Apple TV+ will premiere the new stop-motion series, Shape Island, based on the internationally bestselling trilogy of Shapes picture books by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, on Friday, Jan. 20. The series will feature the voices of Yvette Nicole Brown (Disenchanted), Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), Scott Adsit (30 Rock) and Gideon Adlon (Blockers), Shape Island premieres globally Friday, January 20.
Described as clever, funny and inspiring, the new stop-motion animated series invites viewers to visit the charming island and join serious Square, intrepid Circle and tricky Triangle on their silly adventures as they dig up some fun, search for answers and build on their friendship — all while learning how to navigate each other’s differences.
Shape Island shows kids that friendship can take many shapes.
The series was co-created by authors Barnett and Klassen, who serve as executive producers alongside Emmy Award-winning Bix Pix Entertainment’s Kelli Bixler and Drew Hodges (Tumble Leaf). Ryan Pequin serves as co-executive producer and head writer.
The kids & families slate at Apple TV+ this month also features the return of preschool puppet series Helpsters Season 3 with brand-new episodes premiering Friday, January 6. The recipient of a Parents’ Choice Gold Medal Award and Common Sense Media Award, Helpsters follows Cody and his team of vibrant monsters who love to solve problems: Whether it’s planning a party, climbing a mountain or mastering a magic trick, the Helpsters can figure anything out — because everything starts with a plan.
Guest stars for the new batch of episodes include Emmy winner Andrea Martin (Evil), Emmy winner John Oliver (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver), Emmy nominee Tami Sagher (Search Party), Nathan Lee Graham (Zoolander), Mario Cantone (And Just Like That), Grammy nominee Rebecca Naomi Jones (Genius), Johnathan Fernandez (Gossip Girl), Eugene Cordero (Loki), Maulik Pancholy (Only Murders in the Building), Sunita Mani (Spirited), Emmy nominee Ikechukwu Ufomadu (ZIWE), Emmy and Grammy nominee Margaret Cho (Fire Island), Grammy nominee Alex Newell (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), Rebecca Henderson (Russian Doll), Grammy and Tony nominee Ephraim Sykes (Ain’t Too Proud), Emmy nominee Jackie Hoffman (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery), Danny Pudi (Mythic Quest), Shannon Devido (Difficult People) and more, as well as musical guests Grammy nominee Blood Orange, Blanco Brown, Jensen McRae and Grammy nominee Syd.
Emmy Award winner and Parents’ Choice Gold Medal winner Tim McKeon (Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends: Destination Imagination, Odd Squad) is the creator and showrunner of Helpsters. McKeon, Benjamin Lehmann, Adam Peltzman, Eileen Braun and Sesame Workshop’s Executive Vice President of Creative & Production, Kay Wilson Stallings, are executive producers.
