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Exclusive: Laughing Dragon Studios recently grabbed a skateboard for a Tony Hawk toon, and now the Canadian production house has switched focus to the festive season.

The company has unveiled Christmas series Coal, which is due to drop in December 2025. Shaftesbury is signed up for international distribution, with Muse Distribution handling Quebec. The Shaw Rocket Fund and Telefilm have provided funding.

The three-part special will follow Ethan Bishop, an eight-year-old boy navigating a difficult time in his life that lands him on Santa’s naughty list. In response, Santa implements ‘Plan C,’ sending a legendary Lump of Coal to guide Ethan on a “ho-ho-hilarious journey.” Through a series of positive and negative experiences with the coal, Ethan discovers a life-altering artistic talent.

Cast includes Lucinda Davis as Ethan alongside Zariah Ellis (Blue’s Clues & You), Briauna James, Ralph Prosper, Mara Lazaris, Eric Davis and Bruce Dinsmore as Santa Claus.

Laughing Dragon is billing it as a “playful 2D animated series, complete with specialized magical charcoal-style sequences” for kids aged 6-10, and is planning it as an “festive tradition that can be cherished year after year.”

Guillaume Chassé (Curious George, F Is for Family) is directing and René Veilleux from Vérité Entertainment oversaw the voice direction and casting. Astride Noel and Christopher Bernard are the writers. Laughing Dragon CEO Ryan Sohmer (Kabu, Disenchanted) is the executive producer.

“With an initial concept from our very own Ryan Costello and seeing what our Director of Original Productions Jeff Moss has molded Coal into over the last few years, I am thrilled to begin this next stage of production, and counting down until we can bring Ethan and his family to worldwide audiences,” said Sohmer.

Writer Noel added: “It was a blast working on Coal, and I immediately fell in love with the dilemma of this holiday film that takes traditional Santa lore and spins it on its head. ‘Finding who is naughty and nice’ is not always as easy as the song makes it seem. The story serves as a wonderful reminder that even in difficult times, there is joy, beauty, and… nice to be found.”

Earlier this year, we reported that Laughing Dragon was working with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk on animated series Skatebirds, as part of the Montreal-based company’s push into original production. Initially beginning as a full-service 2D animation studio, Laughing Dragon has worked on projects such as Apple TV+’s Central Park and Disney’s Disenchanted, and is developing an internal slate also including madcap mythologic title Isaac & Friends and an animated adaptation of Least I Could Do, a webcomic created by Sohmer and Lar deSouza.

Get ready for a heartwarming holiday adventure with “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” on Disney this Sunday at 8:00 Am. In Season 1 Episode 11, titled “The Perfect Holiday,” the Lego Friends are gearing up for a festive Christmas lunch filled with joy and cheer.

As the friends come together to celebrate the holiday season, excitement brews when Zac discovers he’s qualified for a winter snowboard competition. Amidst the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations, Zac’s unexpected news adds an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the day’s festivities.

Join Mia, Olivia, Emma, Andrea, and Stephanie as they navigate the joys and challenges of friendship, family, and the holiday season in Heartlake City. With its charming characters, delightful storylines, and positive messages, “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” is perfect for viewers of all ages.

Don’t miss out on the fun and adventure – tune in to Disney at...

Get ready for an action-packed episode of “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” airing Sunday, March 24, 2024, at 8:00 Am on Disney. In this highly anticipated installment titled “Come Together,” the excitement reaches new heights as the launch of the community center draws near.

Autumn finds herself facing a race against time as she strives to free Aliya from the nurse’s office before the crucial launch event. Meanwhile, Olly and Paisley are hard at work conducting last-minute auditions, adding to the tension and anticipation.

As the clock ticks down, viewers can expect thrilling twists and turns as the friends come together to overcome challenges and make the community center launch a success. With heartwarming moments and exciting adventures, “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” continues to delight audiences of all ages.

Don’t miss “Come Together” on Disney this Sunday at 8:00 Am for an episode filled with friendship, teamwork, and excitement...

Get ready for a fun-filled episode of “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” as the gang faces new challenges in Season 1, Episode 9 titled “It Takes a Village,” airing this Sunday, March 17, 2024, at 7:00 Am on Disney.

As the friends eagerly prepare for the grand opening of the community center, their plans hit a snag when they clash with the Seniors’ weekly Bocce game. With the village buzzing with activity, tensions rise as the two groups try to navigate their overlapping agendas.

Join Emma, Olivia, Andrea, Mia, and Stephanie as they embark on a mission to find common ground and bring the community together. Through teamwork, creativity, and a lot of laughter, they discover that sometimes, it truly does take a village to make things happen.

Don’t miss the excitement and heartwarming moments in “It Takes a Village” as the Lego Friends learn valuable lessons about cooperation and friendship. Tune in...

This Sunday at 7:00 Am on Disney, “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” brings an adorable dilemma in Season 1 Episode 8, titled “Decisions, Decisions.” In this charming animated world, Aliya faces the delightful challenge of choosing from her friends’ numerous ideas for the contents of the new community center.

The episode promises a heartwarming journey as Aliya navigates the creative suggestions of her friends, each brimming with enthusiasm and imagination. As the characters embark on the quest to find a solution, viewers can expect a delightful exploration of teamwork, friendship, and the joy of compromise.

For young audiences and Lego enthusiasts, tuning in at 7:00 Am offers a delightful adventure filled with colorful bricks, lively characters, and the valuable lesson that sometimes, the best decisions come from collaboration. “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” continues to capture hearts with its whimsical tales and endearing characters on Disney.

Release Date & Time: 7:00 Am Sunday...

Get ready for an exciting new episode of “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” titled “Over-Leveraged Leo,” airing this Sunday at 8:00 Am on Disney. In this animated adventure, viewers will join Leo, one of the beloved characters, as he faces a challenging dilemma.

Leo finds himself in a tricky situation when he struggles to say no to his friends’ requests, leaving him spread thin and needed in three places at once during the street fair fundraiser for the new community center. As Leo tries to juggle his responsibilities, chaos ensues, and he must find a way to handle the situation without letting anyone down.

Join Leo and the rest of the Lego Friends gang as they navigate through friendship, teamwork, and problem-solving in this heartwarming episode. With colorful animation and engaging storytelling, “Over-Leveraged Leo” promises to entertain audiences of all ages.

Don’t miss out on the fun-filled adventure when...

Join the fun-filled adventure in Heartlake City with the latest episode of “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” airing this Sunday on Disney! In Season 1 Episode 6, titled “The Heart of Heartlake,” excitement brews as the student council opens up submissions for this year’s big initiative. Aliya finds herself racing against the clock to come up with a winning proposal, especially as Brad’s less-than-stellar idea gains unexpected popularity.

As the pressure mounts and the stakes soar, viewers can expect a whirlwind of creativity, friendship, and laughs in this charming Lego world. With its vibrant characters and heartwarming storyline, “The Heart of Heartlake” promises to deliver another delightful installment of the beloved series.

Tune in at 8:00 Am this Sunday, February 25, 2024, to join Aliya and her friends on their exciting journey in “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” only on Disney. Don’t miss out on the fun!

Release Date & Time: 8:...

Get ready for an adorable and adventurous episode of “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” with Season 1 Episode 5, titled “Unstoppable Puppies,” airing at 8:00 Am on Sunday, February 18, 2024, on Disney. In this charming installment, viewers will join Nova and her friends as they embark on a mission to track down a group of mischievous puppies that have escaped from the Adoption Center.

When the puppies go on the run, Nova springs into action, enlisting the help of her pals to corral the runaway canines before Autumn, the caretaker, realizes they’re missing. With determination and teamwork, the Lego Friends set out on an exciting adventure through Heartlake City, encountering obstacles and surprises along the way.

From playful antics to heartwarming moments, “Unstoppable Puppies” promises to delight audiences of all ages with its lovable characters and engaging storyline. Join Nova and her friends as they prove that with friendship and perseverance, anything is possible.

Calling all Lego and Friends enthusiasts! Get ready for an exciting and heartwarming episode of “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter.” Set your alarms for Sunday, February 11, 2024, at 8:00 Am on Disney, as Season 1, Episode 4, titled “Tap Tap Pup Pup,” unfolds an adorable and inspiring tale.

In this episode, Nova and Autumn, our beloved Lego Friends, find themselves facing unique challenges. Nova is on a quest to create a popular video game but struggles to find the winning formula. Meanwhile, Autumn’s heart goes out to a puppy in need, presenting her with a different kind of challenge.

What makes this episode truly special is that Nova and Autumn are unaware that they possess the solutions to each other’s problems. It’s a heartwarming reminder that sometimes, the answers we seek can be found in unexpected places and through the bonds of friendship.

“Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” has been...

Hold onto your bricks because “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” is back with another exciting episode! Tune in to Disney Channel at 8:00 Am on Sunday, February 4, 2024, for the latest adventure in Heartlake City, titled “Doodle Doom.”

In this captivating episode, our beloved Lego Friends face a creative conundrum. Liann, the artistic soul of the group, finds herself grappling with anger, and she decides to express her emotions through her art. However, her choice of subject takes an unexpected turn when she sketches a rather rude picture of Nova.

Trouble brews when the drawing gets released, and Liann realizes that she must race against time to track it down before Nova sets eyes on her less-than-friendly artwork. With emotions running high and creativity as their weapon, the Lego Friends embark on a mission to resolve the situation.

“Doodle Doom” promises a delightful blend of creativity, friendship, and problem-solving that will...

In the upcoming episode of “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter,” Season 1, Episode 2 titled “Fright Night,” airing at 8:00 Am on Sunday, January 28, 2024, on Disney, viewers can expect a blend of friendship and spooky adventures. Autumn, still recovering from a science experiment gone awry, decides to lift her spirits by hosting a sleepover at her barn.

Little does she know that the barn holds an unexpected twist – it’s haunted. As the Lego Friends embark on this ghostly adventure, the episode promises a mix of laughter, camaraderie, and a touch of spookiness. Disney invites viewers to join the Lego Friends as they navigate through the challenges of a “Fright Night” sleepover, bringing a perfect blend of humor and thrills suitable for all ages.

Don’t miss the fun-filled and slightly eerie escapade on Sunday morning, as “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” continues to captivate audiences with its delightful storytelling and charming Lego world.

Dive into the imaginative world of “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” with the much-anticipated Season 1 Episode 1, titled “Welcome Zac,” airing at 8:00 Am on Sunday, January 21, 2024, on Disney. The episode follows Zac, who, feeling the weight of starting anew at a different school, grapples with the pressure of meeting his classmates’ expectations.

As Zac navigates the challenges of a new environment, he finds himself unintentionally hurting a budding friendship. Viewers can expect a heartfelt storyline that delves into the themes of friendship, acceptance, and the trials that come with adapting to change, all set against the vibrant and imaginative backdrop of Lego Friends.

Tune in for a delightful morning as “Lego Friends: The Next Chapter” kicks off its journey with “Welcome Zac,” promising a blend of humor, life lessons, and the charm that the Lego universe brings to the small screen on Disney.

Release Date & Time: 8:00 Am Sunday 21 January...