Produced by WGBH Boston and Based on the Best-Selling Books, New Multiplatform Media Property Encourages Kids to Explore the Creative Arts and Self-expression
On February 19, 2018, PBS KIDS will premiere PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC (watch a sneak peek here), a new animated series that will encourage children to explore the arts and spark creativity. Produced by WGBH Boston and based on the best-selling HarperCollins Pinkalicious book series by Victoria Kann, this new multiplatform media property will be available nationwide on PBS stations, the new 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms. Designed for children ages 3-5, PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC encourages kids to engage in the creative arts and self-expression, covering areas such as music, dance and visual arts.
PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC follows the adventures of Pinkalicious and her brother Peter. Pinkalicious imagines creative possibilities everywhere she looks. She is an artist at heart—and, like most creative people, she sees the world differently from others. She knows what she likes, and she’s not afraid to express herself—though she sometimes needs help from her brother, Peter, and her neighborhood friends.
“PBS stations are a go-to destination for the arts in their communities across the country; we often hear from artists that their first exposure to the arts came from PBS programming,” said Linda Simensky, Vice President, Children’s Programming, PBS. “We are thrilled to build on our commitment to the arts with a PBS KIDS series entirely dedicated to the arts and creativity. Through PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC, we hope to encourage children across America to follow their passions and express themselves creatively, while building important skills and having fun.”
PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC is designed to help preschool-age children explore the arts and creativity. “Research shows that participating in the arts strengthens children’s cognitive and emotional skills, and leads to higher academic performance,” said series Executive Producer Dorothea Gillim. “Kids will simply connect with the great characters Pinkalicious and Peter, and their friends Jasmine, Rafael and Lila; the entertaining and quirky stories; and the visually stunning animation.”
The new PBS KIDS series is based on author-artist Victoria Kann’s number-one New York Times-bestselling Pinkalicious book series, which includes 63 titles and has sold more than 23 million copies to date. The most recent book in the series, Peterrific, debuted in May 2017. The HarperCollins book series has been translated into 8 languages, is sold in 9 countries and inspired a stage musical, Pinkalicious: The Musical, which premiered in New York City to sold-out audiences and continues to be performed there and across the country.
“I’m tremendously excited to see the world of Pinkalicious and Peterrific come alive,” said author and illustrator Victoria Kann. “And I’m grateful to PBS and WGBH for helping to empower kids to explore and express their full creativity through this wonderful new series.”
The PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC television series is part of a multiplatform media experience that will also include digital content for kids, parents and teachers, debuting in early 2018. PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC will offer a variety of games at pbskids.org and on the PBS KIDS Games App, as well as clips and full episodes across PBS KIDS’ streaming video platforms, including the PBS KIDS Video App. A PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC app will also launch in 2018. Parent resources will be available on the PBS KIDS for Parents site, and PBS LearningMedia will offer classroom-ready materials for teachers, including video excerpts, games, tips and printable activities.
Each episode of PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC will include two 11-minute stories as well as a live-action interstitial and an original song. The series is currently in production at WGBH and its animation partner, Sixteen South, for 38 half-hour episodes and one hour-long special, which will roll out on PBS KIDS beginning in 2018.
About PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC
PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC is based on the Harper Collins book Pinkalicious, written by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann, illustrated by Victoria Kann, as well as additional books in the series written and illustrated by Victoria Kann. Executive producers are Dorothea Gillim (WGBH) and Victoria Kann. The series is co-produced by WGBH and Sixteen South. PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC is developed and produced with funding from PBS and Northern Ireland Screen.
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 WGBH
WGBH Boston is one of America’s preeminent public broadcasters and the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the Web, including Frontline, NOVA, American Experience, Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, and Arthur, as well as other childrens, primetime, and lifestyle series. WGBH also is a major supplier of programming for public radio, and a leader in educational multimedia for the classroom, supplying content to PBS LearningMedia, a free national broadband service for teachers and students. WGBH is a pioneer in technologies and services that make media accessible to those with hearing or visual impairments. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards and Oscars. Find more information at wgbh.org.
Contacts:
Maria Vera Whelan, PBS; 703.739.3225; mverawhelan@pbs.org
Bara Levin, WGBH; 617.300.5391; bara_levin@wgbh.org
