Zog Returns to TV for Christmas 2020

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Zog first came to our small screens at Christmas in 2018 and was met with roaring success, winning a number of awards and being nominated for an International Kids Emmy. The loveable orange dragon, Zog, will soon be soaring back onto our screens as the BBC One and Magic Light Pictures announce that Zog and the Flying Doctors, the companion title to Zog, will be getting its own animation.
The new half hour children’s animation will be created by Magic Light Pictures, the multi Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning production company. The company previously created the animations for Scheffler and Donaldson’s books; Zog, The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Stick Man, The Highway Rat and Room on the Broom.

Together Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are the UK’s most successful picture book creatures, and Zog and the Flying Doctors will become the eighth adaptation of their books produced by Magic Light Pictures.

This new animation of Zog and the Flying Doctors will be produced by Michael Rose and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures and will be directed by Sean Mullen. Animation services will be provided by Giant Animation in Dublin. The animated special has been acquired by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content and Tommy Bulfin, Commissioning Editor for BBC Drama.

Charlotte Moore said: “BBC One will be home to another favourite Donaldson and Scheffler adaptation for Christmas 2020, once again continuing our collaboration with the award-winning Magic Light Pictures on the fabulously original sequel to the best-selling Zog – Zog And The Flying Doctors.”

You’ll have to wait a while to see this exciting new animation though, as Zog and the Flying Doctors is due to premiere on Christmas day 2020. But don’t worry, an animation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Snail and the Whale will be coming to BBC One this Christmas to entertain the whole family.