Two Hollywood heavyweights have signed up with UK multi-media company Galleon Holdings PLC to bring a major new animated series to life.

One of the OGGIES, Fistral Freddie was created by Newquay school children

Ex-Disney producer Chris Henderson and Emmy-award winning writer Carter Crocker will work on the production of Oggies - a children's cartoon series featuring extreme sports stars that surf, skate board and mountain bike.

Oggies comes from the same stable as 1980s hit series The Shoe People. The idea came from St Ives businessman Vincent Walker and has been developed and co-created by Galleon Chairman Jim Driscoll and Rob Lee, who also created one of this country's most popular children's cartoon series, the BBC's Fireman Sam.

Lenny Zennor strums out a groovy tune

Chris Henderson, a producer on Disney's 101 Dalmations, said: "Oggies is a really exciting project to be involved with - it is a great concept, has unique characters and the potential to be a hit with children across the world. I am looking forward very much to work with Jim and his team again."

Chris previously worked with Jim on the series Astro Knights, which is set to be premiered at MIPTV in Cannes this year. Chris's credits include four years as a Disney producer, also working on Hercules and Hunchback of Notre Dame II. His most recent work for Scholastic and Warner Brothers, animated feature film Clifford's Really Big Movie, is due for release later this month.

Jessie Stevens is always on hand with some 'energy food'!

Carter, who has received two Emmy Awards for writing 'New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh', also worked on Clifford The Big Red Dog, Peter Pan II Return to Neverland and The Jungle Book 2.

Together Chris and Carter have a combined total of over 20 years of Hollywood experience. Oggies will be previewed at the MIPTV Festival in Cannes in April this year and is set to be broadcast in 2005.

Carter Crocker said: "This series has everything to make it a huge animation success. It is right for the American market and a breath of fresh air that both Chris and I are delighted and excited to be working on."

A very cool 'Elvis' OGGIE

Jim Driscoll MBE, Chairman of Galleon Holdings PLC, said: "These are two major signings and confirms my belief that in Oggies we have something really special.

"There has been a positive response to Oggies in the US, and the addition of Chris and Carter gives us an extremely talented and highly respected production team.

"The series sets out to encourage children to get fitter while having fun. Extreme sports are increasingly popular with youngsters, and also a great way of helping tackle serious issues such as child obesity - an ever increasing problem both here and in the USA."

Fistral Freddie is now the face of the BSA's Unleashed Surfing School

The animation will be produced by China-based Colorland Studios whose President Louis Sek worked with Jim in the late 80's on The Shoe People. The entire project team has a combined total of over 500 hours of TV production.

The series consisting of 26 x 11-minute shows is now in pre-production. Some 30 characters will feature throughout the series with more to be added as the show progresses.

Surf Australia and the British Surfing Association (BSA) have signed agreements to use Oggie characters to encourage children to the sport and to surf safely. The BSA launched the Fistral Freddie Surf Academy for children in June 2003 and Surf Australia will launch the Bondi Bruce Surf Academy in June 2004.

The Metropolitan Police in conjunction with Crime Stoppers also launched a Safer Surfing on the internet initiative in October 2003 featuring Oggie Superhero Fistral Freddie.