PBS Kids Reveals ‘Carl The Collector,’ Its First Show Featuring A Cast Of Characters On The Autism Spectrum
PBS Kids has ordered 40, 22-minute episodes of Carl the Collector, the broadcaster’s first show featuring a lead character on the autism spectrum. The show will premiere in the fall of 2024.
The 2d-animated series, aimed at kids ages 4-8, was created by New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Zachariah OHora (My Cousin Momo!) and is being produced by Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures (Donkey Hodie, Nature Cat). Spiffy co-founder and Emmy-winning screenwriter Adam Rudman (Nature Cat, Sesame Street) is the show’s head writer.
Animation for Carl the Collector is being handled by Toronto’s Emmy and Annie-nominated studio Yowza! Animation (Animaniacs, Green Eggs and Ham).
PBS’s Carl the Collector synopsis reads:
Carl the Collector follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted autistic raccoon who loves collecting things. His talents – a laser-focus pursuit of his goals, attention to detail, and a distinctive way of looking at and experiencing the world around him – have helped him amass a collection for just about every occasion (e.g., the perfect fake mustache or a soft plushie for a friend in need), and come in handy for solving problems around the neighborhood with his friends. Carl has a lot of energy and is logical and precise, yet he often struggles with anxiety in new situations and has difficulty when things don’t go according to plan. Like all of his friends, he is learning that there is no right or wrong way to be himself.
The Carl the Collector cast will include both neurotypical and neurodivergent characters, each with unique traits, behaviors, and learning preferences. A team of neurodiverse and neurotypical writers, advisors, and voice talent has been recruited to participate in the show’s production.
According to Ohora:
My hope for Carl and his diverse group of Fuzzytown friends is that they will inspire neurodiverse and neurotypical kids alike to foster a world in which neurodiversity is not only recognized as a benefit to society but is celebrated as exemplifying the full spectrum of what it means to be human.
Dr. Geraldine Oades-Sese, a licensed psychologist and children’s book author, is one of the show’s advisors. According to her:
It is about time for a children’s show like Carl the Collector, which embraces the diversity of children’s experiences and showcases an inclusive and relatable world. The show doesn’t shy away from having its main characters experience common mental health challenges such as anxiety, fear, sadness, and the need for acceptance and belonging. Carl and his Fuzzytown friends take viewers on fun and humorous adventures that will help them understand and empathize with the characters and, ultimately, extend that understanding and compassion for others.