Family entertainment company Classic Media has signed on new consumer products partners in time for the US launch of Tinga Tinga Tales, which makes its Disney Junior debut on February 14.

New US-based licensees include Ravensburger (puzzles), Pressman Toy Corporation (games), and University Games (Colorforms activity products), who join master toy partner Bandai and master publishing partner Grosset & Dunlap.

The preschool series will air weekdays in the US on the new multiplatform destination for kids ages two to seven. The stories and characters will further come to life through interactive toys released by Bandai in fall 2012.

Tinga Tinga Tales is a Kenyan/British 78 episodes children’s series based on African folk tales and aimed at 4- to 6-year olds. It was commissioned by the BBC for its CBeebies channel, and by Disney Channel for its Disney Junior block. Named after the Tingatinga art from Tanzania, it was made in Kenya by a studio of about 50 people.

The series was first developed by Claudia Lloyd, head of animation at Tiger Aspect, while travelling through Africa. The first three episodes premiered on the BBC website in early February 2010. The distribution rights have been bought by Entertainment Rights.

Edward Saidi Tingatinga who started to paint in 1968 and later accepted 6 relatives as apprentices. After his sudden death in 1972 in 1976 followers of E.S. Tingatinga registered the “Tingatinga Paintings Partnership” in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. Till today this organization can be found at BRELA, the Tanzanian Business Registration and Licensing Agency. The successor of this organization of some painters is the Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society (TACS).