PBS KIDS Announces New Series SPLASH (w.t.) Will Premiere in Fall 2016
New Multiplatform Media Property Produced by The Jim Henson Company
and Herschend Enterprises Encourages Kids to Explore Marine Biology and
Ocean Science and Builds Social-Emotional Skills
PASADENA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Television Critics Association Press Tour: In fall 2016, PBS
KIDS will premiere SPLASH (w.t.), a new animated series that
dives into marine biology and ocean science. Created by John
Tartaglia (“Imaginocean,” “Johnny and the Sprites”) and produced by The
Jim Henson Company (DINOSAUR TRAIN, SID THE SCIENCE KID) and
Herschend Enterprises (Dollywood, Harlem Globetrotters), SPLASH (w.t.)
is designed to encourage kids ages 4-7 to explore the diversity and
spectacle of our natural undersea world. The multiplatform media
property will debut on PBS stations nationwide, along with integrated
digital content.
“PBS KIDS offers high-quality media content to meet the needs of today’s
kids, sparking their curiosity and excitement about learning,” said
Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Media, PBS. “While oceans
cover the majority of the Earth’s surface, there is a profound lack of
educational media for young children that explores the science of the
fascinating world under the sea. SPLASH (w.t.) will
introduce kids to the wonders of marine biology, building science skills
and fostering an appreciation for the biodiversity that lives in our
oceans.”
SPLASH (w.t.) follows the adventures of its title
character, a yellow fusilier fish who has migrated all over the oceans
before settling down with his family in Reeftown, where he befriends
three inquisitive fellow sea creatures. Until Splash came along,
Bubbles, Dunk, Ripple and most of the other Reeftown residents had no
idea what lay beyond the cozy confines of their coral walls. Together,
Splash and his friends explore the world’s oceans, where they meet
wildly diverse marine animals and discover otherworldly undersea
habitats, bringing back what they’ve learned to share with their
neighbors.
Forty episodes of SPLASH (w.t.) will be produced, each
including two 11-minute stories full of comedy and adventure. A
production of The Jim Henson Company and Herschend Enterprises, the
series is created by John Tartaglia and executive produced by Lisa
Henson and Halle Stanford of The Jim Henson Company, Julie Phillips and
Merrill Puckett-Miller of Herschend Enterprises, as well as John
Tartaglia, Michael Shawn Lewis and Jill Shinderman. Tom Keniston is
producer and David Skelly is supervising director. The Jim Henson
Company oversees all distribution and merchandising for the property and
Herschend Enterprises administers all themed entertainment rights.
“We are so proud to bring our newest show to PBS KIDS and introduce
young audiences to meaningful ‘first friends’ we know they will love,”
said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “Reeftown is a bustling
ocean neighborhood, welcoming kids to get to know the incredible
citizens of the sea. Through the adventures of Splash and his friends,
we hope to inspire environmentalism by helping young children build
confidence in their ability to make a difference. We also hope they
develop empathy for all the creatures that share this planet with us.”
“The ocean is a fascinating and essential part of our world, yet most
kids have a very limited understanding of what it is, what lives there
and why it is so important to all of us,” said John Tartaglia, the
series creator and the performer of the show’s title character. “SPLASH
(w.t.) will engage and educate young viewers by presenting the
novelty of the ‘strange-but-true’ world of the ocean with humor and
music. Funny, character-driven songs will reinforce the show’s learning
goals, helping kids build key skills as they sing along with their
underwater friends.”
The characters, storylines and settings in SPLASH (w.t.)
are grounded in a marine biology curriculum that focuses on themes of
diversity, individuality, interconnectedness and the celebration of
learning and discovery. Created in partnership with an advisory panel of
top marine biologists, digital media innovators and preschool educators,
the series will cover a variety of foundational concepts in biology that
are relatable to the everyday lives of young children, such as home and
habitat, as well as physical and behavioral traits and differences. SPLASH
(w.t.) also introduces the concepts of ecological balance and
the importance of taking care of our oceans.
The series will emphasize important social and emotional skills, as
Splash and his friends learn about getting along in a community on the
reef. SPLASH (w.t.) aims to help children discover the
interconnectivity among all living creatures, the planet and the
relationships human beings share with them. The series will help
children and their families build an understanding of the diversity of
life that exists under the sea and build compassion for that life.
Viewers will also discover and celebrate the value of diversity overall,
as Splash and his friends explore new habitats, make new friends and
learn about all the different ways life looks and lives in the ocean. As
Splash and his friends play and explore such topics as habitats and
symbiotic relationships, viewers will discover these connections and
appreciate their importance.
SPLASH (w.t.) will offer families a multiplatform media
experience, including the on-air series, as well as interactive content
online and on mobile. A variety of SPLASH (w.t.) games,
hands-on activities and parent resources will be available online at pbskids.org,
and mobile apps from the series will be offered. The series’ digital
content, which will launch in fall 2016, will help inspire children’s
curiosity and excitement about exploring the wonders of the sea.
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. For more information on specific
PBS KIDS content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom,
or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter
and Facebook.
About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family
entertainment for 60 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator
in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators
of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and
nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy®-nominated Sid
the Science Kid, Dinosaur Train, and Pajanimals, as
well as the CG-animated preschool series Doozers and the upcoming
Netflix series for young preschoolers Word Party. Features
include Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,
as well as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and MirrorMask.
Television productions include Fraggle Rock, the sci-fi cult
series Farscape, Henson Alternative’s No, You Shut Up!
currently airing on Fusion, and the recent TV film Jim Henson’s
Turkey Hollow.
With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company
is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot,
complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. The Company is
home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building
and visual effects group with international film, television, theme park
and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the
music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class
blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment. The Company’s Henson
Alternative brand is currently touring Puppet-Up! – Uncensored, a live
puppet improvisational show.
http://www.henson.com
www.facebook.com/hensoncompany
www.twitter.com/hensoncompany
About Herschend Enterprises
Committed for more than half a century to Creating Memories Worth
Repeating®, Herschend Enterprises is the largest family-owned
attractions corporation in the U.S. Our team of more than 10,000
employees works daily to create wholesome, immersive entertainment
experiences with soul and depth for every generation. With a focus on
bringing families closer together, we create, develop and operate
entertainment, tourism and hospitality properties spanning 26 locations
in 9 states, attracting over 13 million people annually.
Today, our properties include the world famous HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS,
award-winning theme parks like SILVER DOLLAR CITY in Branson, MO and
DOLLYWOOD, our partnership with Dolly Parton in Tennessee’s Great Smoky
Mountains, top tier aquariums – NEWPORT AQUARIUM and ADVENTURE AQUARIUM,
water parks, hotels, and other highly entertaining standalone
attractions. As of Summer 2015, guests can also experience genuine
Southern hospitality and storytelling from Dolly’s front porch with a
visit to DOLLYWOOD’S DREAMMORE RESORT. For more information, visit www.hfecorp.com.
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Contacts
PBS
Maria Vera, 703-739-3225
mvera@pbs.org
or
360
Public Relations
Caitlin Melnick, 617-585-5775
cmelnick@360pr.com
