Production Begins on TVOkids Original Wolf Joe

TVOkids’ original animated action-adventure series Wolf Joe, an Amberwood Entertainment and Media RendezVous co-production, has begun animation in Ottawa.

Created by Alexander Bar (Mike the Knight, Ranger Rob, Ricky Zoom) and developed with TVOkids, the show follows the life of Joe, a First Nations boy who, along with his two best friends, is inspired to explore his indigenous culture and identity. The series boasts an all-indigenous cast and Anishinabe Elder and Knowledge Keeper Dave Courchene is on board as the series’ spiritual advisor.

The show will bow in 2020 on TVOkids and TVOkids.com, SRC, TFO and Knowledge Network. Financial support for the project comes from The Canada Media Fund and Shaw Rocket Fund. Charles Clement of Media RendezVous, Sheldon Wiseman of Amberwood and Bar will serve as executive producers.

The series is being animated at Big Jump Studios and distributed by FilmOption.

Marney Malabar, director of kids’ TV at TVO, said: “We are excited to be working with an esteemed team of advisors, creators and an all-indigenous cast to share indigenous stories. The adventures of Wolf Joe will help children to understand and celebrate our similarities and our rich cultural differences. Young audiences will love the adventures that await.”

Christiane Asselin, senior director of Radio-Canada Kids, said: “Radio-Canada is proud to present the series, which follows the entertaining adventures of the inhabitants of a Canadian indigenous community.”

Clement added: “It is a huge honor for the production community in Manitoba to be working on such a special project, one that will enable many indigenous storytellers and actors to contribute special meaning to a series, which we know will resonate with kids in Canada and all around the world.”