Netflix Picks Up Russian Cartoon Series 'Yoko'

The series also sells to China and Latin America.


Netflix has picked up the Russian cartoon series Yoko for the U.S., United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Canada and India, the production company Wizart Animation announced on Wednesday.


Nat Geo Kids Latin America picked up the show for Latin America and the Caribbean.


In China, the series will be released by distributor Huashi TV on video websites, including Tencent, Youku, IQIYI, as well as more than 10 IPTV channels and OTT platforms, such as MI.


The deal was brokered by Jetpack Distribution.


"Yoko has proved to have mass global appeal," said Dominic Gardiner, Jetpack Distribution CEO, in a press release. "It contains elements that pre-school kids really love, including magic and adventure. It also highlights the value of play and delivers positive messages."


Yoko follows the adventures of three children, turning ordinary kids' games into adventures.


Yoko is produced by Wizart Animation, Somuga and Dibulitoon Studio and is commissioned by RTVE and ETB in Spain. Season two, which contains 14 episodes, is currently in production and is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2018.


Earlier, the series was picked up by Nick Jr. in Italy, BBC Kids in Canada, Sun TV Network in India, Canal Panda in Portugal, ETV in Estonia and CTC and O! in Russia.