PBS will debut a new animated children’s series, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, early next year, the network announced today at the PBS Annual Meeting in San Diego.
The program for kids ages 3 to 5 is being produced by WGBH in Boston. It’s based on the bestselling Pinkalicious book series by author-artist Victoria Kann, which has sold 23 million copies of its 63 titles in eight languages.
Spark Photography/PBS
Dorothea Gillim, executive producer of Pinkalicious & Peterrific, announces the new program at the PBS Annual Meeting in San Diego Tuesday.
The show’s content will focus on “the creative arts and self-expression, covering areas such as music, dance and visual arts,” according to PBS. Stories follow the neighborhood adventures of artistic Pinkalicious and her brother Peter.
Linda Simensky, PBS’ VP, children’s programming, said in the announcement that “we often hear from artists that their first exposure to the arts came from PBS programming.” With the series, PBS is hoping to “encourage children across America to follow their passions and express themselves creatively, while building important skills and having fun.”
Series Executive Producer Dorothea Gillim said research shows that participating in the arts “strengthens children’s cognitive and emotional skills, and leads to higher academic performance.”
The show premieres Feb. 19, 2018. Each episode will include two 11-minute stories, a live-action interstitial and an original song. WGBH is working with animation partner Sixteen South to develop 38 half-hour episodes and an hourlong special.
A Pinkalicious & Peterrific app will also launch in 2018, along with associated games online and on the PBS Kids Games app. Episodes will also stream on video platforms.
The same producer behind WordGirl is very interesting. This ‘GBH programme will be a hit between toddlers and tweens (some of those which have a little bro or sis). A new hit of the best of Boston. And we want this programme in Latin America, on a Discovery affiliate, at least in the month of August or September 2018, so many wants to learn some thingies. And what’s about the season 10 of WGBH’s Curious George? We want this programme at least this fall on PBS, or early ’18 in Latin America. The #Pinkalicious premiere will have a coincidence at the same day, celebratin’ the 50th anniversary of the premiere of “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood,” a classic of kids’ shows on public television. Very interesting for all ‘GBH viewers and listeners. So, Gillim wants to give an interview at the Boston Public Library, at the ‘GBH studio, with Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, and previewin’ the first dual episode of this new PBS kids programme, with a special appearance of the performer of many songs for the show (during 2018 available on DVD & Blu-Ray, plus a CD with many songs — also available on digital format in platforms like Amazon and Google Play). A good way to support PBS. Even merchandisin’ with pink dresses, T-shirts, overalls (long pants, shorts or dresses) and more, including books and dolls (for boys, many of Peter’s things). Way to go, ‘GBH!!!