Portfolio presents "Where Oliver Fits: A Christmas Eve Tale" Special, Shorts

Portfolio Entertainment's award-winning animation studio, in partnership with Corus Entertainment's CMF / SRF Digital Animated Series and Treehouse TV program, has produced a brand new family Christmas special, Where Oliver Fits: A Christmas Eve Tale, and an accompanying series of 9 x 2,5 'short films based on the famous Canadian children's book Where Oliver fits by Cale Atkison. The special and heartfelt animated comedy series explore the challenges of not knowing where you are with your friends and how to be yourself.

Portfolio Entertainment holds the global distribution rights to both the special and the series, which are available for distribution beginning in the spring of 2021.

Aimed at kids ages 3 to 7, the half-hour special features Oliver, a small piece of a puzzle about a loving family who is happy, outgoing and perhaps a little too focused on what they want over the needs of others. When Oliver finds himself separated from his family in Santa's workshop one Christmas Eve, he quickly learns that the world away from his family isn't that easy to understand. Fortunately, Oliver encounters other lost toys on his adventure and realizes that each of us is different - we have different abilities, tastes, abilities, shapes, differences in many things! When Oliver slows down and discovers his new friends' needs, he discovers he is just a small piece in a much larger world. By working together, Oliver and the toys are able to find their way back to Santa's sleigh, where they reunite with the family and fly away to bring the joy of Christmas to children around the world.

The short film series follows Oliver's adventures in the playroom where he lives with his family. Here, playing is a daily activity and Oliver wants to participate in whatever his friends are doing, he wants to do everything! Oliver will show that with a little resilience, we can find ways to be with others and participate in many different adventures, especially when you agree with who you are. And that's what it is Where Oliver fits It's all based on!

In addition to being a playful comedy, the series will focus on developmental learning in relation to a preschooler's social interactions with their peers and the skills that can help them be successful in integrating with others. Where Oliver fits seeks to celebrate the differences between all of us and show that even if we can't do it all, we can all find ways to have fun and grow through interactions with our peers.

“As we move towards the reopening of the world and people all over the world reuniting with friends and family, this is the perfect time to launch this new and promising special holiday about the joy of finding your place in a world full of others. who have their own unique tastes, interests and talents, ”said Donnie MacIntyre, Portfolio's VP of Sales & Business Development. "Oliver's adventurous spirit and proactive attitude are just what children will be looking for during the holiday season."

The series will be accompanied by an online game, titled The Puzzle Party where Oliver fits. Parents and teachers will find a downloadable activity booklet on the Treehouse.com website. Along with a variety of activities and coloring pages, this booklet will be an excellent resource for parents to help guide discussions with their children on how to find your shape; just like Oliver.

The children's book Where Oliver fits it was first published in 2017 and received critical acclaim. It was named "Best Children's Book" by the Canadian Children's Book Center in 2018.