{"id":19011,"date":"2020-08-14T09:00:15","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T13:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev2.worldscreen.com\/tvkids\/worldscreen.com\/"},"modified":"2020-08-17T09:15:46","modified_gmt":"2020-08-17T13:15:46","slug":"delivering-diversity-in-kids-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvkids\/delivering-diversity-in-kids-tv\/","title":{"rendered":"Delivering Diversity in Kids\u2019 TV"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the current global climate, kids\u2019 content producers and distributors are determined to deliver more diverse and inclusive content for young viewers all around the world.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Black Lives Matter movement, which aims to dismantle the structures that enable unchecked police brutality against Black people through nonviolent civil disobedience, gathered new support in the wake of unarmed Minneapolis, Minnesota, resident George Floyd\u2019s death at the hands of police officers in May. The tragedy, in conjunction with scores of others in a similar vein, led millions of Americans to take to the streets calling for justice. Around the world, millions more followed suit, the protests\u2019 asks adapting for each country’s particular set of problems pertaining to race and ethnicity, creed and sexuality and gender. While many wrongs must be righted through politics and policy, media has a role to play in changing hearts and opening minds by putting forth diverse stories with diverse characters. For kids, the value of watching shows about kids and families that don\u2019t look like them\u2014or watching a show that\u2019s finally about kids and families that look like them\u2014can\u2019t be overstated. And in the current climate, kids\u2019 content producers and distributors\u2014many of which have already heeded the call for more diverse content\u2014are determined to deliver.<\/p>\n

Safi Productions, a London-based company that sits within Safi Ideas, which makes ethically-minded content across film, animation and interactive media, has a core mission \u201cto create a more ethical purpose to filmmaking,\u201d according to Wa’qaar A Mirza, writer and global CEO of Safi Productions. \u201cWe want all of our content to feature mindful messaging and to demonstrate an understanding and celebration toward diversity, with an honest portrayal of history, peace and goodwill.\u201d He adds, \u201cSafi Productions’ key focus is on creating harmony and mindfulness across all cultures. The purpose is to improve understanding of people and humanity, with a focus on young people, because that\u2019s where education begins.\u201d<\/p>\n

In keeping with the company mission, Safi has in its catalog Zayn & Zayna\u2019s Little Farm<\/em>, an animated English-language preschool series. Each episode\u2019s adventure follows siblings Zayn and Zayna on their British family farm, and introduces kids to the concepts of mindfulness, sustainability and diversity, incorporating Arabic while it portrays both cultural diversity and diversity in abilities. The company is also in preproduction on a yet-to-be-titled travel show for 14- to 18-year-olds. It focuses \u201con countries that many people view in a negative light,\u201d says Mirza. \u201cOur aim is to explore each country\u2019s culture, the people and history, and to shine a light on the diverse cultural differences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the titles on CAKE\u2019s slate that offer their young viewers a more inclusive look at the world around them is Pablo<\/em>, a preschool show for CBeebies that centers on a little boy who is on the autism spectrum. \u201cThe wonderful thing about the series is that it never mentions autism; it is just about a boy who sees things differently,\u201d says Tom van Waveren, CAKE\u2019s CEO and creative director. \u201cPablo<\/em> shows people on the spectrum on television, and by doing so, effectively makes them part of the world as it is seen on screen. That\u2019s a big part of diversity\u2014to make sure that the world we see on screen reflects the real world. In the real world, there are a lot of people on the spectrum, but unfortunately, there are not that many people on the spectrum on the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mama K\u2019s Team 4<\/em>, a superhero series that CAKE is currently producing for Netflix, follows four teenage girls living in the neo-futuristic African city of Lusaka, Zambia, who save the world in each episode. \u201cThe show is really a very entertaining action-comedy that happens to be set in Lusaka,\u201d says van Waveren. \u201cHere again, the simple fact of having an entirely African cast is hugely significant when it comes to seeing yourself on screen. Consequently, that makes it an important contribution to improving diversity to the storytelling available to children of all ages and around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amid the global uprisings and consequent actions and initiatives, programs with a diverse angle have only increased in popularity. \u201cThe whole industry is interested in diverse stories and diverse characters that reflect children\u2019s worlds; their friends, their interests, what they see around them,\u201d says Bernadette O\u2019Mahony, head of development and production at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF). \u201cProjects that entertain and reflect the diverse makeup of society, as well as model positive relationships, behavior and kindness and inclusion are really important right now.\u201d Traveling well for ACTF is the comedy series Hardball,<\/em> which centers on a group of kids from different backgrounds and has a lead character with cerebral palsy. \u201cBuyers love the diversity and how it\u2019s just naturally a part of this group of friends\u2014it\u2019s not commented on in the show, it just is normal to kids and accepted\u2014both on-screen and by the audience.\u201d<\/p>\n

O\u2019Mahony adds that there is also a marked interest in \u201cLGBTQI+ stories for a young audience when done well, and I think we\u2019ll see more characters and actors included in comedy or drama series going forward.\u201d (Safi Productions\u2019 forthcoming travel program, which is aimed at teenagers and young adults, will be featuring LGBTQI+ characters.)<\/p>\n

Superights is also witnessing the appetite for stories that center on those that are more often than not on the margins\u2014and that these shows have truly global legs. \u201cOur experience proves that diverse characters travel easily, and that the demand for diversity is significant,\u201d says Nathalie Pinguet, deputy managing director for sales and acquisitions at Superights. \u201cThere is a real desire to broadcast open-minded programs, especially from public free TV around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Superights\u2019 catalog contains several series that feature diverse characters and stories, including Story Time!<\/em>, a collection of tales for preschoolers that takes its viewers on a journey to a new country in each episode. There\u2019s also Moko the Young Explorer<\/em>, about the titular African boy whose biggest goal is to explore the entire world; Koumi\u2019s <\/em>Animated Picture Book<\/em>, about a 5-year-old mixed-race girl who travels the globe to meet the animals in her picture book; and Zibilla<\/em>, which centers on a zebra in a world of horses struggling to find acceptance. \u201cThis lovely special about adoption celebrates differences and tackles the issue of children who feel different finding their place in the world,\u201d says Pinguet.<\/p>\n

Key to effectively and authentically making diverse shows is having a cast and crew behind them that is representative of the diversity portrayed. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have diverse cast and crew on your shows, how can you hope to effectively capture and communicate the experiences of those different races and cultures?\u201d asks Jon Ollwerther, executive VP of global brand and business development at Genius Brands International, which counts among its tentpole brands Rainbow Rangers<\/em> and Llama Llama<\/em>. \u201cThere is truth and authenticity in these stories, which really resonates with kids, and we would be missing that if our cast and crew were not diverse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rainbow Rangers<\/em> follows seven superhero girls that are each represented by a different color of the rainbow and have a different skin color, incorporating themes like empowerment, individuality, leadership, inclusivity, diversity and environmental care. \u201cLlama Llama<\/em> is a slightly different take on diversity than Rainbow Rangers<\/em>, and each character is a different member of the animal kingdom,\u201d says Ollwerther.\u00a0\u201cIn season two, we also introduced Audrey the Antelope, who is limb different, and the outpouring of support from the limb different community has been exceptional.\u201d<\/p>\n

For CAKE\u2019s van Waveren, nothing is more important than getting the diversity right behind the scenes. \u201cIt\u2019s not just picking a subject that highlights diversity and has that embedded,\u201d he says, adding, \u201cThe stories of Pablo<\/em>came from either people on the spectrum themselves or from people who have children on the spectrum or work with people on the spectrum. All the voices were done by children on the spectrum and this results in wonderfully unique stories, authentic and diverse, but most of all, with a unique and fresh voice.\u201d As for the Africa-set, female-centered Mama K\u2019s Team 4<\/em>, \u201call the scripts are being written by African female writers. The lead animation studio, who also developed the concept, are Triggerfish Animation based in Cape Town. And most of the key creative talent comes from Africa. There is no other way in which we could tell stories about children in Africa from an authentic perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

A common sentiment for those delivering diverse kids\u2019 content to platforms and broadcasters is that the content needs to organically show different faces and perspectives without making these differences the focus of the show. As the world is made up of many different people with many different stories, it really shouldn\u2019t be all that hard to do. \u201cWe live in a world with people of different abilities and disabilities, of different genders and geographical and cultural backgrounds,\u201d says van Waveren. \u201cThe beauty of storytelling is embracing the richness of our world on both sides of the screen while resisting the urge to make the content about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Referring to shows on ACTF\u2019s slate such as First Day<\/em>, Little J & Big Cuz <\/em>and The Inbestigators<\/em>, O\u2019Mahony concurs, explaining, \u201cWhat sets them apart is that they are just great storytelling; authentic stories that ring true to an audience and have a lot of heart and warmth. Diversity comes naturally to these projects; it\u2019s not heavy handed or preaching, it\u2019s just reflecting real life and the makeup of society.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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