Atomic Cartoons’ The Day You Begin Heads to PBS KIDS

The Day You Begin, a new animated original special from Atomic Cartoons, is heading to PBS KIDS.

The Day You Begin is based on the New York Times best-selling picture book of the same name by Jacqueline Woodson. Currently in production at Atomic’s Vancouver studio, the 45-minute special follows kindergartners Angelina, Rigoberto, Oni and Andre on their first day of school and is told from each of their points of view to create an interconnecting narrative.

“Jacqueline Woodson’s incredible book not only encapsulates the excitement and trepidation experienced by children on their first day of school, but it also helps to show what entering a classroom for the first time is like, and showcases that kids’ uniqueness is a strength,” said Kristin Cummings, senior VP of originals at Thunderbird Entertainment’s Atomic Cartoons. “We can think of no better broadcast partner than PBS KIDS for this project that aims to help kids with school readiness while thoroughly entertaining them.”

“The magic and excitement of the first day of school and how children start to define themselves within a community is the perfect topic for a family special on PBS KIDS,” said Adriano Schmid, VP of PBS KIDS content at PBS. “We’re such fans of Jacqueline Woodson and The Day You Begin book, and we’re thrilled to embark on this production with our partners at Atomic.”