"Donkey Hodie"
Fred Rogers Productions, the children’s entertainment company behind Emmy-winning PBS Kids series “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Odd Squad,” and “Peg + Cat,” and 9 Story Distribution International, the global distribution arm of 9 Story Media Group, are joining forces to bring “Donkey Hodie” to preschoolers and families around the world. The eagerly-awaited puppet series from Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures will be available to international broadcasters for the first time at MIPJunior in October.
The (80x11-min) series, set to premiere in the United States on PBS Kids in 2021, was created by Spiffy Pictures’ co-founders, Adam Rudman and David Rudman, and developed by Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer at Fred Rogers Productions. It is inspired by the work of Fred Rogers.
“‘Donkey Hodie’ is a series with universal appeal for children around the globe, and we’re excited to be partnering with the 9 Story Distribution team to bring the show to a worldwide audience. We’re proud to be modeling resilience and problem solving for young viewers with every new ‘Donkey Hodie’ adventure,” said Paul Siefken, President and CEO at Fred Rogers Productions .
Meanwhile, Alix Wiseman, SVP of Distribution and Acquisitions at 9 Story, commented: “We are so happy to be working with our long-standing partner Fred Rogers Productions to distribute this delightful show to viewers everywhere. ‘Donkey Hodie’ combines humor, silliness, and a lot of heart to help young viewers tackle some of the problems they face in their daily lives”.
“Donkey Hodie” is an imaginative social-emotional series that follows the adventures of Donkey Hodie along with her pals, Purple Panda, Duck Duck, and Bob Dog, as they empower preschoolers to dream big, persevere, and discover that they are capable of overcoming obstacles on their own – and laugh themselves silly along the way.
In addition to granting 9 Story Distribution the global distribution rights to “Donkey Hodie,” Fred Rogers Productions recently named 9 Story Brands worldwide merchandising and licensing partner for the brand in all markets outside of the United States.