(Yicai Global) Oct. 16 -- Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group Holding's online video platform Youku Tudou will join hands with the UK's BBC Studios, California's Genius Brands International, and an overseas unit of US Viacom to create cross-border video content for kids.

Youku penned a memorandum of understanding with Viacom International Media Networks regarding multiyear cooperation to produce and distribute a TV series with the working title of 'Little Luban', the Hangzhou-based parent said in a statement on its website yesterday. The legend of Lu Ban is about a Chinese master builder who lived during the Zhou dynasty.

"We are looking forward to developing the project into something that kids around the world will watch with love," said Nina Hahn, senior vice president of Nickelodeon's International Production and Development division at VIMN.

Youku also agreed with BBC to deliver more than 100 hours of content from the public service broadcaster's kids channel CBeebies, including series such as Yakka Dee, My World Kitchen, My Pet and Me, and the hit Australian show Bluey.

Beijing-based Youku will also partner with Genius Brands to co-produce Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten, an animated adventure series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Editor: Emmi Laine