Today at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, PBS Kids announced the new animated series LUNA AROUND THE WORLD, produced by 9 Story Media Group and created by Emmy Award-winning animator, writer and artist Joe Murray (Rocko's Modern Life, Camp Lazlo). This new multiplatform series will debut nationwide in fall 2018 on PBS stations, the new 24/7 PBS Kids channel and PBS Kids digital platforms. With a social studies curriculum, LUNA AROUND THE WORLD will encourage kids ages 4-7 to explore and appreciate cultures from all over the world, and build global citizenship and social skills.
"Our approach with LUNA AROUND THE WORLD is to offer engaging stories and adventures that are fun, developmentally appropriate and align with our whole-child approach to content," said Linda Simensky, Vice President, Children's Programming, PBS. "Luna is a trusted guide who will encourage children to learn about the world beyond their own neighborhoods. The series seeks to foster an appreciation for cultural diversity, developing social and civic skills and promoting global stewardship."
LUNA AROUND THE WORLD follows the adventures of three friends - Leo, a wombat from Australia; Carmen, a butterfly from Mexico; and Andy, a frog from the U.S. - as they traverse the globe with their parents' traveling performance troupe, "Circo Fabuloso." At each of the Circo's stops, Luna the moon guides the trio as they experience the local language, music and daily life. The gang's adventures take them across continents - from London to Cairo to Beijing - where they explore the food, architecture and other features that make each region unique.
"LUNA AROUND THE WORLD is designed to ignite kids'
CURIOSITY about the world and inspire them to learn about the many different cultures that call it home," said series creator Joe Murray. "Through this show, my goal is to give all children the opportunity to explore cultures other than their own, and to learn about the similarities that unite all of us - through challenges that kids can relate to, with the universal language of laughter woven into each story."
LUNA AROUND THE WORLD brings an innovative approach to social studies for young viewers. The series takes kids on an informative and imaginative exploration of global culture to make connections between communities all over the world, integrating concepts of anthropology, history, ecology, geography, sociology and economics.
"We are thrilled to be working with
PBS Kids and the incredibly talented Joe Murray to bring LUNA AROUND THE WORLD to life," said Vince Commisso, President & CEO of 9 Story Media Group. "We've had the pleasure of working with
PBS Kids over the years on several shows, including DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD, PEG + CAT,
WILD KRATTS and NATURE CAT, and it's exciting to take our partnership to the next level. The
PBS Kids team is best-in-class at what they do, and showcasing LUNA AROUND THE WORLD across their various platforms will have tremendous reach with kids."
Along with the television series, LUNA AROUND THE WORLD will offer digital content for kids, parents and teachers, debuting in fall 2018. LUNA AROUND THE WORLD games will be available at pbskids.org and on the free
PBS Kids Games App, along with clips and full episodes streaming across
PBS KIDS' video platforms, including the free
PBS Kids Video App. A LUNA AROUND THE WORLD app will also launch after the series' debut. Parent resources, including tips and hands-on activities to extend the learning at home, will be available on the
PBS Parents site, and
PBS LearningMedia will offer classroom-ready materials for teachers, including video excerpts, games, teaching tips and printable activities.
Each episode of LUNA AROUND THE WORLD will include two 11-minute stories as well as interstitial content - including live-action segments about arts and cultures, and animated folktales and songs. The series is currently in production of 38 half-hour episodes and a one-hour special.
9 Story Distribution International is managing the distribution and merchandising rights for LUNA AROUND THE WORLD worldwide outside Canada.
About
PBS Kids PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital platforms and community-based programs. Kidscreen- and Webby Award-winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video.
PBS Kids also offers mobile apps to help support young children's learning. The
PBS Kids Video App is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox One and Chromecast.
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