Baljeet Rai, who he and what new?

Baljeet RAI - Story Editor, Screenwriter & Producer

WHO HE?

Originally hailing from Vancouver where I hosted a comedy radio show, I made the jump to Europe back in 1996 to perform sketch comedy live on London stages. I've since spent the last couple decades as a producer, screenwriter, and story editor, on many series for broadcasters worldwide including Disney, the BBC, Cartoon Network, Teletoon, Canal+, Gulli and France Télévision. I'm now based in Paris where I'm developing comedy series for kids and grown-ups, as well as writing on various network shows. When not writing I can be found wandering Paris brainstorming jokes and randomly laughing to myself. I can also be found by more traditional means:

WHAT DO?

Here is some of what I've been up to over the past 25 years...

CO-CREATOR & WRITER

Five tiny pygmy parmoset siblings protect their Tower of Plenitude, a vast tree in a sprawling city, against maurading critters who want more than their fair share. Toghether the Funky Monkey Five use their diverse skilsets to protect their world using revamped toy vehicles.

FEATURE/SERIES in Development for KIDS & FAMILIES

CO-CREATOR & WRITER

Four misfit tweens are sent to a lunar boot camp… but instead crash-land on a deserted planetoid light years away - which means no adult authority. Yay! But also that they'll have to be the adults to surive. As they come together to try and form a new fun and free society, they’ll soon learn that democracy is messy, especially with their wildly different personalities.

52x11m series in Development

LANA LONGBEARD - DEVELOPED BY, HEAD WRITER, PRODUCER, & SCREENWRITER

An action-adventure comedy set in the fantastical 10 Realms where young and impulsive Lana joins her legendary but world-weary father and his motley crew to make their world a better place as part of a Guild of adventures. They're far from the best, but they're born to quest.

52x11m series in Production - Warner Discovery, Max, Gulli Super RTL, CBC, Wildbrain

THE DOOMIES - SCREENWRITER on 4 EPISODES

A horror-comedy set in deepest, darkest Brittany, France, where two tween best friends battle demons past alongside a kick-ass terminator conjured by their hapless sorcerer guide.

26x22m series - Disney+

THE UNSTOPPABLE YELLOW YETI - STORY EDITOR & SCREENWRITER

An offbeat comedy series set in a quirky little town above the Arctic Circle, where it's winter all-year-round, and monsters are strictly forbidden, not that that stops cousins Osmo & Rita from having ridiculous adventures with their new pal, Gustav, the Yellow Yeti.

52x11m series - Disney+

CHIP 'n' DALE: PARK LIFE - SCREENWRITER on 6 EPISODES

Wild reboot of the classic chipmunk series.

36x7m series - Disney+

BOY GIRL DOG CAT MOUSE CHEESE - SCREENWRITER on 34 EPISODES

Featuring the world's most diverse family living under one roof. Have written 28 episodes for Seasons 1 & 2, including "Neighbourhood Watchdog" which won best writing for an animated series at the 2021 Irish Animation Awards in 2021, alongside co-writer, Henry Gifford.

52x11m series - BBC & Gulli

SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS - SCREENWRITER on 6 EPISODES & 2 SHORTS

Upcoming upper-preschool series starring everyone's favourite webslinger, and a few other familiar heroes from the Marvel Universe.

44x11m series - Disney Junior

I, ELVIS RIBOLDI - SCREENWRITER on 12 EPISODES

Featuring a quirky, small-town kid faced with all sorts of adventures from time travel to epic death-matches, and occasional karaoke battles. Nonsensical with a touch of social satire.

52x11m series - Cartoon Network & Canal+

FURIKI WHEELS - STORY EDITOR & SCREENWRITER

Featuring André, a hyperactive young sloth with oodles of drive, determined to be the first of his kind to explore the world on four, rubber-burning wheels. But first, he's got to get through driving school, while navigating his hard-nosed teacher, his uber-slow sloth family, and hordes of hungry carnivores roaming the roads beyond his town.

52x11m series - Disney XD & France Télévision

101 DALMATIAN STREET - SCREENWRITER

Wrote the "Power to the Puppies" screenplay for this modern, barking mad series featuring everyone's favourite dotty dogs living it up in Camden Town, London.

52x11m series - Disney+

ATOMIC PUPPET - STORY EDITOR & SCREENWRITER

Featuring a superhero transformed into a sock puppet, who can only regain his powers when stuck on his biggest fanboy's hand. Together they become Mega City's latest super-duo.

52x11m series - Disney XD, France Télévision, & Teletoon

MUTAFUKAZ - ENGLISH SCRIPT ADAPTATION

Adapting & punching up the English dialogue for this hyperkinetic, dystopian sci-fi based on Guilaume Renard's "Run" comics - featuring a pair of deadbeats with hearts, Lino and Vince, on the run from government forces and shapeshifting aliens in Dark Meat City.

Feature Film - Ankama Animations & Studio 4°C

ABRACA - BIBLE AND PILOT SCRIPTS PUNCH-UP

Polishing & punching up the bible and pilot scripts for this magical comedy featuring Firmin, a 12-year old boy whose world turns upside-down when he's forced to team up with Abraca, a teenage fairy tale cop sent on a mission to chase creatures who have snuck into the real world.

26x26m series - France Télévision - IN PRODUCTION

CALIMERO - SCRIPT ADAPTATIONS on 104 EPISODES

Adapting the English scripts and punching up dialogue for this re-imagination of the hugely popular Italian pre-school series from the 70's and 90's.

104x11m series - 3D - Gaumont Animation for Disney Jr, TF1, RAI

"NE NUSA (TWO SISTERS)" & "THE CELESTIAL ROOSTER" - AUTHOR

I adapted 13 short folk tales into English from the vanishing Limbu language of rural Nepal. These tales are part of both Nepali and Limbu cultural heritage - taking children into a world inhabited by talking animals such as jackals, elephant and leopards - stories once told by a grandmother to her grandchildren.

2 books of short stories for children.

LANFEUST QUEST - PUNCH UPS on 26 EPISODES

Polishing scripts and punching-up dialogue for this comedy-adventure based on Christophe Arleston's long-running french comic book series, "Lanfeust of Troy."

26x22m series - 3D - Disney XD, M6 France, ABC Australia

WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA - PRODUCER

Based on the acclaimed children's books by Oscar Brenifier and Jacques Després, this series follows little Hugo as he asks life's big questions, from 'what is a friend?' to 'what is infinity?' in an accessible way designed to teach critical thinking skills to preschoolers.

52x5m series - 3D - BBC, France Television, Paka Paka

Groove High Image, Zoe
dancing on stage in top hat, with cane, Scoot looking
blase

GROOVE HIGH - PRODUCER

High-School hi-jinks and a lot of heart, featuring a group of talented kids attending an elite school for the performing arts. Combines live-action & animation, for 7-12 year olds. Starring Samantha Barks & Jonathan Bailey.

26x22m series - 2D Flash & Live Action - Disney Channel

picture of Weston
Biggerstaff of Tooth and Claw

TOOTH & CLAW - CREATOR, WRITER & DIRECTOR

Weston Biggerstaff is a nature-show narrator who combines animals, alcohol and self-loathing for a truly wild wildlife series. A satirical series aimed at adults, featuring nature footage and top-notch comedy voices.

20x5m series - Live Action - Web series : www.redintoothandclaw.com

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY - SENIOR MANAGER OF PRODUCTION

Overseeing development and production for the entire Disney Channel slate of original animated series in Europe. Based in London, I was the key production point man between Disney US, Europe and external studios around the world.

2007 - 2010

LEGEND OF THE DRAGON - PRODUCTION MANAGER

Highly-rated action series featuring martial arts and superheroes who take their powers from the signs of the Chinese zodiac.

39x22m series - CBBC, Jetix

KONG: RETURN TO THE JUNGLE - PRODUCTION MANAGER

Feature Film - BKN, DVD Release

KONG: KING OF ATLANTIS - PRODUCTION MANAGER

Feature Film - Disney Jetix and Warner Brothers

THUNDERBIRDS I.R. - ASSISTANT PRODUCER

Pilot for a reboot of the classic puppet series.

5m Trailer - Puppets, models and C.G. - Carlton Television / ITV

Ministry of Mayhem,
Holly Willoughby and Steven

MINISTRY OF MAYHEM - PRODUCTION MANAGER

Pilot for a live kids show, starring Holly Willoughby & Stephen Mulhern, which won the coveted Saturday morning slot.

15m PILOT - ITV

BOUNTY HAMSTER - PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

BAFTA nominated space comedy featuring a wise-cracking bounty hunter, who's also a hamster. Won Best Animated Series at the Bradford Animation Festival 2003.

26x11m series - CITV

AAARGH! IT'S THE MR HELL SHOW - MARKETING ASSISTANT

Anarchic 3D comedy sketch series featuring the voice of the late and legendary Bob Monkhouse as Mr Hell. Won best comedy series at Houston World Fest, and picked up a Gemini and a Leo award for best animated series.

13x26m series - BBC

ONE SMALL HOP - DIRECTOR AND WRITER

My first animated film : a lo-fi sci-fi take on the Apollo Moon Landing featuring a cast of thousands...of wind-up toys. Screened at several international festivals including Berlin, Munich, Seoul, Oslo & Clermont-Ferrand. Now travelling with the British Film Council.

Short Film - Stop Motion - Channel 4, British Film Council