"Weather Hunters"
PBS KIDS to launch two new-brand animated shows this year. The first one is "Weather Hunters", an animated STEM series created by and starring "TODAY Show TV" weatherman, Al Roker. This title will premiere on PBS KIDS on July 7 in both English and Spanish. Aims to viewers ages 5-8, "Weather Hunters" is designed to support kids’ learning about Earth science and meteorology through adventure and comedy to cultivate their awareness, curiosity, and caring about how weather and climate impact individuals, communities, and global society. Created by Al Roker, "Weather Hunters" is produced by New York-based Al Roker Entertainment and Dete Meserve’s Silver Creek Falls Entertainment, Inc.
“Weather has always been a passion of mine, and inspiring young minds to explore its wonders has been one of the most fulfilling parts of this journey,” said Al Roker. “With 'Weather Hunters', I’m thrilled to share that passion with a new generation, including my granddaughter, Sky, who reminds me every day of the importance of leaving a better planet for our kids.”
“Weather impacts all of us every day, from our activities to our health and well-being, and we’re so happy to be collaborating with Al Roker and his team at Al Roker Entertainment on this timely new series that helps teach foundational science concepts in a fun way,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS. “'Weather Hunters' will help equip kids with the building blocks to start to understand weather overall, and encourage them to use these STEM skills to make observations, collect data, and investigate the weather where they live, too.”
In addition, PBS KIDS will premiere another new animated series, "Phoebe & Jay", in fall 2025. This series is designed to support early literacy skills for preschoolers (ages 3-5) by showcasing the various kinds of texts they see in their everyday lives—from signs and posters to labels and movie tickets—helping them understand, navigate, and participate in the world around them.
The series follows the adventures of 6-year-old fraternal twins Phoebe and Jay Yarber, who live with their family in the fantastical Tobsy Towers. At the heart of "Phoebe & Jay "is a foundational literacy curriculum highlighting the importance of developing preschoolers' functional literacy and skills, empowering them to use and create functional texts in the world around them to tackle challenges and accomplish tasks in their everyday lives. The series is created by Genie Deez and Thy Than, and is produced by Phoebe & Jay Productions and Mainframe Studios ("Cocomelonn").
“’Phoebe & Jay’ beautifully blends fun and learning by introducing young viewers to the importance of everyday problem solving, literacy, and life skills in a way that's relatable and engaging," said Sara DeWitt. “We’re excited to bring this series and its endearing stories that celebrate family, community, and the power of literacy to families across the U.S.”
“The opportunity to help teach kids at home how to navigate life’s challenges with humor and positivity through a foundational literacy curriculum has been and continues to be an amazing adventure and gift,” says co-creator Genie Deez. “Growing up in a low-income environment, we didn’t see too many Black kids who spoke or looked like us on television, and we’re excited to feature an awesome cast of characters dealing with similar environmental influences. I was also inspired by my own Grandma Annie, who helped raise me and my brother.”
“We’re so excited to bring this series to audiences across the country with PBS KIDS.” said co-creator Thy Than. “The inspiration for our stories comes from our lived experience, and they embody the belief that ‘things don’t have to be the best, to make the best of things.’.”
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