So what is our Scooter News Network? Scooter News Network (SNN) is a series of children's television pilots featuring our beloved character, Scooter D. Pup. . .
What
began as a lark at the 2014 Licensing Expo has turned into a pilot for
children’s TV, and we've been gaining momentum for the past year! Scooter News Network (SNN) will be presented for the first time
at Licensing Expo 2015 through a partnership between Tails of Whimsy and SaviRanch Studios. The TV pilot providesfun
and factualcontent with puppet
Scooter D. Pup as a news anchor presenting features and stories relating to
animal rescue and care worldwide.
SNN’s format would be considered a cross between a nightly
news cast combined with interview segments such as seen on the Today Show.
Regular features include: Health, Sports, Celebrity Animal and Book Reports as
well as cooking and crafts features, all with Scooter the puppet as news
broadcaster and Roshelle Baier as co-anchor.
Check out a collection of some of our Scooter News Network pilots:
An Introduction to Scooter News Network
Book Report: Louise Loves Art by Kelly Light
Cook's Corner: Scooter Makes Hot Pink Hummus
Celebrity Repor: Cosmo the Dog Runs for President
Crafts Report: Scooter Makes DIY Heart Stamps
And if you'll be attending Licensing Expo 15, come find us at Booth G21. Scooter will be there, and he's eager to wag his tail with you!
We’re excited to offer our illustrated manuscripts as
well as services to independents seeking:
Art
Illustration
Content
Design
Character creation
Editorial services
Meet some of our Tails of Whimsy Storybook Studio characters:
Scooter and Boots
Scooter the dog and Boots the cat are dedicated to
helping homeless pets find forever homes. The Scooter and Boots brand was born
in the licensing arena, and the engaging characters have already been warmly
received by production studios as pilots for TV. Check out the Scooter News Network (SNN) for news segments on
cooking, reading, animal rescue, crafts, and more!
And join Scooter and Boots on Facebook, where they shine a light on pet rescue, reading, and the
awesome community of pet-lovers worldwide.
The Mighty Machines of Mackie McKeens (M4) Mackie McKeens is a cuddly, industrious bear in green overalls. In his massive high-tech workshop he builds remarkable “mighty” machines for any use. Appealing to inquisitive children with imagination and
whimsy, Mackie gets kids thinking early with his high-tech machines that solve
problems with such efficiency that your immediate response is, “Why didn’t I
think of that?” Helping him construct machines for land, sea and sky is his daredevil pilot Mika (his sister) and a crew of zany mini-robots.
Book Mytes
The Book Mytes are little creatures who LOVE to read.
They’re so tiny that they live inside books, and they borrow words from those books
to create their own stories. From sailing moonlit seas to spelling with a T-Rex, the Book Mytes make reading an adventure. Ask Daryl and Louise about Book Mytes and where
they’re heading next!
. . .
Meet the
Tails of Whimsy Storybook Studio leadership team:
Daryl Slaton is an
artist with theatrical training and a great sense of humor. With years of work
experience in all forms of media, Slaton embraces Tails of Whimsy with a full range of creative talents: art,
illustration, animation, graphics and more.
Joe Rhatigan is a pro in
children’s book publishing. With years of experience in writing, editing and
book packaging, Joe’s talents range from
finding just the right word to finding all the right words, from developmental
editing to project management.
Louise
Glickman is a writer and designer with a marketing background. Glickman also brings business management skills to Tails of Whimsy having owned a
nationally known public relations company.
Find Tails of Whimsy Storybook Studio -- and Scooter the puppet! -- at BEA Booth 760.
We here at Tails of Whimsy Storybook Studio wish everyone a very Happy Memorial Day, and we celebrate the lives of the men, women, and animals who have served our country with great honor.
Who loves hummus? Scooter does! Join Scooter as he makes
pink hummus (yes, pink!) for his good friend Boots in this latest Scooter News
Network video. With just a few simple ingredients, you (and your kiddos) can
whip up this recipe in no time. Hello tasty puppy platter – er, we mean party
platter! .
.
Here’s the recipe for Hot Pink Hummus, which Scooter made
from Barbara Beery’s cookbook, “Pink Princess Party Cookbook." Learn more about Barbara Beery at Foodie Kids.
(Psst: Tail wag alert -- this hummus recipe is
gluten-free and vegan, which makes it
fun AND healthy!)
Hot Pink Hummus
Recipe – makes about 2 cups
Ingredients:
2 cups canned chick peas, drained and rinsed
2-3 medium sized beets, cooked or roasted, coarsely
chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed
3 tablespoons lemon juice
¼ cup water
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon sweet paprika
Garnish: Olive oil and flat leaf parsley
Instructions:
1.Place chickpeas and chopped beets in the food processor
along with the garlic, lemon juice, and water. Process mixture for about one
minute. Add more water if needed to form a smooth and creamy consistency.
2. Add cumin and paprika and blend another 30 seconds to
combine all ingredients.
3. Garnish with oil and parsley. Serve with sliced
cucumber, carrots, or other favorite veggies.
Daryl
was recently interviewed by J’Net Smith, the ART licensing coach behind All Art Licensing, and he enjoyed talking
about the origin of Scooter & Boots, how our concepts have evolved, and
where Scooter & Boots are heading next. (Spoiler alert! We’re developing a
storybook studio and getting into children’s publishing!)
J’net Q:Many
of my readers are interested in developing characters and character-based
properties. I have been representing the publishing aspect of BrokenHeart Pets Rescue. Can you tell us a little
bit about the characters? Daryl A:Scooter,
the dog, and his sidekick Boots, the cat, were once homeless but have now found
loving, “fur-ever” families. They wear a broken heart emblem on their chests in
solidarity with other homeless animals and their whimsical stories focus on
ways to rescue and protect them. I have written the story and created the
character art. My partner (and wife) Louise Glickman is a writer and designer
with a public relations and marketing background, and also brings business
management skills to Tails of Whimsy.
Q:How did
the concept for Scooter and Boots get created?
A:Louise
is from New Orleans and, though we now live in Asheville, NC, we had both given
time to saving animals in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The head of the non-profit Louisiana SPCA and hundreds of volunteers developed ways to save over 9,000
pets and were able to return over half of them to their original homes! We were
honored when they asked us to create something “special” to thank the
volunteers for their efforts Christmas of 2005. Thus,Scooter and Boots first appeared as animation on the Louisiana SPCA's website.However,
they didn’t surface again until we needed one extra banner for our Licensing
Expo booth in 2013!
Q:How have
you developed the market for two key characters? A:It
feels like Scooter and Boots have become late-in-life children for us. We talk
about them daily and have been fortunate enough to tailor them into a portfolio
of products that bring their stories to life.
In January 2014 we decided that we needed to test market them
by building a fan base on social media. We had Scooter made into a puppet and
began posting images of him around town as well as creating cartoon posts of
both characters. We now have over 10,000Facebookfans and remain active on Twitter, LinkedIn and onour blog.
Q:How have
the characters and story evolved based on your ideas vs market needs?
A:After
exhibiting our first time at Licensing Expo 2013, our initial feedback was that
our story of homeless pets was “just too sad.” People loved the characters but
despite repeated attempts to show the upbeat side of the Scooter and Boots’
back story, licensees and publishers remained unconvinced.
At Licensing Expo 2014, we brought puppet Scooter to “meet”
visitors to our booth. The truth is, you can get away with a whole lot when you
speak through the voice of a puppet.
On a whim, Scooter did a short interview with ArtMoose, a production studio. I was curled up
under the desk performing as Scooter, but I’m not a puppeteer. For a first time
try, we got a huge response. A group gathered and applauded when the interview
ended and an entertainer with her manager came by and asked Scooter to come to
Sacramento for a show (which he did last August). But best of all, we partnered
with ArtMoose to create a TV pilot called “Scooter News Network.” It’s ready to
show to networks, sponsors and underwriters at Licensing Expo 2015. Scooter
will be also doing “live” broadcasts this year at the ArtMoose booth.
Q:Why do
you think your characters are different and unique? A:I
have thought long and hard about the voices of Scooter and Boots. To our
knowledge, there isn’t another whimsical property that is so focused on finding
homes for animals and on care and conservation worldwide. The trick has been to
keep their humor and character intact, delivering their targeted message but
still staying funny and fun. They are more entertainment than education and we
always have to balance their voice carefully as well as keep it focused on our
target audience of children 3-9.
Between 5 and 7 million companion animals enter shelters
nationwide every year, and only 1 out of 10 dogs born ever find a home. Stray
cats alone may be as high as 70 million annually in the U.S.
Q:What has
surprised you both most about this journey?
A:Two
things, really.
First and foremost, how long it takes to monetize a property
after you’ve developed a character. A good part of my commercial art career was
built on my ability to create characters for corporate branding and that I was
an early champion of doing this digitally. I’m very quick and experienced at
adapting them for illustrations, ads, trade show displays and animation. This
comes naturally to me but creating the character is the simplest part of the
licensing and publishing game. What counts most is what you do with them and
how you can market them to publishers, agents, studios and distributors. Also,
staying focused on your audience and message.
.
Secondly, and speaking broadly (there are always exceptions),
characters are virtually nothing without their stories. Even though I’ve had a
bit of success in licensing some character art (without a story), the biggest
responses have been to my story-driven characters. Basically, if you have a
story to tell then publishing goes hand-in-hand with licensing. Even with our
positive response at Licensing Expo and sound advice from agents and
consultants, we’ve had to learn two industries from the inside out! For the first time, we will do both Book Expo America and LicensingExpo this year. We’re keeping our fingers crossed to get noticed, get
published, and get signed contracts!
Q:Why do you keep persisting to get more
exposure and fans for Scooter and Boots? What drives you both? A:We
love Scooter and Boots and our other properties, too. But we have to prove
their commercial viability to get a deal. Publishers, licensees and
manufacturers insist on credibility and exposure before they are willing to
commit to new licensors. In discussions and proposals, I want to show that I am
more than just a character designer and storyteller. My wife has a marketing
background and we have resourced additional talent to our company who bring
editorial services and social media skills to our mix. In this respect, we want
to make publishers and licensees aware that by working with Tails of Whimsy,
they are getting art, stories and savvy business partners.
What drives me? This is what I do. I love creating
characters and their stories. It’s that simple. I like the idea of making
people smile.
Q:What’s
the most important piece of advice you have received regarding Scooter and
Boots’ BrokenHeart Pets Rescue? A:Be
patient and stick with it. To get from character to contract in licensing, it
takes a whole lot of drive as well as financial commitment.
What began as a lark at last year’s Licensing Expo has
turned into a pilot for children’s TV. Scooter News Network (SNN) will be
presented for the first time at Licensing Expo 2015 in Las Vegas and Book Expo in NYC through a
partnership between Tails of Whimsy and Savi Ranch Studios. The pilot providesfun and factualcontent with puppet Scooter D. Pup as a news anchor presenting
features and stories relating to animal rescue and care worldwide. It is an extension of Scooter and Boots' BrokenHeart Pets Rescue books.
How is it that a young company like Tails of Whimsy determines
to bring print characters to life as puppets? A little over one year ago, Daryl
and I decided that in order to attract notice on social media, we would have to
show the audience more than cartoon characters. No matter how cute Scooter and
Boots are, you just couldn’t “hear their voice” or message about rescuing and
caring for animals. So we asked the fabulous Lisa Sturz of Red Herring Puppets
in Asheville to build us a puppet.The puppet was to be used for on-the-street interviews in video and
photos to post on Face Book.
The Scooter puppet was designed and produced by Lisa Sturz of Red Herring Puppets
We knew that the cost of the puppet was nothing compared to
hiring a professional puppeteer every time we used it. So we have started with
Scooter but Boots should be coming sometime later this year.
Marc Garabedien, the brain behind Savi Ranch, built his own
studio last year at Licensing Expo 2014 at the request of Advanstar, the company that manages the trade show. This was a savvy step to bring added marketing value to
Art and Design exhibitors like Tails of Whimsy who show at LE. Daryl was interviewed on air
about Scooter and Boots seeking their fur-ever homes. Then, Tails of Whimsy
challenged Savi Ranch to actually tape an interview with Scooter the puppet
presenting “himself” as a character and property. That’s Daryl, under the desk,
performing as Scooter!
Scooter's first interview at Licensing Expo 2014
Scooter proved to be very popular, gathering a crowd of
enthusiastic onlookers and loud claps when the interview was completed. The spirited
on-air exchange between Scooter D. Pup and interview co-host Roshelle Baier
brought discussions post-show as to ways to capitalize on this lively and
unlikely coupling of person and puppet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qRq2jIvoUw
SNN’s format would be considered a cross between a nightly
news cast combined with interview segments such as seen on the Today Show.
Regular features include: Health, Sports, Celebrity Animal and Book Reports as
well as cooking and crafts features, all with Scooter as a puppet and news
broadcaster. Roshelle Baier will co-anchor.
Scooter with co-host Roshelle Baier in their studio at Savi Ranch Studios in Anaheim
Scooter
and Boots’ BrokenHeart Pets Rescue has extended its brand this past
year to books and an animated TV series in addition to the live-action SNN. It
is well positioned for licensing and is actively seeking licensees. Publishers,
network and entertainment reps are particularly welcome to Tails of Whimsy’s
booth at G21 in Art and Design and at Booth 760 in the Publishing Discovery Zone at Book Expo to personally meet Scooter and his energetic
“handler,” artist and creator Daryl Slaton.
For a
Sneak Peek at Scooter News Network, a portion of the TV pilot may be found at:
Scooter hosts Scooter News Network. The intro gives background and other reports follow: Health, Sports, etc.
