It’s a Big, Big World, a preschool science series from Mitchell Kriegman, promises to be the next big thing for PBS Kids. The series, which will launch with a major promotional push in January, “was an inspiration to us when we thought about what PBS Kids can be,” said John Wilson, PBS co-chief programmer, during the PBS Showcase meeting in Las Vegas.
Kriegman, Emmy-winning creator of Disney’s Bear in the Big Blue House and Nickelodeon’s Clarissa Explains It All, unveiled the series during an April 12 [2005] breakfast at the PBS conference. “From my point of view, I’ve arrived in my career” by bringing to PBS a competitive show that will help children learn and grow, he said.
Kriegman began developing the concept after 9/11. “I wanted to create a show that helps parents and kids feel good about the world,” he said.
It’s a Big, Big World conveys a life-science curriculum and introduces world music through the songs of Red-Eyed Tree Frogs who live in the World Tree, home of the central character, Snook, a cuddly giant tree sloth — an “active” sloth, PBS said. The first 40 half-hour episodes go into production this summer, with a sneak preview of two or three episodes around Labor Day, according to Karen Fritz, station relations executive for presenting station WETA in Washington, D.C.
Kriegman wowed his breakfast audience with a clip from Sizzling Kung Fu Mice, an HD film he directed using Shadowmation, a visually lush production technique combining Bun Raku, an ancient form of Japanese puppetry, with computer-generated animation and virtual sets. He’ll use the technique to bring to life marmoset monkey siblings, a bossy bird and a wise ancient turtle, among other It’s a Big, Big World characters. Oko, a prankster monkey puppet, pounced on Kriegman’s head and professed his love for Las Vegas, Wayne Newton and WETA.
Producers plan a national outreach program to parents and children, an extensive promotion campaign and an interactive and educational website to kick off the series. Sony Pictures Consumer Products is developing a licensing program that includes toys, books and interactive products.