Sixteen South’s ‘The Retrievers‘ Snags Top Prize at MIPJunior Pitch 2025
Cannes, France – Northern Ireland-based animation studio Sixteen South has won the prestigious MIPJunior Pitch 2025 wiht their new mystery comedy series, The Retrievers. The announcement came following pitches presented at the international kids’ content market.
The Retrievers centers around an extraordinary 11-year-old girl who discovers she can understand and communicate with animals on her birthday – a notably useful ability given her companion is a police dog named Otis. Together, they tackle unsolved crimes in Paris with the help of a unique group of stray animals.
Sixteen South’s development producer, Stephen Coulter, pitched the project and expressed his excitement post-victory, voicing strong hopes for the show’s lead characters, Molly and Otis.The studio intends to develop The Retrievers as a 26-episode series, with each episode running 11 minutes, utilizing CGI animation. A 22-minute pilot script is already completed, focusing on the theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Sixteen South is currently seeking broadcasters for the series.
The MIPJunior Pitch jury included Maud Branly (M6 / Gulli),Rick Clodfelter (disney Branded Television),Qing Fan (Tencent Video),and Sarah Muller (BBC Children’s Commissioning),with Justine Bannister (Just B) moderating.
Other finalists included Simin He (Buddha Studio), Luciana Eguti (Birdo), Maria Bonaria Fois (Digitoonz Entertainment), and Emmanuel Koukambakana Kouka (Armada studio).
Sixteen South is a creatively driven independent studio known for producing innovative content for children and families in various animation styles – 2D, 3D, hybrid, live action, and fur. The studio boasts an notable track record, having received over 50 international awards, including two emmy nominations, a BAFTA for Independent Children’s Production Company of the Year, the Prix Jeunesse, and three iftas.
