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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide today confirmed global distribution rights for new animated pre-school series 3rd & Bird.

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Produced by Little Airplane Productions, creators of the phenomenally successful The Wonder Pets, 52 episodes of 3rd & Bird will launch on CBeebies this autumn.

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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide has confirmed global distribution rights for TV and merchandise for the series which is set to launch commercially later this year.

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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide's investment in the property follows hot on the heels of the hugely successful In The Night Garden produced by Ragdoll Productions which has, to date, shattered sales records across toy, DVD, publishing and music*.

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Hoping to replicate the success with this new pre-school brand and capitalising on the global appetite for animation, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide's commercial plans will be unveiled to the industry at key trade fairs in 2008.

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Centred around a community of birds that live, learn and play in the branches of a beautiful tree, 3rd & Bird has been created in bold and colourful photo-puppetry animation – a style of animation created by Little Airplane.

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To ensure international appeal the show has been written and researched on both sides of the Atlantic with expertise from both Britain and the US – led by creator and founder of Little Airplane, Josh Selig.

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Director of Children's, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide, Gill Pritchard said: "We're thrilled to be working with Little Airplane on this project. 3rd & Bird is an enchanting property packed with entertaining stories, songs and cute characters - it is beautiful and I am captivated by the little bird Muffin!

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"Our expertise of the pre-school market gives us confidence that 3rd & Bird will resonate across the World."

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Notes to editors

*In the Night Garden - fastest growing new toy property for the whole of 2007 according to NPD data in December, earning £10.8 million in value. More than 450,000 DVDs have been sold to date, 13,000 copies of music album sold, In the Night Garden Little Library number 1 in Children's Book Charts, sold to 20 countries including Australia and Canada.

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