Magoproduction, RAI team for 'Squirrels'

BARCELONA -- Toon and docus production house Magoproduction is joining with Italian pubcaster RAI to create animated series "The Flying Squirrels." Allocated at 2.5 million ($3.4 million), "Squirrels" can also be backed by Catalan pubcaster TV3, Colombia's Jaguar and Andorra Television. RAI holds all distribution privileges for Italia. The three dimensional toon series, that is composed of 26 13-minute episodes, activates five buddies, descendants of pirates, who attempt a mission for any miracle chest that can make almost all their wishes become a reality. To achieve success, they're going to have to outlive the risks of the underworld beneath Dragon City. Focusing on 11-14 year olds, the series was short-listed for October's Mip Junior Kids' Jury Prize. It will likely be ready for delivery late 2012. Magoproduction has additionally folded out sales on "Dr. W," a brief toon format in regards to a surgeon working underneath the nickname of Dr. W on the kids' Tv series. Arte has acquired "Dr. W" for Germany and France, RTP for Portugal, YLE for Finland and Canal Encuentro for Argentina. Barcelona-based, Magoproduction is going to close co-production with Latin America on the second "Dr. W" season, its creative director, Muyi Neira, told Variety. Peter Keydel founded Magoproduction in 2004. Neira became a member of in 2007. "You want to make B series super productions," Neira joked. We don't wish to suffer pressure of large budgets, although we all do goal to endow a TV product with motion picture feel and artistic vision." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com