NENT Group adapts ‘Karma and Jonar’ as animated kids Viaplay Original
- ‘Karma and Jonar’ uses Viaplay Studios’ state-of-the-art 3D animation technology
- Eight-part series is based on bestselling children’s books by an anonymous author
- NENT Group to premiere at least 50 Viaplay Originals in 2021
Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), one of the world’s fastest growing streaming companies, will adapt the bestselling ‘Karma and Jonar’ children’s books as its latest Viaplay Original for younger viewers. The eight-part animated series uses Viaplay Studios’ state-of-the-art 3D animation technology and is the first Viaplay Studios production following the reorganisation and rebranding of NENT Group’s studio operations. ‘Karma and Jonar’ will premiere exclusively on NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service in 2022.
Written by an anonymous Swedish author known only as ‘Zelda Falköga’, the ‘Karma and Jonar’ books are set in the fantasy land of Glimeria and feature striking illustrations by Henric Aryee, named one of the world’s top 200 illustrators by Lürzer’s Archive. The Viaplay Original ‘Karma and Jonar’ is based on the first book and is aimed at viewers between 7 and 9 years old.
The production uses Viaplay Studios’ 3D character animation, which is based on a state-of-the-art motion capture studio in combination with game engine technologies. Launched in mid-September, Viaplay Studios is focused primarily on delivering original content for Viaplay, which will be available in at least 16 countries by the end of 2023.
Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group Chief Content Officer: “This series tells an exciting and engaging story while delving into topics like friendship, self-belief and the challenges of growing up. The themes and artwork in Zelda Falköga’s books are widely acclaimed and our adaptation aims to capture both fully. ‘Karma and Jonar’ will be a fantastic showcase for Viaplay Studios’ world-class storytelling and technical capabilities.”
The author known as Zelda Falköga: “It’s an honour to see these stories about my friends Karma and Jonar take another shape and grow in a new medium. I can’t wait to see Henric Aryee’s images come to life and for more people to experience the magical land of Glimeria in the same way I have!”
The series (Swedish title: ‘Karma och Jonar’) is written by Henrik Ahnborg and directed by Alexander Gustavsson. The ‘Karma and Jonar’ books are published in Sweden by Bookmark. Previous Viaplay Originals for younger viewers include ‘Fixi in Playland’, ‘Mia’s Magical World’, ‘Saga’s Stories’ and the Swedish Kristallen award winner ‘The Great Escape’.
About NENT Group’s Viaplay Originals
NENT Group is set to premiere at least 50 Viaplay Originals in 2021. In the past three months, ‘Furia’; season two of ‘The Truth Will Out’; ‘Close to Me’; ‘Two Sisters’; season two of ‘Face to Face’; ‘Threesome’; and ‘A Class Apart’ have premiered on Viaplay.
Recently announced originals include ‘Ronja’; ‘Ida Takes Charge’; season two of ‘The Machinery’; ‘The Prize of Silence’; ‘Sort Of’; ‘The Uninhabitable Earth’; ‘Polish Murderesses’, ‘Black Dog’ and ‘Freedom of the Swallow’; season two of ‘Partisan’; season three of ‘Honour’; seasons three and four of ‘Hammarvik’; ‘The Holiday’; seasons two and three of ‘Pørni’; ‘Red Election’; ‘Hilma’; ‘Billy the Kid’; ‘Sisterhood’; ‘Who Shot Otto Mueller?’; a biopic of Börje Salming; ‘Fadime’; ‘Taylor’s Island’; ‘Kin’; ‘What about Monica’; ‘Trom’; ‘THE KINGDOM EXODUS’; ‘Made in Oslo’; ‘Estonia: The Last Wave’; ‘Suedi’; season two of ‘Stella Blómkvist’; season two of ‘Wisting’; ‘The Box’; ‘The Swarm’; ‘Harmonica’; ‘Perfect People’; and ‘Margeaux’.
NENT Group will produce two major English-language films every year. The company has also established a UK-based joint venture with FilmNation Entertainment and invested in US studio Picturestart.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Nordic Entertainment Group AB (publ) (NENT Group)’s Viaplay streaming service is available in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Viaplay will launch in the US in 2021 and the Netherlands and the UK in 2022, followed by Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland by the end of 2023. We operate streaming services, TV channels, radio stations and production companies, and our purpose is to tell stories, touch lives and expand worlds. Headquartered in Stockholm with a global perspective, NENT Group is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (‘NENT B’).
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