PBS KIDS Announces Premiere Date for New Animated Series SPLASH AND BUBBLES
Marine biology and ocean science multiplatform media property that
builds social-emotional skills will premiere November 23, 2016 on PBS
KIDS
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today at its annual meeting with PBS member stations from across the
country, PBS KIDS announced the premiere date of its newest show: SPLASH
AND BUBBLES from The Jim Henson Company (DINOSAUR TRAIN, SID
THE SCIENCE KID) and Herschend Enterprises (Dollywood, Harlem
Globetrotters). Using groundbreaking digital puppetry technology, the
animated series will help children learn marine biology and ocean
science concepts while building social-emotional skills. SPLASH AND
BUBBLES will premiere Wednesday, November 23, 2016, on PBS stations
nationwide (check local listings). Digital content related to the
series, including games, apps and parent and educator resources, will be
available beginning in fall 2016.
Created by John Tartaglia (“ImaginOcean,” “Johnny and the
Sprites”), SPLASH AND BUBBLES is designed to encourage kids ages
4-7 to explore the natural undersea world. Developed with an advisory
panel of top marine biologists, digital innovators and educators, SPLASH
AND BUBBLES is grounded in a marine biology curriculum that focuses
on themes of diversity, individuality, interconnectedness and the
celebration of learning and discovery. The series also introduces the
concepts of ecological balance and the importance of taking care of the
ocean.
“SPLASH AND BUBBLES emphasizes the important social-emotional
skills needed to help kids discover the interconnectivity among all
living creatures, while creating an understanding of the variety of life
that exists under the sea, fostering an appreciation for the
biodiversity in our ocean,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President
and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “PBS KIDS is
committed to using the power of media to build science skills to help
inspire children to explore the fascinating world of marine biology and
the wonder that makes up the majority of our planet’s surface.”
Funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, SPLASH AND
BUBBLES follows the adventures of Splash, a yellow fusilier fish who
has migrated all over the ocean before settling down in Reeftown, where
he befriends Bubbles, a Mandarin dragonet whose vivid orange and
electric blue coloring matches her colorful personality. Until Splash
came along, Bubbles and most of the other Reeftown residents had no idea
what lived beyond the cozy confines of their coral walls. Together,
Splash, Bubbles and their friends explore the world’s undersea habitats,
make new friends and learn about the many different ways life looks and
lives in the ocean, celebrating the importance of diversity along the
way.
“Through the adventures of Splash and Bubbles, we hope to inspire
environmentalism, empathy and curiosity about the vast world of marine
biology,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “We hope the
series becomes a starting point for children to build confidence in
their ability to make a difference in our environment and inspires a
lifetime of learning.”
“We are excited to partner with two world-class brands, Henson and PBS,
to create life-changing emotional connections between kids and the
ocean. Through SPLASH AND BUBBLES-themed experiences, we can
bring the same memories created every day in our aquariums to children’s
living rooms and lives,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend
Enterprises.
“I feel honored and privileged to help carry on The Jim Henson Company’s
great tradition of creating family entertainment that inspires
care-taking, empathy and awareness of and for our world,” said John
Tartaglia, the series creator and the performer of the show’s title
character, Splash. “My hope is that SPLASH AND BUBBLES’ amazing
characters and hilarious stories inspire kids of all ages to learn more
about what lies beneath the surface of our amazing ocean and how they
can contribute to taking better care of it.”
SPLASH AND BUBBLES is executive produced by Lisa Henson and Halle
Stanford of The Jim Henson Company, Julie Phillips and Merrill
Puckett-Miller of Herschend Enterprises, as well as John Tartaglia,
Michael Shawn Lewis and Jill Shinderman. Tom Keniston is producer and
David Skelly is supervising director. The Jim Henson Company oversees
all distribution and merchandising for the property and Herschend
Enterprises administers all themed entertainment rights.
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 The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family
entertainment for 60 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator
in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators
of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and
nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy®-nominated Sid
the Science Kid, Dinosaur Train, and Pajanimals, as
well as the CG-animated preschool series Doozers and the upcoming
digital citizen series for preschoolers Dot., and the upcoming
Netflix series for young preschoolers Word Party. Features
include Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very
Bad Day, as well as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and MirrorMask.
Television productions include Fraggle Rock, the sci-fi cult
series Farscape, Henson Alternative’s No, You Shut Up! and
the recent TV film Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow.
With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company
is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot,
complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. The Company is
home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building
and visual effects group with international film, television, theme park
and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the
music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class
blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment. The Company’s Henson
Alternative brand is currently touring Puppet-Up! – Uncensored, a live
puppet improvisational show.
http://www.henson.com
www.facebook.com/hensoncompany
www.twitter.com/hensoncompany
About Herschend Enterprises
Committed for more than half-a-century to Creating Memories Worth
Repeating®, Herschend Enterprises is the largest family-owned
attractions corporation in the U.S. Our team of more than 10,000
employees works daily to create wholesome, immersive entertainment
experiences with soul and depth for every generation. With a focus on
bringing families closer together, we create, develop and operate
entertainment, tourism and hospitality properties spanning 24 locations
in seven states, attracting over 14 million people annually.
Today, our properties include the world famous HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS,
award-winning theme parks like SILVER DOLLAR CITY in Branson, MO, and
DOLLYWOOD, our partnership with Dolly Parton in Tennessee’s Great Smoky
Mountains, top tier aquariums – NEWPORT AQUARIUM and ADVENTURE AQUARIUM,
water parks, hotels, and other highly entertaining standalone
attractions. As of Summer 2015, guests can also experience genuine
Southern hospitality and storytelling from Dolly’s front porch with a
visit to DOLLYWOOD’S DREAMMORE RESORT. For more information, visit www.hfecorp.com.
About CPB
The Corporation
for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation
created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s
investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of
1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations
nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for
research, technology, and program development for public radio,
television, and related online services. For more information, visit www.cpb.org
and follow on Twitter @CPBmedia,
Facebook,
and LinkedIn.
Click
here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for PBS.
Contacts
PBS
Maria Vera, 703-739-3225
mvera@pbs.org
or
360PR
Roberta
Lee, 347-801-2342
rlee@360pr.com
