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Poppy Cat Magazine to launch next year from Kennedy Enterprises

By John Freeman on November 28, 2013

Poppy Cat © Coolabi Productions Limited

Coolabi, the creators of the Poppy Cat show (and the new Clangers series) has announced a deal with Bristol-based magazine publisher Kennedy Enterprises for a new stand-alone Poppy Cat magazine, which will launch next year.

Poppy Cat, starring the voice of Joanna Page (Gavin & Stacey) and airing everyday on Nick Jr and Nick Jr 2, is based on the award-winning books created by Lara Jones, which have sold more than 2.5 million copies. The second series of the top-rating programme – launching in 2014 – is co-produced by Coolabi’s television production arm, Coolabi Productions, and the Emmy shortlisted and BAFTA award-winning, King Rollo Films.

Told with humour and great heart, the Poppy Cat stories bring to children a glimpse of their own potential for imaginative play and creativity through the tales of a very special cat and her equally interesting band of friends.

Scheduled to launch in Spring 2014 to coincide with the new TV series, the new magazine will include stories, puzzles and colouring pages, with free gifts that will include branded stickers, posters and mini activity booklets and a Poppy Cat-related cover mount.

“We are delighted to add Poppy Cat to our portfolio of popular children’s magazines,” said Paul Kennedy of Kennedy Enterprises.

“Poppy Cat fans will love our colourful new magazine, which will be packed full of stories, puzzles and colouring. Each issue will feature a free Poppy Cat gift, plus a pull-out activity workbook with interactive reward stickers to make learning more fun.

“We will be including content designed for children to enjoy alone, and activities to be enjoyed with their parents.”

Valerie Fry, director of sales at Coolabi, added: “We are very pleased to be working with such a great new licensee, Kennedy Enterprises, on Poppy Cat.

“It is a bright, colourful and adventurous property, which will lend itself extremely well to a new magazine for toddlers aged two to five years.”

• For more information on Poppy Cat go to www.poppycat.com, or become a fan of Poppy Cat on Facebook (www.facebook.com/officialpoppycat) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/PoppyCat)

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.