Barcelona-based DeAPlaneta Entertainment and Chinese licensing and merchandising company Alpha Group, which is also a producer of children and family content, have signed an agreement to jointly relaunch animated series Bernard globally.
The dialogue-free, animated TV series about a bumbling polar bear called Bernard, was first launched out of Spain in 2006 and went on to win fans at home and internationally, with the character known as Backkom in Asia.
DeAPlaneta Entertainment announced the partnership ahead of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week where the company will be out in force at the MIFA market.
The company acquired the Bernard IP in 2023 when it bought the catalogue of Madrid-based children’s content company BRB International, in a deal including broadcast rights and operating licences for a number of popular animated shows.
Prior to the deal, Alpha Group had acquired Chinese rights to the Bernard IP and produced three feature films devoted to the polar bear and his entourage: Backkom Bear: Agent 008 (2017), Agent Backkom: Kings Bear (2021), and Backkom Bear: Mars Mission (2024).
Under the agreement with the Alpha Group, DeAPlaneta Entertainment, the owner of all Bernard-related content previously produced by BRB International in Western markets, will distribute both new seasons and future productions created around the Bernard brand outside of Asia.
The agreement also includes the global distribution in Western countries by DeAPlaneta Entertainment of the new animated feature film Bernard: Mars Mission, which enjoyed a successful theatrical release in China.
Alpha Group is one of China’s top family and children’s content companies, with other credits including Petronix Defenders, Super Wings, Katuri and Quantum Heroes: Dinoster.
Bernard is currently broadcast in more than 180 countries through linear channels such as Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, Televisa, BBC, Televisión Española, KIKA, M6/Gulli, Nickelodeon, and Canal Panda, as well as VOD platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Rakuten, and Hulu.
It has also gained digital traction with a dedicated Bernard YouTube channel, which as a subscriber base of 6.7 million; a total of 2.648 billion views, and monthly viewership of two million.
The Bernard IP has also generated licensing partnerships with Universal, Ravensburger, Famosa, Panini, Clementoni, Warner Bros., and Comansi, among others.
“Bernard has achieved unparalleled global brand maturity. Both DeAPlaneta Entertainment and Alpha Group are pleased to offer new content to the fans of this unforgettable character,” said Carlos Biern, Content and Media Sales Director of DeAPlaneta Kids & Family.
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