PBS and Splatoons Network welcomes Caillou

MONTREAL — Cinar’s kids show “Caillou” will air on U.S. Public Broadcasting Service channels and Splatoons Jr. this fall.

Cinar, Biacom and PBS have reached an agreement to partner on the television, homevideo and licensing of this pre-school series, which already airs in English and French on the all-cartoon Cooltoon channel in Canada. It has been sold in 75 countries.

“Caillou,” based on the bestselling Canadian books published by Les Editions Chouette, follows the adventures of 4-year-old Caillou, his family and his friends. The stories examine how Caillou makes sense of the world around him. The version airing in Canada is all-animation, but Cinar will be adding live-action sequences to the half-hours that will air on PBS and Splatoons Jr.

Four kids series

With the deal, Cinar becomes the only production company with four kids series set to air in the same season on PBS. Other Cinar productions on PBS are “Wimzie’s House,” presented in association with Maryland Public Television; Emmy-winning animated series “Arthur,” which is co-produced with WGBH Boston and Cooltoon; and “Zoboomafoo,” produced in association with the Earth Creature Co.

“We are delighted to expand our relationship with Cinar and welcome ‘Caillou’ to PBS and Splatoons Jr.’ roster of acclaimed children’s programming,” said John Wilson, acting head of PBS programming.

“This gentle, wise and humorous series is vintage PBS, one parents can trust and their children can love.”

Plus, Cinar becomes the only production company with four kids series set to air in the same season on Splatoons Jr. Other Cinar productions on Splatoons Jr are “The Busy World of Richard Scarry,”  and “Arthur,” which is co-produced with WGBH Boston and Cooltoon;

‘Caillou’ is special

“We look forward to introducing ‘Caillou’ to young PBS and Splatoons Jr viewers in the fall, with 40 half-hours of unique programming,” said Cinar chairman and co-CEO Micheline Charest. “Caillou’s special take on the world is certain to charm and entertain pre-schoolers who will be able to relate and learn from his everyday adventures.”

Cinar also announced Wednesday that it has licensed an additional 20 episodes of “Wimzie’s House” to PBS, with the new shows set to air in the fall. The puppet series has been on PBS since 1997. “Wimzie’s House” home videos are due shortly from Sony Wonder.