>> YOU EVER NOTICE HOW THESE DAYS IF YOU ASK YOUR KID WHAT THEY ARE WATCHING, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE?

THERE IS THIS NEW CULTURAL PHENOMENON I’M CALLING THE BLUE TO BADDIES PIPELINE.

ONE MINUTE, THEY ARE WATCHING A WHOLESOME AUSTRALIAN DOG FAMILY IMAGINING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THE ALGORITHM HAS AN WATCHING 20 SOMETHING INFLUENCERS TALKING ABOUT GET READY WITH ME, VAPES.

YOU ARE ONLY NINE.

IT JUST PROVES THERE ARE ALMOST NO SPACES EXCLUSIVELY FOR TWEEN’S ANYMORE.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, WE HAD SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS, HOME KIDS TV BLOCKS, NICKELODEON, YOU NAME IT.

YOU COULD PLOP DOWN WITH A BIG BALL OF CEREAL BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE OUT A GROWN MAN AND FOR FIVE HOURS STRAIGHT, YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS WHETHER THE VILLAIN WOULD CRASH OUT LONG ENOUGH FOR THE HEROES TO ESCAPE.

BUT NOW, THOSE PROGRAMMING BLOCKS WENT IN THE WAY OF DINOSAURS AND CABLE TV ITSELF.

KIDS ARE GROWING UP IN THE INTERNET AGE WHERE THE ALGORITHM DOESN’T CARE THAT THEY ARE 7, 10, OR 12 SO LONG AS THEY ARE STILL WATCHING.

IT’S HARDER FOR PARENTS TO MONITOR AND HONESTLY, IT’S HARDER FOR KIDS TO FIND SPACES THAT ARE MEANT FOR THEM.

THEY ARE WANDERING AROUND THESE DIGITAL STREETS WITH NO LIGHTS OR CROSSING GUARDS AND THAT BRINGS US TO PUBLIC MEDIA WHICH FOR GENERATIONS HAS BEEN THE SAFE HARBOR FOR KIDS CONTENT AND YES, WE ARE BIASED, BUT WITH GOOD REASON.

FROM CURIOUS GEORGE TO SESAME STREET, MR.

ROGERS TO WORK IT OUT WOMBATS, PUBLIC MEDIA OFFERED AGE-APPROPRIATE CONTENT WITHOUT TRYING TO SELL YOU A SLIME KIT OR FAST FASHION AFTERWARD BUT WITH THE RECENT DEFUNDING OF PUBLIC MEDIA, THE ONES WHO SUFFER THE MOST ARDENT EXECUTIVES OR PRODUCERS.

THEY ARE CAN SEND IN MANY COMMUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL MEDIA IS MORE THAN ENTERTAINMENT.

IT IS ENRICHMENT.

IT’S A REPRESENTATION.

IT’S A LIFELINE.

BECAUSE IF CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN OF COLOR, STOP SEEING THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE SHOWS THEY WATCH, WHERE ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO LOOK TO UNDERSTAND WHO THEY CAN BE?

IF THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE KEEPS SHRINKING FOR THEM, THE FUTURE WE ARE SHAPING IS ONE WHERE KIDS EITHER GROW UP TOO FAST OR GET YOU RACE ALL TOGETHER.

WE KNOW THE PROBLEM.

NOW, LET’S GET TO THE ROOT OF IT.

I AM PARIS AND THIS IS ROOTED.

LET’S BE HONEST.

KIDS TODAY DON’T HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH GOOD CONTENT TO WATCH AS WE DID GROWING UP SO WE HIT THE STREETS OF HARVARD SQUARE TO ASK FOLKS WHAT DID THEY WANT WHEN THEY WERE KIDS AND WHAT DO THEY THINK KIDS ARE WATCHING TODAY?

>> COCO MELON.

IT’S COCO MELON.

>> MY LITTLE SISTER, I AM RAISING HER ON CURIOUS GEORGE.

I’M NOT LETTING HER WATCH COCO MELON.

>> WHAT IS REALLY MORE POPULAR IS WHAT COMES ON THE IPAD.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING ON THE IPAD?

>> ALL KINDS OF LITTLE CREATURES AND THEY MUST BE A SORT OF PIXAR GENERATED OR LITTLE CREATURES OR SOAP OPERAS, ADOLESCENT STORIES ABOUT TEENAGERS PICKING ON EACH OTHER IN SCHOOL.

THAT KIND OF THING.

>> WHAT ALL GOES INTO MAKING A KID FRIENDLY ANIMATION?

WE SAT DOWN WITH A DIRECTOR FROM THE STORY ARE THE SCUM A WRITER, AND FOUNDER OF CBA STUDIOS.

>> SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THINK FOR HAVING ME.

>> I GOT MY START IN ANIMATION.

I WATCHED HIS HOME CARTOONS.

WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS A JOB SOMEONE COULD DO, I WAS LIKE THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO AND RIGHT THEN AND THERE, I DECIDED.

I SPEND MOST OF MY CHILDHOOD AND YOUNG ADULT LIFE JUST MAKING CARTOONS.

I WENT TO SCHOOL FOR IT IN CHICAGO AND I MADE A TON OF FRIENDS AND STUDIED ANIMATION AND MOVED OUT TO L.A.

SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATING AND HAD BEEN CHOPPING AWAY AT THE INDUSTRY EVER SINCE.

>> >> CLEARLY, THE SHOWS YOU ARE WATCHING HAD SUCH A BIN -- BIG INFLUENCE ON YOU BUT DO YOU THINK THAT WE HAVE JUST AS INFLUENTIAL PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY?

>> I THINK IT’S TRICKY.

I WANT TO SAY NOT REALLY.

THERE DEFINITELY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN LIKE A SHIFT IN THE ANIMATION SPACE WHERE IT’S LIKE THEY HAVE GONE REALLY KID, LIKE REALLY YOUNG WERE REALLY ADULT AND CRASS SO I THINK THAT HAS LEFT A HUNGER FOR YOUNG ADULT, JUST DIFFERENT TYPES OF STORIES IN THE ANIMATION AND I THINK IN THE ADULT SPACE, WE ARE SETTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPERIMENTATION THERE WITH THE TYPES OF STORIES BUT IN TERMS OF LIKE THE AVATAR, THE LAST AIR BENDER, HARRY POTTER AGE GROUP, I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE KIND OF STARVING.

THEY KEEP GOING BACK TO THE NOSTALGIA OF IT.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN KIDS DON’T HAVE THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPEN.

ONE, I THINK IT MAKES THEM TURN TO OTHER FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT, WHETHER IT BE STREAMING OR VIDEO GAMES.

I THINK THERE’S OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR MEDIA CONSUMPTION THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MAYBE NOT THE BEST.

EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.

AND THEN I THINK THAT THEY HAVE REALLY GO BACK AND REDISCOVER THE STUFF THAT WE ARE WATCHING.

I THINK OF A SHOW LIKE THE BOONDOCKS WHERE IT’S LIKE EVERY COUPLE YEARS, THERE IS LIKE A NEW GENERATION OF YOUNG KIDS EXPERIENCING THAT SHOW FOR THE FIRST TIME SO TO SEE HOW STUFF LIKE THAT STILL RESONATES ALL THESE YEARS LATER, I THINK IT’S DEFINITELY -- WITH MANY OPTIONS.

IT’S EITHER I GOT TO LOOK AT WHAT’S ALREADY BEEN MADE OR GO TO THESE OTHER PLATFORMS.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THERE ARE EITHER -- WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES NOW OF PROGRAMMING YOU WOULD SAY IS AT LEAST TRYING TO FILL THAT GAP?

>> I THINK THAT IS, YOU KNOW, A SHOW LIKE BOB’S BURGERS KIND OF.

WHERE IT’S LIKE JUST THAT PG KIND OF CLASSIC LIKE KIDS AND ADULTS CAN WATCH IF THERE’S SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR THE ADULTS.

YES.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE STREAMING SHOWS ATTEMPT TO DO IT.

IT’S JUST HARD WHEN YOU ONLY GET A SEASON OR TWO OF THE SHOW AND IT GETS CANCELED.

SO THERE MIGHT BE THESE SWINGS THAT ARE TRYING TO HIT THAT AGE RANGE BUT I THINK OF A MOVIE LIKE KPOP DEMON HUNTERS THAT I THINK KIND OF LIKE REALLY IS TRYING TO FILL THAT SPACE AND I HOPE IT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE WANT THAT TYPE OF GENRE OF STORYTELLING.

NOT SUPER PRESCHOOL BUT FUN STUFF.

I FEEL LIKE WE GREW UP WITH A LOT MORE KIND OF LIKE JUST THAT OPTION OF STORYTELLING AVAILABLE.

>> 100%.

IF YOU LIKE THAT IS DEEP, DEEP IN THE VAULT THERE.

I HAVE NOT SEEN IN SO LONG.

NOT ONLY WAS IT ONE OF THOSE THINGS LIKE MY BROTHERS AND MY PARENTS AND I ALL KIND OF KNEW ABOUT BECAUSE WE WERE WATCHING IT TOGETHER BUT WE WERE WATCHING IT TOGETHER MULTIPLE TIMES, OVER AND OVER TO THE POINT WHERE WE REALLY KNEW THE MOVIE THROUGH AND THROUGH AND I THINK LIKE HAVING SO MANY OPTIONS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS WITH THE STREAMING HAS KIND OF ELIMINATED THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE FOR MOVIES, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT STILL REPLAY IT BUT THERE’S ALSO DEFINITELY LIKE ALL THESE OTHER OPTIONS IN THE LIBRARY.

>> WHEN YOU THINK FROM THE INDUSTRY’S PERSPECTIVE, WHAT EXACTLY HAS BEEN THE PRIORITY SHIFT TO MAKE IT SUCH THAT MORE OF THAT IN BETWEEN CONTENT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ISN’T GETTING MADE.

IS THE INDUSTRY PRIORITIZING CERTAIN TYPES OF TARGET -- TARGETED AT YOUTH MORE THAN OTHERS?

LIKE IT SNUCK UP ON PEOPLE AS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT IS NOW KIND OF CHALLENGING FOR OUR AUDIENCE?

A LOT OF COMPANIES HAVE SAID WE HAVE THIS BIG IP.

LET’S LEAN REALLY HARD INTO IT.

HOLLYWOOD IS A BUSINESS SO YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE MONEY SO YOU WOULD HOPE THAT IP IS ABLE TO FIND MORE ORIGINAL PROJECTS AND THAT’S HOW WE GET SHOWS LIKE ADVENTURE TIME AND REGULAR SHOW.

THOSE SHOWS KIND OF CAME OUT OF A SLUMP, KIND OF NOT HAVING THAT KIND OF PG KIND OF TONGUE-IN-CHEEK, YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT KIDS FIND FUN AND FUNNY AND IT WAS HUGE.

I THINK NOW, IT WAS STILL KIND OF MORE OR LESS THE SAME WHERE INSTEAD OF YOUTUBE, IT WAS STREAMING.

PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REACH THESE KIDS IN THE WAY THAT CONSUMPTION HAS CHANGED AS WELL.

I GREW UP WITH CABLE SO WE HAD THREE MAIN KIDS CHANNELS AND SOME PUBLIC CHANNELS HERE OR THERE BUT NOWADAYS, THERE’S SO MANY OTHER PLACES FOR KIDS TO GO TO BE ENTERTAINED.

HOW DO YOU KIND OF CORRAL AND CURATE A GOOD CHANNEL OR FEED IN 2026?

YOU KNOW?

>> HOW DO YOU KEEP IT FROM NOT CATCHING DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTENT THAT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR KIDS?

WE HEAR ROOTED HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE PIPELINE.

ESSENTIALLY, I SHOULD SAY, YOU MIGHT BE WATCHING SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY KID FRIENDLY ON YOUTUBE AS A CHILD AND THEN SUDDENLY, YOU ARE ON A PAGE WHERE YOU GOT A AN INFLUENCER -- YOU HAVE GOT AN INFLUENCER DOING ALL KINDS OF TRENDS IN YOUR GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THIS ALGORITHM THAT IS QUESTIONABLE.

QUICKSAND I THINK IT CAN BE QUESTIONABLE AND DANGEROUS.

I THINK KIDS AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND EVEN ADULTS IN GENERAL, WE ARE WHAT WE CONSUME SO IF YOU’RE SPENDING A TON OF TIME, YOU KNOW, ON THE INTERNET, YOU KNOW, DOING SCROLLING, CLICKBAIT’S, ALL THAT STUFF IS DEFINITELY THERE.

IT CAN AFFECT NOT JUST YOUR MOOD BUT ALSO PHYSICALLY.

NOT A GOOD THING.

I THINK THAT MINDFUL PROGRAMMING IS NEEDED FOR ME AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT MAKES WHAT I DO EVEN MORE IMPORTANT NOW.

TRY TO BE AUTHENTIC AND GENUINE AND YOU DON’T WANT TO JUST ENTERTAIN AND CAN YOU MAKE SOMETHING THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL GOOD AND LAUGH AND BRING JOY TO THE WORLD BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH OF THE OPPOSITE OUT THERE?

>> BY NATURE OF BEING A BLACK ANIMATOR, YOU ARE BRINGING THAT PERSPECTIVE TO IT AS WELL AND ABLE TO REFLECT MORE REPRESENTATION IN YOUR WORK.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO A YOUNG BLACK KID WHO MAY BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE CREATED?

>> I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO USE YOUR POINT OF VIEW KIND OF AS LIKE YOUR SUPERPOWER AND WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE TO YOU.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS ONLY ONE VERSION OF YOU OUT THERE.

AND YOU CAN USE THAT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS STILL NOT ENOUGH REPRESENTATION SPECIFICALLY OF BLACK BOYS IN MEDIA.

I THINK WHEN YOU THINK OF CHARACTERS FROM THE PAST DECADE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE YOUR SUPERHEROES BUT LIKE OUTSIDE OF MILES MORALES AND BLACK PANTHER, THERE’S NOT ENOUGH.

THERE’S DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH WHEN I WAS GROWING UP SO I NOTICED IN TRYING TO REALLY CREATE SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE KIDS WHO DON’T GET TO SEE THEMSELVES ANIMATED IN THESE STORIES AND IN THESE BEAUTIFUL, THOUGHTFUL, GENUINE, AUTHENTIC WAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, I’M THINKING OF LIKE MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY FROM THE MIDWEST, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CAPTURE THAT ESSENCE IN ANIMATION.

I THINK THAT’S HOW YOU CREATE MEMORABLE STORIES, ANIMATING MEMORABLE CHARACTERS AND DESIGNING FROM YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR AUTHENTICITY, AND YOU KNOW, REALLY TRYING TO DO IT THROUGH A THOUGHTFUL, LOVING, APPEALING LENS.

PARIS: THAT’S BEAUTIFUL.

THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES TO THAT TODAY, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS AI, RIGHT?

AND THE ABILITY FOR MACHINES TO BE CREATING THINGS INSTEAD OF HUMANS.

HOW ARE YOU -- ARE YOU ENCOUNTERING THAT CHALLENGE IN YOUR WORK?

AND WANT -- WHAT IS THE ANTIDOTE?

>> I THINK EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW AI FITS INTO THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.

IT’S EVERYWHERE, RIGHT?

IT’S ON EVERY APP, EVERY WEBSITE , THE LITTLE AI THING.

I GREW UP AND I WATCHED THE ANIMATION INDUSTRY SHIFT FROM 2D HAND-DRAWN FILMS TO PRIMARILY 3D FILMS.

AND YOU KNOW, I KIND OF LOOKED TO THAT FOR GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF THIS WHERE YOU KNOW, THERE IS -- IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO I GUESS YOU PREPRODUCTION OR PLANNING, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DEVELOPMENT WHERE THEY HAVE USED AI AND JUST PUT TOGETHER LIKE A 10 SECOND CLIP OR WHATEVER AND YOU KNOW, I THINK INTERNALLY, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS SELL THE IDEA BUT IT’S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU PULL IT OUT FORWARD FACING TO AN AUDIENCE.

I THINK THE ANTIDOTE TO THAT IS THE AUTHENTICITY I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT EARLIER THAT I HAVE REALLY LET PEOPLE IN ON MY CREATIVE PROCESS TO SEE WHAT IT IS LIKE ACTUALLY MAKING A CARTOON.

AND ON AND MEDIATING AND I AM SHARING MY SCREEN AND THEY ARE GETTING A CHANCE TO SEE ME DRAW AND SEE UNDER THE HOOD SO THAT WAY THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THE ARTFORM TO MAKE SPECIFIC CHANGES QUICKLY.

PEOPLE WHO I HAVE WATCHED EXPERIMENT WITH AI, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PUT THE SAME PROMPT IN BUT YOU WILL GET A DIFFERENT RESULT BACK EVERY TIME AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING.

IT WILL NOT CHANGE THAT.

IT WILL CHANGE SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU ARE LIKE, WAIT, GO BACK NOW.

YOU ARE TRYING TO TYPE OUT.

WITH HUMAN, YOU CAN SAY CAN YOU MAKE THE DRESS BLUE?

COOL.

IT’S DONE.

IN TERMS OF THE PROBLEMS IS TRYING TO SOLVE FROM A CREATIVE STANDPOINT, I THINK YOU HAVE A LOT OF AWESOME, ADEQUATE SOLUTIONS AND SCHOOLS AND RIGHT NOW, WE MIGHT WANT TO SEE WHERE THE DU -- WHERE THE GUST SETTLES.

IT IS STILL AN AMAZING SOURCE OF POWER.

PARIS: 100%.

THAT IS A 2D ANIMATOR, DIRECTOR, WRITER, AND FOUNDER OF CBA STUDIOS.

>> IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU KNOW I QUESTION WENT BECAUSE OF THIS THING RIGHT HERE.

THEY ARE WATCHING YOUTUBE ALL DAY LONG.

>> IT IS MORE OF AN ACCESSIBLE THING FOR THEM.

I FEEL LIKE THERE’S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF MEDIA GENERATOR PUT OUT JUST FOR THEM NOW AND IF YOU LIKE THE MAJOR STREAMING SERVICES DON’T REALLY HAVE THEM IN MIND.

HOW CAN WE STOP ALL OF THIS FOR A PARENT TO WATCH AS WELL?

SOMETIMES, THAT DISCONNECT CAN HAPPEN.

PARIS: HE BROKE DOWN THE ECONOMY OF ANIMATION FOR BLACK CREATORS BUT PUBLIC MEDIA HAS LONG BEEN A HUB FOR REPRESENTATION IN KIDS CONTENT.

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ITS PLACE IN THE DIGITAL ERA, I SPOKE WITH -- WHOSE PBS KIDS SERIES PREMIERED IN FEBRUARY.

SO HOW DID THE CONCEPT OF PB&J COME ABOUT -- PHOEBE AND JAY COME ABOUT?

WHOEVER IS MOST COMFORTABLE.

>> I HAD AN IDEA ABOUT SOME TWINS WHO MOVED INTO THESE COOKIE TOWERS AND WE GOT TOGETHER AND FLESHED OUT A WHOLE WORLD AND WE WERE FUNDED BY THE READY TO LEARN GRANT SO WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO PLAY AND MAKE AN AWESOME PILOT.

AND SO WE POURED OUR HEARTS AND SOULS INTO THE PILOT.

THE PILOT TESTED WELL AND WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET A SERIES ORDER.

PARIS: WHY IS CHILDREN’S MEDIA PROGRAMMING THE RIGHT PLACE TO HELP CLOSE THE GAP WHERE KIDS MAY NOT BE READING ENOUGH?

>> THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION.

ESPECIALLY TODAY, A LOT OF EDUCATION MIGHT BE NOT AS FOCUSED IN CERTAIN AREAS AND SO WE HAVE TO FILL THE GAP AND PBS FEELS THIS TRUSTED PLACE FOR EVERYONE SO IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU ARE RICH OR POOR, BLACK OR WHITE, IT’S FOR ALL CHILDREN AND THAT’S WHAT -- WE GREW UP AS PBS KIDS SO THAT WAS OUR BEST FRIEND LIKE MR.

ROGERS SO HAVING A SHOW IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT IS SO TRUSTED THAT PEOPLE, AND CAN LEAVE THEIR KID, YOU KNOW, AND BE OK -- FEEL SAFE TO HAVE CHILDREN WATCH OUR SHOW IS JUST SO GREAT AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, NOT ONLY TO TELL GREAT STORIES BUT TO HELP THEM LEARN AND CREATE A FOUNDATION FOR THEIR LEARNING FOR READING, TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, TO BE CURIOUS SO THEY BECOME MORE ENGAGED IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND BECOME MORE ENGAGED AND CURIOUS ABOUT LEARNING AND READING, I THINK THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO START AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

IT IS EVERYWHERE.

LIKE OUR CURRICULUM IS EVERYDAY TEXTS EVERYWHERE.

SO IT HELPS WITH LIFE SKILLS BUT IT ALSO HELPS WITH THE READING FOUNDATION.

PARIS: TELL ME MORE ABOUT THOSE LIFE SKILLS BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF A NONTRADITIONAL FAMILY STRUCTURE.

HOW DOES -- TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHY THAT IS AND HOW THE SHOW EMBRACES THAT.

>> SO FOR MOST OF CHILDREN’S MEDIA, IT TENDS TO BE LIKE A NUCLEAR FAMILY AND THEY OWN A HOUSE AND THEY GOT A NICE FRONT YARD AND BACKYARD, A CAR THEY CAN DRIVE ANYWHERE THEY WANT SO THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MODEL THAT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF A BUNCH OF AMERICAN SO THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MODEL A DIFFERENT FAMILY STRUCTURE WE HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE.

WE HAVE THIS OPTIMISTIC SINGLE DAD WHO JUST MOVED INTO THE TOWERS WITH PHOEBE AND JAY TO BE CLOSER TO GRANDMA ANNIE WHO IS A CARBON COPY OF MY GRANDMA ANNIE SO WE KNOW THE PILLOW THAT GRANDMAS ARE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR SO WE JUST GET TO SHOW -- WE GET TO FILL A GAP WE HAD NOT SEEN.

WE DID NOT SEE OURSELVES ON TV GROWING UP WHETHER THAT IS CULTURALLY OR SOCIALLY, THIS SHOW FILLS THE GAP.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW REPRESENTATION FUNCTIONS IN THE SHOW BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, YOU ARE BOTH CREATORS OF COLOR IN THE SHOW IS REFLECTIVE, RIGHT?

WANTING TO SHOW THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU MENTIONED AND HOW VARIED THEY CAN BE SO HOW -- I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL ABOUT IT BUT HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM SOME OTHER MEDIA PROGRAMS THAT MAY BE OUT THERE FOR KIDS RIGHT NOW?

>> WE WERE SO INTENTIONAL ABOUT THIS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AND BEHIND THE CAMERA BECAUSE WE WANTED THE AUTHENTICITY.

THAT IS REALLY WHAT WILL ENGAGE PEOPLE AND WE REALLY WANT TO SHOW THAT.

WITH THE CHARACTER DESIGN, WITH THE BODY SHAPES, WITH HER HAIR, PHOEBE HAS THREE TYPES OF HAIRSTYLES BECAUSE AS A BLACK WOMAN, I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OF THEM AND YOU LOVE YOUR BLACK HAIR AND WE WANT TO REPRESENT THAT.

>> A DIFFERENT ONE IN TWO WEEKS.

>> EXACTLY.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CHANGE THE HAIRSTYLE.

IN ANIMATION, USUALLY, YOU DON’T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET THAT I WAS LIKE, WE SHOULD HAVE THREE HAIRSTYLES SO OUR PRODUCTION COMPANY, THEY WERE SO GREAT.

WE ROTATE THREE HAIRSTYLES FOR HER JUST TO SHOW THAT CULTURAL PIECE OF BEING A LITTLE BLACK GIRL, A BLACK WOMAN.

THE PALMS OF YOUR HAND, IT’S LIGHTER THAN ON THE OUTSIDE SO WE SHOW THAT.

PHOEBE HAS A THEORY -- SHE IS VERY ROUND AND VERY CHUNKY AND WE WANTED TO REPRESENT ALL BODY SHAPES, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WAS SUPER, DEEP OR IMPORTANT BUT ALSO BEHIND THE CAMERA, WE WANTED TO RAISE PEOPLE OF COLOR UP AS WELL AND WHO BEST TO TELL OUR STORY THAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AND HAVE A LIVED EXPERIENCE?

OR THAT INTERESTING THING IS BECAUSE THERE’S NOT A LOT OF US IN HIGHER POSITIONS AND SO BECAUSE WE ARE IN A POSITION TO HELP OTHERS, THAT IS WHAT WE DID AND WE HAVE -- WE HAD A DIRECTOR -- WE HAVE AN EPISODE DIRECTOR.

I WAS LIKE HE SHOULD BE BLACK OR SHE SHOULD BE BLACK.

HOPEFULLY, WE CAN FIND SOMEONE BLACK.

WE FOUND SOMEONE BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF JUST THE WAY THE INDUSTRY IS BUT YOU CAN’T JUST HIRE SOMEBODY WITHOUT EXPERIENCE AND BE LIKE THAT’S ENOUGH.

YOU NEED TO SUPPORT THEM AND SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS.

YOU CAN’T JUST -- WE HIRED SOMEBODY.

SO WE HAVE TWO DIRECTORS NOW SO WE FOUND SOMEONE WITH MORE EXPERIENCE WHO WAS LIKE, YES, I WILL HELP THEM LEARN AND GET THEM UP TO SPEED AND THEY BALANCE EACH OTHER SO WELL.

THEY ARE THE BEST DIRECTING TEAM I’VE EVER WORKED WITH.

I AM SO PROUD OF THEM.

IT IS THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO DO NOT ONLY IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA BUT BEHIND THE CAMERA AS WELL.

>> THE REPRESENTATION IS REALLY IN THE DNA OF THE SHOW.

THAT WAS OUR NORSTAR FROM THE BEGINNING SO WE GOT ALL THESE FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES CONTRIBUTING THEIR EXPERTISE.

YOU KNOW, ALSO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A STORY THAT FEATURES A HARD OF HEARING CHARACTER.

OUR HARD OF HEARING WRITER WROTE THAT EPISODE AND THEN THE HARD OF HEARING ACTORS VOICE THAT CHARACTER SO THERE’S ALWAYS WAYS IN WHICH THE PREMISE IS IT ALL COME FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE AND THAT LENDS AUTHENTICITY.

WE THINK PEOPLE PICK UP ON THOSE DETAILS AND IT COMES THROUGH THE SCREEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF ACCESS TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTENT AND THIS GOES FOR KIDS, TOO.

YOUNGER AND YOUNGER BY THE DAY SO GIVEN THAT KIDS DO HAVE A LOT OF AGENCY OVER THE CONTENT THAT THEY WATCH, WHETHER IT BE ON YOUTUBE, TIKTOK, OTHER PLATFORMS, HOW DO YOU HOPE THEY WILL FIND THIS CONTENT, YOUR SHOW?

>> I DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, I FEEL -- I HAVE TWO KIDS.

I HAVE A ONE-YEAR-OLD AND A FOUR-YEAR-OLD SO I GET HOW OVERWHELMING IT IS -- I GET HOW CONCERNING IT IS, WHAT THEY ARE WATCHING ON TV.

YOU CAN TURN ON YOUTUBE AND WHO KNOWS WHERE IT IS GOING SO I THINK IN THAT OVERWHELMING ENVIRONMENT, I DO THINK WE HOPE THAT IT’S A CHANCE TO SLOW DOWN AND BE WITH THIS FAMILY WE CRAFTED.

WE LOVE THESE CHARACTERS.

WE PUT OUR ALL INTO THESE CHARACTERS.

I DO THINK IN THE OVERWHELMING SATURATED, FAST-PACED ENVIRONMENT, PHOEBE AND J IS A CHANCE TO HANG OUT AND SLOW DOWN FOR A SECOND.

>> THAT SOUNDS AMAZING.

THERE IS A CHARACTER NAMED PARIS.

[LAUGHTER] I WILL BIASEDLY ENDORSE IT.

>> YOU CAN CLAIM IT.

PARIS: I WILL CLAIM IT.

I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU TO BE LAUNCHING THIS.

IT’S A SHOW THAT I THINK IS REALLY NEEDED ALL ACROSS THE BOARD RIGHT NOW SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

PARIS: THE CHARACTER, PARIS, THE MOM, IS DEAD, AND AIN’T NOBODY TELL ME.

WHAT A SHAME.

I WONDER WHO DID THE BODY.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR TURNING INTO ROUTED.

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