ACTF News

A third season of award-winning animated series Little J and Big Cuz is now in pre-production.

14 x 12-minute episodes by Ned Lander Media, Media World and Blue Rocket will be delivered to NITV and ABC Kids in 2021 for broadcast and catch up online.

The third series will see the return of stellar voice talents including Deborah Mailman, Miranda Tapsell, Aaron Fa’oaso, Ursula Yovich, Renee Lim and Shari Sebbens. In the writers’ room, director Tony Thorne and short fiction writer Adam Thompson join returning crew Dot West, Erica Glynn, Beck Cole, Danielle MacLean and Sam Paynter.

Little J and Big Cuz made history as the first Indigenous animated series broadcast on Australian television. The program has been recognised with a TV Week Logie Award, a SDIN Diversity award and an AWGIE Award and resonated in remote Indigenous communities through the creation of 11 language versions. Season three will see the creation of episodes in more languages.

NITV Channel Manager, Tanya Orman, says: “Little J and Big Cuz has a very special place in our hearts. The program plays an integral part in creating more representation on screen here in Australia and giving Aboriginal kids a national platform to see their own faces and hear their own voices – something that is so important for our mob.

“Now three seasons on, we continue to strive to create relatable children’s programming that explores diversity and celebrates the stories and culture of our mob to share with all Australians. The success of Little J and Big Cuz reminds us that there is a want and need for diverse children’s content - no matter where kids are tuning in from.”

ABC Children’s Commissioning Editor, Mary-Ellen Mullane, says: “Beautifully crafted stories from Indigenous writers across Australia, inviting children everywhere to celebrate the richness of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander everyday life: Wow! Shows like Little J and Big Cuz are game changers.”

Little J and Big Cuz – Series 3 will broadcast on NITV and ABC Kids with catch up available on SBS On Demand, the ABC Kids app and ABC iview.

Little J & Big Cuz - Season 3 is a Ned Lander Media, Media World, and Blue Rocket production for NITV and ABC Kids, with investment from Screen Australia in association with NITV. Financed with support from the ABC, Film Victoria, Screen Tasmania, and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). The ACTF distributes Little J and Big Cuz internationally.