EXCLUSIVE: PBS Kids has ordered The Day You Begin, an animated special from Atomic Cartoons.
The program is based on Jacqueline Woodson’s bestselling picture book and is now in production at Atomic’s Vancouver studio. The 45-minute special follows four kindergarteners, Angelina, Rigoberto, One and Andrew on their first day of school.
The episode is told from each child’s perspective to create an interconnecting narrative in which they all have different experiences in the same classroom and throughout the day at school, learning what makes them unique and what connects them to others.
“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, 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.”
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Woodson is known for books such as young adult novel Miracle Boys, which was adapted back in 2005 for Noggin, and others such as Brown Girl Dreaming, After Tupac and D Foster, Feathers, and Show Way.
She and screenwriter Dana Chan (Alma’s Way, Santiago of the Seas, Dora the Explorer) co-wrote the script for The Day You Begin. Cummings and Jennifer Twiner McCarron serve as executive producers for Atomic and its parent company Thunderbird Entertainment, alongside Woodson, Maria Pepin and Matthew Berkowitz. Atomic’s Lori Massini and Joel Bradley are co-EPs and Heather Renney serves as supervising producer.
Thunderbird has the underlying IP rights to The Day You Begin, and will manage and control global distribution. Sales arm Thunderbird Distribution will debut it to the market at MIPJunior on Saturday, October 19 in Cannes, and at the following MIPCOM from the Monday (October 21).
“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, SVP of Originals for 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 Day You Begin has been so beloved by so many kids in this country and around the world,” said Woodson. “I’m excited to see it come to animated life on screen, where even more young people can see — through the characters in this story — reflections of their own beauty and brilliance. PBS KIDS is the perfect place for this show.”
This time last year, PBS Kids bought TV movie Rocket Saves the Day from Thunderbird.
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