The project, which harnesses gaming to introduce young viewers to a world of career possibilities that help hone their life skills, premieres March 3 in English and Spanish.
The new animated series Skillsville, created by Twin Cities PBS (TPT), will launch March 3 on PBS KIDS in English and Spanish.
Taking its cue from some of the best elements of video games, the project centers on Cora (ParCora), Dev (Devosaurus), and Rae (Racer Rae), who love to play together, whether it’s on the playground or in their favorite digital game, “Skillsville.” With each episode, young viewers will enter a world of career possibilities to hone their life skills, including self-regulation and strategies to help them to feel, focus, organize, remember and think differently.
“Games aren’t just fun, they can also provide learning-rich opportunities for kids - letting them make mistakes, experiment through trial and error, pursue their goals, and remain persistent,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS. “Skillsville will encourage kids to explore these fundamental skills in a variety of relatable situations, which will support them in building a strong foundation for achieving success in school, in the future career path they choose, and in life.”
“Skillsville uses something kids already love – gaming - to help them practice essential life skills that can shape their future," said Carol-Lynn Parente, executive producer and co-creator, TPT. “Our goal is to empower young viewers with simple, effective self-regulation strategies as the tools they can use to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams. By combining the fun of career exploration with practical skills like pausing to think, planning, organizing and persevering through setbacks, Skillsville inspires kids to see themselves as problem-solvers and change-makers who can lean on their unique strengths to help their community.”
In addition to new episodes, Skillsville will include four upcoming games on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Games app, as well as learning resources available on PBS KIDS for Parents and PBS LearningMedia.
Skillsville is produced by Twin Cities PBS (Hero Elementary, Scigirls) and is created by a team that includes Parente; head writer Christine Ferraro; and creative director Eric Peterson. The series is animated by Sphere Media Productions (Curious George, Arthur, F Is For Family). Judith Beauchemin and Marianne Culbert from Sphere Media Productions serve as supervising producers, while Olivier Migneron and Chris Fazio are series directors. Contributing writers include Katherine Beattie, Karen Moonah, and writing fellow Brianna Ishibashi.
This series is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Source: PBS KIDS
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
