E-books for CBeebies Iconicles

The CBeebies children’s show “Iconicles” has been made into a series of interactive e-books.

YUDU Media has partnered with technology consultant Chapter Media to produce the series in an iBook format, which will feature live video content from the television show.
“Iconicles” targets the four to six years age bracket, featuring cartoon characters and a human called Nat. It airs on ABC Australia as well as the BBC, and centres on Nat, an explorer and inventor who creates an Iconi-screen that lets him view four exciting 2D worlds filled with 26 different Iconicles characters.

Richard Stephenson, c.e.o. of YUDU, said the “core challenge” in creating the series was to take existing content in TV cartoon format and adapt it to function well on a tablet device.

“‘Iconicles’ wanted to create colourful and interactive digital content that would build on the TV brand, and considered using apps or e-books,” Stephenson said. “The key to success is down to our decision to assemble a blended, multidiscipline team  . . . guidance from the educational consultant who reviewed the product at various stages throughout, and the valuable insights gained from trialling the iBook on children, were also key.”

The first iBook, Mungo’s Tummy Trouble, will be completed ahead of the MIPCOM market in Cannes on 7th October, with three additional titles to follow shortly after.

The iBooks will feature read-aloud audio, an interactive “iconi-screen” to guide children to the story, games, puzzles and mazes and high-definition video from the series episodes.