ZDF Studios announces sale of award-winning children’s title 'Sam and Julia' to Sky Kids
Enchanting children’s title now available in 100 countries
Mainz, July 7th, 2025
ZDF Studios has secured a sale of the multi award-winning animated series, Sam and Julia (78 x 7’), to Sky TV and streaming service NOW in the UK, who will premiere the series to young British audiences on Sky Kids and streaming service NOW later this year. In total, this enchanting children’s title, featuring two mice and their Mouse Mansion, is now available in 100 countries through a wide range of international broadcasters and streamers.
Recently nominated at KAFF 2025, Hungary’s animation film festival, Sam and Julia has been sold to CEE countries such as Česká Televize (Czech Republic), RTV (Slovenia), LRT (Lithuania), Eesti Rahvusringhääling (Estonia), HRT (Croatia) and MTVA (Hungary). Elsewhere the series has found a new home with SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), YLE OL (Finland), VRT (Belgium), JimJam TV Ltd (Africa), Vme (USA and Puerto Rico), Gabriel Broadcasting Foundation (Taiwan and Philippines) and TFO Canada.
Arne Lohmann, VP Junior, ZDF Studios: “Sam and Julia hits all the right notes with preschoolers and their parents. It’s entertainment with strong values that promote creativity, sustainability and kindness. I’m delighted that now even more children around the globe will have access to this captivating series.”
The deal with ZDF Studios was negotiated by Alia Morsy, Acquisitions Executive at Sky.
Sam and Julia, based on the books by Dutch author Karina Schaapman whose 22 original titles have been translated into 27 languages selling over 1 million copies worldwide, is produced by Cielo Films and Superswiss Red in coproduction with ZDF, ZDF Studios, France Télévisions, Caribara and M.A.R.K.13. The brand extends to a unique range of plush and arts & crafts products that earned a nomination at Germany’s Top 10 Toy Awards (2024).
Since the series launched in 2024, the two adorable mice have been honoured with various awards and nominations. Winners of the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Cross Media Award (2024) and the Pulcinella Award at Cartoons on the Bay (2024), the series was also shortlisted at the Annecy Festival (2024).
Coming from a distant island, Julia, a cute and speedy little she-mouse, has moved with her mum into a residential building, “The Mouse Mansion”, where she feels a bit like a stranger. She meets Sam, a friendly and crafty little he-mouse, who also lives there. Sam, contrary to Julia, has a large family with mam, dad and a sibling group of six. Despite their different characters, they soon become best pals. Sam helps his little neighbor friend get used to her new life. The funny entertaining adventures they experience in and around The Mouse Mansion allow Julia to become ever more integrated into this different environment. Even though she occasionally feels nostalgic about the beautiful warm island where she was born, she feels more at home day after day, surrounded by her new neighbors and friends.
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About ZDF Studios
ZDF Studios is a commercial subsidiary of ZDF, one of the largest TV broadcasters in Europe. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Mainz, Germany, the ZDF Studios Group operates more than 30 direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates in Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom spanning TV production, distribution and services. The parent company, ZDF Studios, is responsible for global programme distribution, realisation of international co-productions, acquisition of licences and merchandising of successful programme brands under its own name, for ZDF and third parties. ZDF Studios has the largest German-language programme inventory in the world and a constantly growing range of international productions, consisting of series and mini-series, television films, documentaries and children's programmes.
The companies of the ZDF Studios Group cover the entire value chain from the development of scripted and unscripted TV content to production, marketing and monetizing, including TV and streaming licences as well as merchandising and online rights. The positioning of ZDF Studios as an integrated media company enables the development of innovative, outstanding and high-quality programmes and makes the Group an attractive workplace for German and international talent to flourish in a very inspiring and creative environment.
Contact ZDF Studios
Christine Denilauler (VP Marketing and Corporate Communications), ZDF Studios GmbH, Erich-Dombrowski-Str. 1, 55127 Mainz/Germany, tel.: +49 6131-9911130, email: christine.denilauler@zdf-studios.com, www.zdf-studios.com.
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