The 13 competition categories: Children
We bring you the 13 categories featured in this year’s competition along with a precise definition, example videos and an interview with a prominent expert in the field.
4. Category: Children
Definition:
Fiction or non-fiction programmes produced in content and style to entertain, inform and engage a young audience 3 to 11 years old.
Children is a new category and will be awarded for the first time at the Rose d’Or Festival 2012. In 2010 the Children and Youth categories were combined.
The Children Category Interview with Julien Borde
Julien Borde is Children and Youth Programme Director at France Télévisions. Born in 1974, Julien Borde obtained diplomas from the IEP (Institute of Political Studies) in Bordeaux and the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce in Paris (Masters in Media), and began his career as Programming Assistant at Canal J. In early 2005, Julien Borde was named Executive Director of Programmes and Production of Disney Télévision France. In October 2006, he was appointed Director of France 3’s Youth and Purchasing Unit.
1. Can you give us an example of a typical Children’s format?
House of Anubis, a series originally created in the Netherlands. Nick Germany made its own version and then Nickelodeon made a third one for the US market. Usually formats come from the US and are localized for European markets, rarely the other way round. I believe it was a very brave choice from a network, an innovative way of looking at formats and creating low-cost but good quality live-action series for kids.
2. Is there a Children’s format you would have loved to have created yourself?
I have always been a big fan of the arts and crafts format Art Attack created by Neil Bucchanan in the UK in the 90's for ITV. The show has travelled to more than 20 countries with local versions shot by Disney in the UK with hosts from all around the world. We have recently shot a new arts and crafts show from CCI/Elastic Rights for France 5 called Artzooka with the same kind of formula - one show with many local versions shot on the same set in Canada.
3. What is the future for Children’s programming?
Tween live action is dominating the market, Disney has done such a good job that it's hard to compete with but many, maybe too many, producers are trying! Edutainment for pre-schoolers is still very powerful and highly qualitative and diverse from Tinga Tinga tales produced partly in Africa for Cbeebies to the new PBS hit Word World. Animation coming from France has a real competitive advantage with scripting getting better and concepts always more original.
4. Do you see emerging markets and even emerging sub-genres?
Animation and on line gaming are getting closer. We have had one of our biggest successes with a show based on an MMORPG (massive multiplayer on line role playing game) Wakfu by Ankama Animation for France 3. Both a TV series and an online game that kids can play with and watch at anytime of the day. I am also a big believer in hybrid formats, mixing animation and live action. Kids are so connected and play with images from very early ages, they need new experiences.
5. What show are you hooked on right now?
We are really proud of the Little Prince from Method Animation for France 3, and one of our favorites is a hybrid format produced by Jam Media for CBBC, Roy, which mixes animation and live action in a unique way.
Children example video: The little prince
Petit Prince
