Fremantle has acquired the global distribution rights to high-energy Japanese competition format “Ants,” where teamwork is the way to win. The format is inspired by the high-level coordination of ant colonies.
“Ants” was created and produced by Nippon TV and further developed by Fremantle North America for global expansion. The game show launched in Japan on Nippon TV, and created buzz for its playful yet physically demanding challenges, themed characters, larger-than-life set design, and engaging team-based gameplay.
Courtesy of Nippon TV
Fremantle has picked up the format for co-distribution, with Nippon TV distributing in Asia, excluding Indonesia, India and Singapore, and Fremantle distributing in the rest of the world.
In the competition, contestants are transformed to the portion of an ant in comparison with their environment. They must navigate a super-sized world to complete physical challenges that necessitate strategy thinking. From individual to group games, contestants experience larger-than-life obstacles, such as transporting mega-sized food items across a giant kitchen as fast as possible to win the cash prize, all while racing against the clock. The more items the contestants collect, the bigger the prize and while some ants will make it, others will not to tragic effect.
Jimmy Fox, exec VP, head of development and sales, unscripted at Fremantle, said he had long admired Nippon TV’s “legacy of innovative and genre defining format creation,” whether it was “Dragons Den,” which brought U.S. audiences “Shark Tank,” or “Sokkuri Sweets,” which sparked the “cake or not cake” phenomenon. “It is so rare to find a format that makes you say to yourself ‘I have never seen anything like this.’ ‘Ants’ is one of those formats,” he said.
Vasha Wallace, exec VP global acquisitions and development, global entertainment at Fremantle, said: “This show is absolute laugh out loud, hilarious and compelling viewing and as a result we have had a lot of interest in it already. ‘Ants’ blends humor with physical challenges in a way that is both engaging and fun for audiences of all ages.”
Tom Miyauchi, head of formats, Nippon TV, said: “This exciting, super-sized game show offers a unique perspective on the familiar species, highlighting the power of unity and teamwork, much like the ants themselves.”
