ACTF News

From a modern mermaid fable and a world where toys have a life of their own, to animal influencers and a new generation of a TV classic, a remarkable slate of Australian children's content is currently in production around the country, with support from the Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF).

Against a backdrop where the children’s screen industry globally continues to face complex challenges, the ACTF’s investment is helping to bring a broad range of projects to life, spanning feature films and live-action and animated series for preschool and family audiences.

ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland said: “Amid some of the most challenging conditions we’ve encountered in nearly 45 years of the ACTF, it’s heartening to see so many fantastic projects making it to production – and it really shows how effectively Commonwealth Government support for the sector, through the ACTF (as well as via Screen Australia, the producer offset and support for the ABC) is stimulating children’s screen production in Australia. It also demonstrates the power of the partnerships and relationships that we’ve built over many years, which are also contributing to these productions. We’re incredibly excited about this new wave of Australian stories that audiences here and all over the world will soon have the chance to fall in love with.”

Scales

Scales is an enchanting new feature film providing a modern take on the mermaid genre. Set against the picturesque backdrop of coastal Queensland, it is a magical and uplifting story of self-acceptance, friendship, and the courage it takes to stand out. Filming began on and around the Gold Coast in June.

Scales is the third major co-commission between Stan and the ACTF, following the success of Windcatcher and Whale Shark Jack. Produced by Werner Film Productions, written by Alix Beane and directed by Kacie Anning, Scales will stream on Stan in 2027.

Knee High Spies Season 2

Chronicling the secret lives of teddy bear Jeremy Buttons and his ragtag team of toy friends, Knee High Spies is a unique and ambitious series for preschoolers, featuring state-of-the-art puppets, animatronics, VFX and live-action performances with fast-paced action, epic missions, and puzzles that the audience helps to solve.

Created by Tim Bain (Kangaroo Beach), directed by Jack Jameson (Sesame Street) and produced by Werner Film Productions, a second season of Knee High Spies is now in production in Melbourne. Season 1, currently streaming on ABC iview in Australia and the BBC’s CBeebies in the UK, recently took home the BANFF World Media Festival – Rockie Award for Children: Live Action and the SPA Award for Children’s Production of the Year, and is currently nominated for a Logie Award for Best Children’s Program.

Emma’s Dance Club

Filming has recently wrapped in Sydney and postproduction has commenced on Emma’s Dance Club, a new live action series for preschoolers created by beloved children’s performer Emma Watkins.

When Emma debuts a new dance club in the delightful country town of Spudson, four local kids discover it’s more than just pirouettes and pop steps.

As the series unfolds, Emma’s Dance Club becomes a community hub where the kids – and sometimes the grown-ups – boogie through life’s ups and downs together. Produced by Wooden Horse and Apricot Sea, Emma’s Dance Club is expected to premiere on ABC Kids and iview next year.

Little Lunch: New Class

A decade after the groundbreaking mockumentary first captured the chaos and comedy of the Aussie playground for 15 minutes every day at recess, filming is underway in Melbourne on a brand-new chapter of the series.

Little Lunch: New Class introduces six new students as they navigate friendship, misunderstandings and the big emotions of small people. Fan favourite Heidi Arena returns as the ever-patient Mrs Gonsha.

Produced by Gristmill for the ABC, Little Lunch: New Class explores the themes that matter most to kids – belonging, fairness, loyalty and resilience – with sharp humour, warmth and heart. It is expected to air in 2027.

Little J & Big Cuz Season 5

Production has begun on a fifth season of the award-winning preschool series Little J & Big Cuz, which follows the adventures of two First Nations kids living on Country with their Nanna and Old Dog.

Little J & Big Cuz is a one-of-a-kind series, drawing on stories from First Nations writers all over the country and offering a proud and positive view of Indigenous Australia, capturing the joy and wonder of Aboriginal children discovering the world around them. It has been translated into 17 First Nations Australian languages. Broome-based Ramu Productions has collaborated on language versioning since Season 1 and joins Ned Lander Media as co-producer for the new season.

Scripting and voice records are now complete, and animation is now well underway. The new season will air on the ABC and NITV in 2027. 

Happy House

What if the adorable animal content you see on the internet was made by the animals themselves?

Created by Media World Pictures for the ABC, Happy House is a funny, unique animated series that gives an unfiltered look at the furballs that fly when a group of teen animal influencers create their own adorable content from their very own collab house.

Production on Happy House commenced in Victoria in August 2025. Animatics on the project are close to completion, with design, music and sound postproduction currently underway.

Zac Power

Zac Power is an animated feature film being produced by three of Australia’s most celebrated studios – Flying Bark Productions and Cheeky Little Media, based in Sydney, and the Brisbane-based Pixel Zoo Animation Studios.

Based on the book series from Hardie Grant Publishing, which has been published in 14 countries and sold more than 3.5 million books in Australia and New Zealand alone, Zac Power is a spy spoof brimming with action and comedy.

Production is in its final stages, with a theatrical release date of January 7, 2027.