Animated Preschool Content Shifts Toward More Diverse Casts, New Problem-Solving Methods

variety.com:

Karen Idelson It all started with shows such as “Blaze & the Monster Machines” and “Doc McStuffins.” Over the past decade, many preschool children’s animated shows have shifted toward showing a more diverse cast and including storytelling that features STEM themes — problem-solving that’s focused on subjects including basic understanding of math, engineering and the sciences.“I do think that there are far more STEM animated shows, especially for preschoolers,” says Amy Friedman, head of kids and family programming for Warner Bros. “If you’re doing preschool programming, you’ve got to have an educational foundation because you’re always teaching.

The question is what are you teaching? Everything teaches something. You just may do it intentionally or unintentionally.” In May, Cartoon Network began airing “Sesame Street Mecha Builders,” which focuses on a reimagined cast of Elmo, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby, who play robot heroes-in- training.Together, they use their STEM superpowers to solve problems.This summer, Cartoon Network and HBO Max will premiere “Bugs Bunny Builders,” an animated show based on the Looney Tunes characters that has a STEM/construction focus.Jeff Borkin and Ellen Martin, the creators of “Blaze & the Monster Machines,” which was originally released in 2014 on Nick Jr., wanted to make a show for their own kids that broke down scientific concepts in fun ways that preschoolers would be able to understand.