Dominic Minns has been appointed as the series director for Blue Zoo Animation Studio’s upcoming preschool Doctor Who animated series for CBeebies and BBC iPlayer, according to announcements from the production companies. The project marks the first time the science-fiction franchise has expanded into an animated production specifically targeted at preschool audiences.
Production Details and Episode Orders
According to reports from TV Zone UK, the BBC has commissioned the new animated series for 52 episodes, each running for 11 minutes across two series. The production is currently underway, with voice casting yet to be officially announced by the BBC. The bidding process for the contract drew competitive proposals from multiple shortlisted animation producers before Blue Zoo secured the commission.
Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s & Education, stated that the project brings the franchise to its youngest audience while supporting the British animation industry. “This new series further strengthens our commitment to the British animation industry by championing homegrown productions with the potential to travel the world and, perhaps even through time and space,” Hidalgo said, according to TV Zone UK.
Leadership Appointments at Blue Zoo
Alongside his new role directing the Whoniverse preschool project, Dominic Minns has been named creative director at Blue Zoo Animation Studio, moving over from sister studio Brighton Zoo where he served as co-founder and creative director, as reported by Cartoon Brew. Minns brings extensive experience with CBeebies programming to the production, having directed the first season of Mojo Swoptops, served as series director on Supertato, and created the BAFTA-winning digital-first property Tee and Mo (also cited as Tee and Me in production notes). His other credits include BAFTA-winning titles such as Get Well Soon Hospital, Zingzillas, and Big and Small.
“My goal is to fully utilize the full talents of both Blue and Brighton Zoo to capture the epic scale and wonder of the series, while making it delightful, funny, and relatable for preschoolers,” Minns said, according to Cartoon Brew. Adam Shaw, co-founder of Blue Zoo, noted that the studio is celebrating its 25th anniversary and views adapting the franchise as a significant creative milestone.
Historical Context in the Whoniverse
While the franchise has previously targeted younger viewers through live-action spin-offs like CBBC’s The Sarah Jane Adventures and the independently produced K9, those programs were aimed at older children. The upcoming CBeebies series represents the first dedicated preschool adaptation in the history of the property. Blue Zoo has previously collaborated with the BBC on preschool programs including Numberblocks, Alphablocks, and Mojo Swoptops.
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