Directed by: Martin Thomas, Produced by: Angharad Elen, Production: Cwmni Da, UK, S01 26×14’and S02 26×14′ S03 13×14′ S04 10×14′, 2018-2023, Rights: World excl. Welsh Speaking UK
Popular S4C live-action preschool series, about mischievous twins who have secret superpowers. Dylan and Loli aren’t angels – by far! – they fight like cats and dogs, driving their parents up the wall! One minute they are sworn enemies, and the next they are the best of friends. There’s no saying how they’ll behave!
But Dylan and Loli have a secret – they have magical powers that nobody else in the whole wide world knows about. They can make themselves teeny tiny, just by putting their thumbs to their nose and waving their fingers (which can be a handy trick if you want to play hide-and-seek!), but even better than that, when Dylan and Loli come together and wrap their fingers together in the right way, and say the magic words – ‘Orbiliberi!’ – something incredible happens. Immediately their parents are frozen in time, A whole new world awaits, where anything is possible. The twins can fly; the trees, wind, and sun can talk; they meet unicorns and mermaids, confront dragons in Lego castles and travel to the moon in make-shift cardboard rockets…
Producer Angharad Elen says it is “a magical, adventurous drama”, drawing on the worlds of C. S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll, where children reign and rule.
Sioned Wyn Roberts, Commissioner for Children’s Content at S4C states “Deian a Loli is our biggest juggernaut [and is] the best thing I’ve commissioned in my 6 years in the job.”
Dylan and Loli got Highly Commended in the best Best Pre-school Programme at the 2019 Broadcast Awards. The judges were particularly impressed by the core message that children should be encouraged to take risks, conquer their fears and use their imaginations and ideas to solve problems. This comes after winning the Bafta Wales award 2017 for Best Children’s Programme and being nominated for Best Children’s Programme at 2021, 2019 and 2018 Bafta Wales and winning the 2021 Celtic Media Festival.
Thousands of t-shirts have been sold, a DVD has been released, an e-book produced, and a series of illustrated books have recently been commissioned: the first book was launched in Caernarfon Castle in July 2018, with tickets selling out within hours. There is a new range of merchandise currently on the market, including hoodies, sweaters, purses, and mugs. A feature film is in development as well as ongoing discussions with a theatre company about a stage production.
Nominated for the BAFTA Cymru 2021
HIGHLY COMMENDED at 2019 Broadcast Awards
