Guru and Karrot Have Partnered for New Spot Series
The studios are collaborating on an animated preschool show based on the classic children's book franchise.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Animation
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Guru Studio and Karrot Entertainment have entered into a co-production agreement for a new preschool animated series featuring Eric Hill's Spot. The upcoming production will consist of 39 episodes, each seven minutes long.
Why it matters
The deal brings a globally recognized literary property to television, leveraging a book series that has seen enduring popularity since its 1980 debut. By expanding the franchise into a new medium, the studios aim to engage a modern audience of young viewers.
The original Spot book series has sold over 65 million copies worldwide and is available in more than 60 languages. The planned production features 39 episodes, each with a seven-minute runtime.
The players
Guru Studio
This is a Canadian animation studio known for developing and producing children's television programming.
Karrot Entertainment
Based in the United Kingdom, this production company specializes in animated children's series.
Eric Hill
He was the author and illustrator who created the iconic Spot book series.
Penguin Ventures
This organization acts as the licensing and consumer products manager for the Spot intellectual property.
The details
The production studios will unveil a proof of concept for the series to potential buyers at the MIPCOM industry event. Penguin Ventures currently manages the consumer products and licensing program for the Fun with Spot brand.
Timeline
The Spot book franchise launched in 1980.
Sales in the U.K. reached 1 million units beginning in 2020.
The co-production agreement was announced on October 8, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This project reflects a broader trend of production companies mining established literary intellectual property to secure viewership in a crowded animation market. By building on the foundation of the Spot book franchise, the studios are capitalizing on multi-generational brand recognition.
Young viewers and their families can expect the new series to bring the established Spot characters to television screens for the first time in this production format. The series will be presented to industry buyers at MIPCOM to determine its future broadcast and streaming distribution.
The takeaway
The partnership demonstrates the continued commercial viability of legacy children's literature in the modern streaming era. Audiences can monitor future announcements to see which platforms will ultimately host the upcoming 39-episode series.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Animation content production.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Animation Magazine.
Live Poll
Do you prefer classic children's stories as original books or as modern animated television shows?
