Queensland-based Fade In Studio and its premier 2D animation division, K Love You Bye, and global children’s education and media company Tiny Souls Media are celebrating a major milestone for Australian animation today. The Kidscreen Award-winning and AWG-nominated digital-first series Zip and the Tiny Sprouts (52 x 7’), distributed by industry leader WildBrain, announces a slate of international broadcast deals, including a highly anticipated local launch on ABC Kids later this year, as well as a global SVOD roll-out on PlayKids Learning. The international success of Zip and the Tiny Sprouts highlights the world-class capabilities of the Australian animation sector, bolstered by the vital investment of local screen agencies. The project and the studio received proud support from Screen Queensland and Screen Australia. With Fade In Studio writing, directing, and animating the series, this support secured the project for Australian shores and elevated local talent onto the global stage.
Originally launched on YouTube, the vibrant educational series cultivated a loyal and engaged audience, amassing millions of views and hundreds of thousands of subscribers in a matter of months. This digital-first success proved the undeniable power of the property, winning thereafter a 2025 Kidscreen Award and multiple Australian Writers Guild nominations. The series was created and produced by Tiny Souls Media in partnership with Brisbane’s Fade In Studio and its dedicated 2D animation division, K Love You Bye. International Emmy® Award-winning producer Peter Johnston led the creative execution, overseeing writing, directing, and animation of the hit series while harnessing the world-class capabilities of his local team.
“Building the world of Zip and the Tiny Sprouts has been an absolute labour of love for everyone at Fade In Studio,” Johnston commented. “To see a project that was poured over by our incredible Australian crew grow from a digital phenomenon into a broadcast staple on ABC Kids is a dream realised. We’re immensely grateful for the championing support of Screen Queensland and Screen Australia, and to Tiny Souls Media for entrusting us with this project. Their backing is the lifeblood that empowers local studios like ours to produce globally competitive, premium content right here at home.”
Rooted in developmental psychology research, the series invites preschoolers into the whimsical world of Harmony Hollow. The series follows Zip, Aria, Riff and Hum as they discover that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow, inspiring all children to do the same. Born from the vision of Australia-born Tiny Souls Media founder and Chief Creative Officer Shadi Toloui-Wallace to provide parents with trusted, evidence-based screen time, the show uses delightful storytelling and original music to explore social-emotional themes such as resilience, patience, and gratitude. Lacey Mason (Sesame Workshop, Dodo Kids, Dandy’s World), Head of Development and Production at Tiny Souls Media, also brought her expertise to the series, alongside Zachary Stuckelman, Ph.D, as the Head of Research and Curriculum. As Zip and the Tiny Sprouts prepare to captivate millions more across streaming and traditional television, it stands as a shining testament to the power of Australian animation to thrive on the world stage.