EXCLUSIVE: WildBrain Heads to Annecy with First Look at Strawberry Shortcake and Peanuts

WildBrain is heading to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival with a slate of new content reveals, including a first look at the upcoming Apple Original Films feature Snoopy Unleashed and new Strawberry Shortcake programming for global buyers.

As part of Annecy’s official Work in Progress panel June 24, filmmakers will present early footage and creative insights from Snoopy Unleashed, the new Peanuts feature produced by Peanuts Worldwide and WildBrain for Apple Original Films. The panel includes producer Bonnie Arnold, director Steve Martino, executive producer Paige Braddock, production designer Tom Cardone, and WildBrain head of global animation Scott Carroll. The film follows Snoopy after he runs away, prompting Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang to embark on a journey in search of their favorite beagle.

Alongside the feature presentation, WildBrain Content Sales brings a broad animation slate to the Marché International du Film d’Animation (MIFA), led by new Strawberry Shortcake content plus returning titles such as The Snoopy Show, Snoopy in Space, and Camp Snoopy, alongside other programming such as Zip and the Tiny Sprouts and L’il Stompers.

The company is unveiling Strawberry Shortcake’s Bake Shop, a CG-animated short-form series centered on Strawberry Shortcake and her friends as they run a whimsical bake shop filled with creative desserts and friendship-driven stories. The series is set to debut later this year.

WildBrain will also showcase The Berry Best Baking Show, a hybrid CG/live-action series designed to encourage shared cooking experiences between kids and families. 

“With Strawberry Shortcake, we’re creating a true multi-platform franchise, expanding the content footprint across both short-form and long-form storytelling,” says Ben Peace, executive vice president, franchise at WildBrain. “That includes everything from minisodes to lo-fi videos to lifestyle-driven formats like baking content, with each format playing a role in how fans discover, engage with, and spend time with the brand.”

Both of Strawberry Shortcake’s shows are on YouTube: “YouTube is a key platform for us because it allows us to be always-on and responsive to audience behavior,” Peace explains. “It also enables us to build a continuous relationship with viewers, rather than relying on a single format or release window. That consistency is what helps drive both awareness and deeper engagement over time, particularly with younger audiences on YouTube Kids.”

Licensed products are one part of Strawberry Shortcake’s future: “We’re looking at how toys can connect to the broader content and storytelling universe to create a more cohesive play experience,” Peace shares. “We’ve already seen great success through collaborations like our L.O.L. Surprise! partnership with MGA Entertainment, which had strong sales worldwide, as well as our work with Jazwares’ BumBumz. …We’ll be expanding the collection later this year with an all-new launch on Amazon.” 

Strawberry Shortcake has more in her future than plush and collectibles, though. “Beyond toys, there’s a strong opportunity in adjacent categories that naturally align with the brand, particularly in consumables and lifestyle,” Peace adds. “You only have to look at Strawberry and her berry besties — Orange Blossom, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Tart, Lemon Meringue, Lime Chiffon, Apple Dumpling, and Huckleberry Pie — to see how naturally the brand extends into areas like food and fragrance.”

Soon, fans can find her beyond department stores and the toy aisle. “Our focus is on continuing to scale Strawberry Shortcake as a truly global, evergreen franchise, with a connected strategy across content, consumer products, and experiences.” 

The beloved character has a bright, cross-generational future, and WildBrain is taking her past and future into account at every step. “Strawberry Shortcake has always been rooted in timeless ideas like sweetness, optimism, and friendship, which naturally carry across generations,” Peace says. “What feels especially relevant right now is the way audiences are rediscovering and reinterpreting those qualities through a modern lens, particularly as nostalgia continues to influence culture.” 

To that end, WildBrain considered her history in the character’s redesign. While CG animation may be new to the character, her design, thankfully, is not. “Our approach has been to honor what people already love about Strawberry Shortcake while thoughtfully refreshing it for today’s audiences,” Peace shares. “By doing that, we’re able to engage young kids discovering her for the first time, while also reconnecting with Generation Z and millennial fans who have a nostalgic emotional connection to the brand.”

Buyers can visit WildBrain at the Canada Pavilion at booth No. D.02 during MIFA or contact the company’s sales team for additional information. Annency International Film Festival runs June 21-27. 

Learn more at wildbrain.com.