, aligning seamlessly with the characters’ quest to rise above the pond's dangers.
Beyond traditional broadcasting, Tadpoles is expanding its reach with a comprehensive transmedia strategy. A Tadpoles-themed Roblox game is currently in development, reflecting the growing trend of integrating television properties into interactive digital spaces. This expansion into interactive media represents a growing trend among children's content creators to merge TV properties with gaming, giving young audiences an immersive experience that goes beyond passive viewing.
The series, consisting of 52 eleven-minute episodes, is created by Joonas Utti and Anttu Harlin, the creative team behind Nickelodeon’s Best & Bester, Disney’s The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti, and the concept developers for Disney’s 101 Dalmatian Street. Utti, a Helsinki-based director and animator, has a proven track record with several successful animated series, making him a key figure in shaping the series’ creative vision. Alongside him, character designer Said Omar Eshaq and storyboard artist Romain Beuriot, both part of Gigglebug’s internal Ideas Lab, bring the series’ imaginative world to life.
Tadpoles is being produced by Gigglebug Entertainment’s studios in Helsinki and Las Palmas on the Canary Islands, alongside the Belgian production house UMedia. International distribution is being handled by Paris-based Folivari International. The series has also garnered development funding from Creative Europe – MEDIA. With a production timeline set for delivery in 2026, Tadpoles is set to be a notable contender in the global children's content market.
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