What’s on for the ACTF in 2023

It’s shaping up to be another big year for the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, with several exciting series due to air in 2023 and many others in production or development.

The ACTF is involved in a large and varied range of projects, including live-action dramas, animation, and a feature film to be announced in coming weeks.  

Here are some of the projects currently under way:

100% Wolf S2

100% Wolf is a computer-animated adventure fantasy comedy for 6- to 10-year-olds from Flying Bark Productions NSW for the ABC. It tells the story of Freddy Lupin, heir to the leadership of a proud family line of werewolves – with the body of a poodle.

The first series saw Freddy graduate from the werewolf-only Howlington Academy after defeating wilderwolf leader Ric, uniting the moonstone and reconciling the wolf and human worlds.

Series 2 – 100% Wolf: The Book of Hath - sees Freddy and his young friends return to Howlington to broaden their understanding of werewolf lore and magic, putting this knowledge into practise as they face their most formidable adversaries yet.

The series is now in post-production and is expected to premiere on the ABC in the coming months.

Flying Bark Supervising Producer Tracy Lenon said: “We’re all working really hard and we’re very excited about seeing the first few episodes come out of post-production. It’s looking great!

“There’s so much going on in Season 2 – there’s time travel, there’s witches and witchcraft, characters changing shape and form, portals into different lands… there’s a lot of adventure.”

The PM’s Daughter S2

The PM’s Daughter, produced by Fremantle Media for the ABC, tells the story of Catalina Parkes Pérez, a teenager who’s like any other, but with one difference: her mother is the Prime Minister of Australia.

In the second season of the political comedy-drama series, Cat has finally settled into life at The Lodge, but she quickly learns that the journey of the Prime Minister’s daughter is never smooth. While juggling the pressures of a federal election campaign, an emerging conspiracy and her mum’s highly publicised love life, Cat’s journalism aspirations are put to the test as she digs to uncover her first story.

ACTF Development Manager Li-Kim Chuah said: “Postproduction has wrapped on the second season of The PM’S Daughter and we’re excited for fans of the show to reunite with their favourite characters and meet the fabulous new cast in this latest series, set to air in 2023.”

Space Nova S2

Space Nova is set in the year 2162. Life is a blast for space adventuring siblings Jet and Adelaide Nova and their parents, Josie and Hugo. During a routine research mission, these intrepid Aussie astronauts stumble upon an abandoned alien space craft and discover that there is an advanced, intelligent species out there, able to travel the universe in the blink of an eye.

Season 2 finds the Nova family on the brink of their greatest mission ever when their ship is almost destroyed, throwing them off course and leaving their new friend Ziggy stranded in parts unknown. To find Ziggy and unravel a ‘universal imbalance’, the Novas will have to challenge everything they know about space: see the unseeable, know the unknowable, and find the unfindable.

SLR Productions’ CEO and Executive Producer, Suzanne Ryan said: “Space Nova 2 preproduction is well underway and scripting will be finished in March 2023 with 15 awesome, action-packed adventures.

“We are heavily into the design of the show and characters right now, as well as storyboarding, and voice records with the cast. The amazing writers, directors, cast, and crew accomplish such inspiring work each day. 

“The Space Nova team will be working right through until early 2024.”

Eddie’s Lil’ Homies

Eddie’s Lil’ Homies is the first co-commission between Netflix and NITV, with major production investment from the ACTF. It is an animated television series inspired by the popular Eddie’s Lil’ Homies books for early readers, My Kind and My People, by Eddie Betts.

The 10 x 12-minute comedy series follows eight-year-old Eddie and his two best friends Lottie and Tal as they navigate the complex and often fantastical waters of childhood. It is produced by Sophie Byrne (The Lost Thing), Eddie Betts and Anna Scullie.

The Eddie’s Lil’ Homies books were written to motivate and inspire literacy and learning, with My Kind focusing on spreading kindness and understanding, acceptance and equality, and My People designed to start conversations about First Nations cultures and to combat racism and bias.

Producer Eddie Betts said: “The Eddie’s Lil’ Homies books have been a labour of love for myself and Anna and something I’m really passionate about. Seeing the enthusiasm for the books as I go around the country, and kids doing the raps on social media and asking us about more stories, were what pushed us to team up with Sophie Byrne and the ACTF to develop the animated series.  To then have Netflix and NITV immediately see our vision for the series and come onboard to help us bring Eddie’s Lil’ Homies to life is really exciting. I can’t wait for the kids across the country to see it!”