Pūkeko Pictures

Pūkeko Pictures is a New Zealand-based entertainment and production company associated with animation, live-action television, film, games, and picture books. The company was established as a partnership between Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger, the co-founders of Wētā Workshop, and Martin Baynton, an author, illustrator, and producer. Its structure links creative development and screen production with New Zealand’s wider film and design community, including production services supplied through Wētā Workshop. The company’s first major collaboration was Jane and the Dragon, a computer-generated television series centered on a young girl and her pet dragon. The series established Pūkeko Pictures in children’s and family entertainment and was followed by The WotWots, another animated preschool property created with Martin Baynton. The WotWots received international recognition when it was nominated for Best Animated Television Production—Preschool at the 2012 Annie Awards. Pūkeko Pictures has developed projects through international partnerships and co-production arrangements. In 2012, it entered into a first-look agreement with FremantleMedia. In February 2013, it partnered with ITV Studios on Thunderbirds Are Go, a modern animated and live-action-model-based revival of Gerry Anderson’s 1960s puppet series Thunderbirds. Under that arrangement, Pūkeko Pictures was involved in the production, while Wētā Workshop handled live-action model work and animation production services and ITV Studios handled distribution. The company later expanded its international preschool work through Kiddets and Book Hungry Bears. In 2019, Pūkeko Pictures partnered again with Chinese studio Hengxin Shambala Kids and joined Canadian production company Breakthrough Entertainment to develop Book Hungry Bears. The project was commissioned by Canadian broadcasters TVOKids, TFO, and Knowledge Network, making it Pūkeko Pictures’ first Canadian co-production and a further Chinese co-production. 9 Story Media Group subsequently became the international distributor and global merchandising partner for the series outside New Zealand, Australia, and China. Beyond preschool animation, the company’s listed work includes the short-form documentary Hundred99 Little Heroes, the live-action adult drama Cleverman, and the live-action feature film The Changeover. These projects indicate a broader remit than children’s animation alone, although children’s and family programming remains central to the company’s publicly documented production identity. Leadership publicly associated with the company includes Clive Spink, appointed chief executive officer in 2015, and Jeremy Hall, appointed head of development and strategy in 2018.

Pūkeko Pictures was created in New Zealand as a partnership between Wētā Workshop co-founders Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger and author, illustrator, and producer Martin Baynton. The partnership brought together expertise in visual effects, design, illustration, storytelling, and screen production. Rather than operating solely as an animation studio, Pūkeko Pictures developed a portfolio spanning animated and live-action television, feature films, short-form documentary work, games, and picture books. Its first collaboration was Jane and the Dragon, a computer-generated television series about a girl and her pet dragon. The project established the company in children’s and family programming and provided the foundation for further animation development. The WotWots followed as another preschool-oriented animated property associated with Baynton and Pūkeko Pictures. The series received a nomination at the 2012 Annie Awards in the category of Best Animated Television Production—Preschool, giving the company recognition within the international animation sector. The company pursued international commercial relationships as its slate developed. In 2012, Pūkeko Pictures signed a first-look deal with FremantleMedia. The following year it partnered with ITV Studios to produce Thunderbirds Are Go, a revival of Gerry Anderson’s 1960s puppet television series. The production used a combination of computer animation and physical live-action models. Pūkeko Pictures was involved in the production, while Wētā Workshop supplied model and animation production services and ITV Studios served as the distribution partner. The project represented a move from original preschool properties into a globally recognized action-adventure franchise. Pūkeko Pictures’ publicly listed work also includes projects outside its core preschool animation activity. Hundred99 Little Heroes is identified as a short-form documentary, while Cleverman is a live-action adult drama and The Changeover is a live-action feature film. These credits show an interest in multiple formats and audiences, although the company’s strongest documented identity remains its development and production of children’s and family entertainment. The company continued its international children’s production activity through Kiddets and later Book Hungry Bears. In April 2019, Pūkeko Pictures renewed its collaboration with Chinese entertainment studio Hengxin Shambala Kids and joined Canadian production company Breakthrough Entertainment to produce Book Hungry Bears. The preschool animated series was created and executive-produced by Martin Baynton. Canadian broadcasters TVOKids, TFO, and Knowledge Network commissioned the series, making it Pūkeko Pictures’ first Canadian co-production and another Chinese co-production. Later in 2019, 9 Story Media Group was appointed to distribute Book Hungry Bears internationally and to act as the global merchandise partner through its distribution and brands operations. The arrangement excluded New Zealand, Australia, and China, where separate territorial arrangements applied. This partnership placed the series within a broader international distribution and licensing structure. Leadership information in the available reference material identifies Clive Spink as having been appointed chief executive officer in 2015 and Jeremy Hall as having been appointed head of development and strategy in 2018. No reliable current ownership, listing, headquarters address, or official website information is supplied in the reference material. Accordingly, Pūkeko Pictures is best described as an active or status-uncertain New Zealand entertainment brand with an internationally collaborative production history.

• 2019

  Book Hungry Bears enters Canadian-Chinese-New Zealand co-production

  [1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Pūkeko Pictures partners with Hengxin Shambala Kids and Breakthrough Entertainment on Book Hungry Bears.

• 2018

  Jeremy Hall joins as head of development and strategy

  [1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Jeremy Hall is appointed head of development and strategy.

• 2015

  Clive Spink becomes chief executive officer

  [1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Clive Spink is appointed chief executive officer.

• 2013

  Thunderbirds Are Go partnership announced

  [1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Pūkeko Pictures partners with ITV Studios on a revival of Thunderbirds.

• 2012

  The WotWots receives an Annie Award nomination

  [1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  The WotWots is nominated for Best Animated Television Production—Preschool at the Annie Awards.

• 2012

  First-look agreement with FremantleMedia

  [1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Pūkeko Pictures signs a first-look deal with FremantleMedia.

• Pūkeko Pictures is established

  [1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger, and Martin Baynton create Pūkeko Pictures as a New Zealand entertainment partnership.

• Jane and the Dragon becomes the first major collaboration

  [1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  The company develops its first major collaboration, a computer-generated television series about a girl and her pet dragon.

A New Zealand-originated, internationally oriented entertainment producer combining animation, live-action production, children’s storytelling, and creative production partnerships.

• Animated television series

  Jane and the Dragon

  Pūkeko Pictures’ first major collaboration, Jane and the Dragon is a computer-generated television series centered on a girl and her pet dragon. It established the company’s early focus on character-led children’s entertainment and digitally produced animation.

• Preschool animated television series

  The WotWots

  The WotWots is an animated preschool property associated with Pūkeko Pictures and creator Martin Baynton. Its international profile was strengthened by a 2012 Annie Award nomination for Best Animated Television Production—Preschool.

• Animated and live-action-model television series

  Thunderbirds Are Go

  Thunderbirds Are Go is a revival of Gerry Anderson’s 1960s puppet series. Pūkeko Pictures partnered with ITV Studios on the production, with Wētā Workshop contributing live-action model work and animation production services and ITV Studios handling distribution.

• Preschool animated television series

  Kiddets

  Kiddets is identified in the reference material as one of Pūkeko Pictures’ preschool animation projects and as a precursor to the company’s later international co-production work on Book Hungry Bears.

• Preschool animated television series · 2019

  Book Hungry Bears

  Book Hungry Bears is a preschool animated series created and executive-produced by Martin Baynton. It was developed through a partnership involving Pūkeko Pictures, Hengxin Shambala Kids, and Breakthrough Entertainment, with Canadian broadcasters commissioning the project and 9 Story handling international distribution and merchandising outside specified territories.

• Short-form documentary

  Hundred99 Little Heroes

  Hundred99 Little Heroes is listed among Pūkeko Pictures’ television works as a short-form documentary project.

• Live-action adult drama

  Cleverman

  Cleverman is listed among the company’s works as a live-action adult drama, demonstrating Pūkeko Pictures’ activity beyond children’s and preschool programming.

• Live-action feature film

  The Changeover

  The Changeover is listed among Pūkeko Pictures’ works as a live-action feature film.

• 2019

  Book Hungry Bears international co-productionProduct launch

  Background

  Following its preschool animation work, Pūkeko Pictures sought additional international partners and markets for a new children’s series.

  Action taken

  The company joined Hengxin Shambala Kids and Breakthrough Entertainment to produce Book Hungry Bears, with Canadian broadcasters commissioning the series.

  Aftermath

  The project became Pūkeko Pictures’ first Canadian co-production and received an international distribution and merchandising arrangement with 9 Story Media Group outside New Zealand, Australia, and China.

  Source

• 2013

  Partnership with ITV Studios for Thunderbirds Are GoM&A

  Background

  The company pursued a revival of Gerry Anderson’s established Thunderbirds property.

  Action taken

  Pūkeko Pictures partnered with ITV Studios to produce Thunderbirds Are Go, with Wētā Workshop providing model and animation production services and ITV Studios managing distribution.

  Aftermath

  The partnership expanded Pūkeko Pictures’ profile into internationally recognized franchise entertainment. No financial terms are provided.

  Source

• 2012

  First-look agreement with FremantleMediaStrategy

  Background

  Pūkeko Pictures was developing internationally oriented entertainment properties and sought broader industry relationships.

  Action taken

  The company signed a first-look deal with FremantleMedia.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not specify the deal’s duration, financial terms, or individual projects resulting from the arrangement.

  Source

• 2019

  Pūkeko Pictures announces Book Hungry Bears co-production[1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Pūkeko Pictures partnered with Hengxin Shambala Kids and Breakthrough Entertainment on the preschool animated series Book Hungry Bears, with Canadian broadcasters TVOKids, TFO, and Knowledge Network commissioning the project.

• 2019

  9 Story appointed international distributor and merchandise partner for Book Hungry Bears[1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  9 Story Media Group’s distribution and brands divisions were appointed to handle worldwide distribution and global merchandising for Book Hungry Bears, excluding New Zealand, Australia, and China.

• 2018

  Jeremy Hall appointed head of development and strategy[1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Jeremy Hall joined the company in the senior development and strategy role.

• 2015

  Clive Spink appointed chief executive officer[1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Clive Spink was appointed chief executive officer of Pūkeko Pictures.

• 2013

  Pūkeko Pictures partners with ITV Studios on Thunderbirds Are Go[1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · M&A

  The company partnered with ITV Studios to produce a new version of Thunderbirds, with Wētā Workshop contributing model and animation production services and ITV Studios handling distribution.

• 2012

  Pūkeko Pictures signs first-look deal with FremantleMedia[1]Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Pūkeko Pictures entered a first-look arrangement with FremantleMedia, expanding its development and potential international distribution relationships.

1. 1Pūkeko Picturesen.wikipedia.org