Timmy on Disney Channel

DISNEY CHANNEL WORLDWIDE ACQUIRES "TIMMY" FROM AARDMAN ANIMATIONS

Disney Channel programmers from North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific have joined forces to acquire global rights for the stop-motion animated series "Timmy" from the acclaimed UK production company Aardman Animations ("Wallace & Gromit"). It is scheduled to premiere in 2009 on Playhouse Disney channels and programming blocks around the world. The announcement was made today by Gary Marsh, President, Disney Channels Worldwide.

In making the announcement, Marsh said, "Our talented global team focuses on one brand and one vision and it's incredibly exciting when the decision to acquire a property is unanimous. 'Timmy' is a unique show from world-class auspices and is consistent with our strategy to offer endearing characters and stories with universal life lessons for preschoolers and caregivers to enjoy together."

"Timmy" marks Aardman's foray into television for preschoolers and combines the production company's award-winning stop-motion animation style with the colorful simplicity of animation for kids age 2-5. The short-form series stars a charming little sheep, 3-year-old Timmy, a character based on sketches by Academy Award-winner Nick Park ("Wallace & Gromit in a Close Shave") and introduced on the award-winning series "Shaun the Sheep" airing on Disney Channels around the world.

Miles Bullough, Head of Broadcast at Aardman, commented, "We are thrilled to partner with Disney on our first major foray into preschool programming. Having worked with Disney Channels in several territories on 'Shaun The Sheep' it made complete sense for us join forces on 'Timmy' - we know that they will take great care of our latest offspring."

Timmy is adorable but he's a little lamb with a lot to learn. Each episode will follow a day in the life of Timmy as he learns something about himself and all of his friends - an assortment of bright young animals, some farmyard, some domestic and some wild. Timmy's world is set over the hill and down the lane from Shaun's Farm and is a bright, colorful, stylized world with its own unique look.

The Creative Producer and Supervising Director is BAFTA winner Jackie Cockle ("Bob the Builder," "Noddy" and animator on "Cinderella" among others). The executive producer is Miles Bullough ("Shaun the Sheep").

Aardman Animations, based in Bristol (UK), co-founded and run by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, is a world leader in animation. It produces feature films, television series and commercials for the domestic and international market. The studio has won over 400 international awards and four Academy Awards, including one for "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit."

Disney Channel Worldwide represents the most successful portfolio of kids? channels in the world. Comprised of 27 Disney Channels, ten Playhouse Disney Channels and nine Toon Disney Channels, and through a strategic partnership with Disney ABC International Television for the distribution of Disney-branded blocks of kids' programming across the globe, Disney Channel Worldwide reaches more than 600 million viewers in over 100 countries in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and South Africa. Disney Channel properties continue to rapidly expand into new markets across the world, playing a key role in introducing the Disney brand to new consumers.

TIMMY - Disney Channel programmers from North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific made the unanimous decision to acquire the stop-motion animated series "Timmy" from the acclaimed UK production company Aardman Animations ("Wallace & Gromit"). It is scheduled to premiere in 2009 on Playhouse Disney channels and programming blocks around the world.