PBS KIDS is expanding its lineup of civics-themed content with two star-powered premieres from Future Brain Media’s City Island and Sesame Workshop. On top of these debuts, a new season of Fred Rogers Productions’ animated preschool hit Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is on the way.
Produced by Sesame Workshop, Together We Can is a collection of 20 music videos centered on a civics curriculum for young viewers. The first 10 episodes will debut July 3, with the remaining 10 premiering on August 7.
The new series features a variety of songs across multiple genres sung by a cast of kids — who are joined by celebrity guest stars Savannah Guthrie (NBC’s Today), Christopher Jackson (In the Heights, Hamilton), Hoda Kotb (NBC’s Today) and Christian Slater (Mr. Robot). Each music video encourages viewers to learn, listen, lead — and sing and dance all along the way. The videos support children in seeing themselves as active members of their communities and give them context on how our government plays a role in our everyday lives.
Debuting July 5, Season 2 of City Island, the hit PBS KIDS animated comedy shorts series, will roll out new episodes each Friday. The series stars Kimia Behpoornia (Abbott Elementary) and Kimiko Glenn (Orange Is the New Black), and the new season features guest stars such as Rosie Perez, Ali Stroker, Vanessa Bayer and Rachel Bloom.
Season 2, including 20 new shorts with 585 new characters and over 400 locations, will expand the series’ civics-centered stories to include timely topics like news media and fact-based reporting, advertising and the internet. The new season also includes two special musical episodes, “Theater Street” and “Holidays,” written by comedian Rachel Wenitsky (The Tonight Show, SNL, Story Pirates).
Little fans’ roars will also be answered this summer with the return of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood for its seventh season, featuring a brand-new format that tells stories from the points of view of Daniel’s friends. Premiering August 12, Season 7 will feature 14 episodes with exciting new interstitials plus one half-hour special.
Since its launch in 2012, the relatable Daniel Tiger has become beloved by children and parents alike as he takes viewers along on his everyday adventures in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Now, viewers will experience the perspective of other fan-favorite characters. Each half-hour will include one story from Daniel’s perspective and another from the perspective of characters including Katerina Kittycat, Miss Elaina, O the Owl, Prince Wednesday, Jodi Platypus, Max, and Chrissie.
The show’s “Imagination Moments” will also be presented from the unique perspectives of other characters to illustrate each friend’s own imaginative style.
“We’re excited that the new format will give children more opportunities to see themselves and their experiences represented as they get to know Daniel’s friends in a different way,” said Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer, Fred Rogers Productions. “Celebrating friends and neighbors is one of many ways that Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood continues the legacy of Fred Rogers.”
In addition to new songs and stories — including a helpful potty strategy tune — S7 will feature an episode where Daniel and friends wonder what’s new about Trolley. Young viewers and their families will also get to visit a new location and meet Jodi’s dad, Mr. Plat, who lives outside the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is produced by Fred Rogers Productions and 9 Story Media Group and animated by 9 Story’s award-winning animation studio, Brown Bag Films. 9 Story holds worldwide licensing and distribution rights for the series.
