Knee High Spies are on the case in Victoria

Jeremy Button and friends on the set of the new series Knee High Spies. Photo by Olivia Peniston-Bird.

VicScreen, ABC, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and Screen Australia have announced that filming is underway in Melbourne on the new children’s series Knee High Spies. 

From the award-winning team at Werner Film Productions (Dance Academy) and internationally successful creator Tim Bain (Kangaroo Beach), the series is set to showcase an incredible mix of puppetry, VFX and live action performances. 

Across the series, teddy bear Jeremy Buttons and his ragtag team of toy spies must race the clock to save their human family from the mischievous schemes of Machiavellian pet guinea pig, Silver Paw.  

Knee High Spies brings together a fresh cast of newcomers alongside favourite performers including Christie Whelan Browne, Mark Samual Bonanno and Ali McGregor. The series is directed by Jack Jameson (Sesame Street) and produced by Nicole Minchin (Fisk). 

Featuring fast-paced action, epic missions, interactive puzzle-solving and cuddly, loveable toys, the series will captivate preschool children and their families.   

Knee High Spies will create 160 job opportunities for Victorian screen workers, including upskilling and professional development opportunities in direction, props/puppetry and visual effects, and will inject $6.2 million directly into the Victorian economy.  

Knee High Spies was supported through VicScreen’s Victorian Production Fund and will premiere on ABC Kids and ABC iview in 2025.   

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “VicScreen is thrilled to support Tim Bain and the team to bring Knee High Spies to life. With its distinctive mix of live-action and puppetry, this imaginative new series promises to captivate young audiences. We are proud to continue to back quality children’s entertainment and support the Victorian screen industry to bring this terrific new show to the screens.” 

Executive Producer Joanna Werner said, “We are so delighted to be in production for our most technically ambitious production to date, the wonderful preschool series created by Tim Bain, Knee High Spies.  Walk around suited puppets, hand puppets, stunt double toys, animatronics, action and VFX, this show has it all and at the heart of it are gorgeous characters who we hope our young audience will fall in love with.  We have a brilliant cast and crew led by director Jack Jameson and producer Nicole Minchin, and together with the ABC, ACTF, Screen Australia and VicScreen we can’t wait for everyone to see the series."   

ABC Acting Head of Children and Family, Mary-Ellen Mullane said, “This is such a wonderfully fresh action-comedy preschool show. We love the way the team is playing with genre and form. Knee High Spies is a sophisticated, ambitious offering, bringing together one of the best teams working in preschool content production on the planet right now.” 

ACTF Head of Content Bernadette O’Mahony said, “From Tim’s very first pitch, Knee High Spies had us hooked. It was original, relatable, clever and funny. Kids around the world are going to love Jeremy, Silver Paw and their friends as they have their own adventures in the family home, right under the noses of their young owners!” 

Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content Louise Gough said, “From a powerhouse team with a strong track record of delivering captivating children’s content, Knee High Spies has all the ingredients to inspire a new generation of little investigators! Pre-schoolers will delight in the action-packed adventures of Jeremy Buttons and his ragtag toy team as they solve puzzles and crack codes in this distinctive series.”  

Learn more about VicScreen's Victorian Production Fund.