In partnership with PBS Kids, Grammy Award winners The Okee Dokee Brothers this month present Brambletown, an animated musical film based on their 2023 album of the same name. The story follows old friends Fox and Badger, and spotlights lessons in friendship, growth and community. The special premieres July 26.
About the film:
Brambletown explores connection and belonging — within ourselves, with each other, and with nature. The film tells the story of Fox and Badger: two lifelong friends who return to their childhood home of Brambletown, only to find that things have changed. As they grow apart, experience new hurts and navigate major disruption to their forest community, Fox and Badger learn that even in the darkest moments, they still have the power to heal.
Brambletown offers the core message that taking care of ourselves and our relationships is part of taking care of the world. Through its music and story, the film provides children and grown-ups a safe on-ramp for talking (and singing) about some of life’s toughest challenges with hope, honesty and optimism. Themes and universal messages in the film include environmental concerns, interconnection and plant and animal wisdom. Brambletown provides an honest look at life’s challenges through lightheartedness and optimism and aims to inspire a sense of gratefulness, humility, wonder and respect for the life forces that connect all things.
The 35-minute musical film was animated by Eric Power (The Storyteller, Path of Blood) in stop-motion, utilizing his hand-made, construction paper cut-out technique. The Okee Dokee Brothers’ (Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing) music draws heavily from the sounds and instrumentation of traditional folk songs; blends of banjo, trombone, harmonica, cello, pedal steel, accordion and more.
