Nov 14, 2023

PBS Kids will reveal "Carl the Collector," the first show featuring a cast of characters from the autism spectrum.

PBS Kids has ordered a 40, 22-minute episode of Carl The Collector, the broadcaster's first show featuring the protagonists of the autism spectrum. The show will premiere in the fall of 2024.

A 2d animated series for children aged 4-8 years was created by New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Zachariah OHora (my cousin Momo).It is produced by Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures (Donkey Hodie, Nature Cat). Spiffy's co-founder and Emmy-winning screenwriter Adam Rudman (Nature Cat, Sesame Street) is the show's head writer.

The animation of Carl The Collector is being processed by Toronto's Emmy and Annie Award-nominated studio Yowza. Animation (Animaniacs, green eggs and ham).

Here's a synopsis of PBS's Carl The Collector:

Carl The Collector follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a heartwarming autistic raccoon who loves to collect things. His talent – the pursuit of a laser focus on his purpose, attention to detail, and a peculiar way of seeing and experiencing the world around him - makes him a collector Karl for just about any occasion, has a lot of energy, is logical and accurate, but often suffers from anxiety in new situations, which will be difficult if it does not go as planned. Like all his friends, he is learning that there is neither the right nor the wrong way to be himself.

The Carl The Collector cast includes characters of both neural type and neural diversity, each with unique characteristics, behaviors, and learning preferences. Neurodiverse and a team of neurootypical writers, advisors, and voice actors are recruited to participate in the production of the show.

According to Ohora:

My hope for Carl and his diverse Fuzzytown group of friends is that they will use neurodiversity and neurotype children to promote a world where neurodiversity is not only perceived as a benefit to society but also celebrated as exemplifying the full spectrum of what it means to be human. It is to inspire us.

Dr. Geraldine Oades-Sese, a licensed psychologist and author of children's books, is 1 of the show's advisers. According to her:

It's time for children's shows like Carl The Collector to embrace the diversity of children's experiences and showcase an inclusive and relevant world. The show is not shy that the protagonist experiences common mental health challenges such as anxiety, fear, sadness, and the need for acceptance and belonging. Carl and his Fuzzytown friends are fun and humorous adventures that help them understand and empathize with the character and, ultimately, extend that understanding and compassion for others