Fun Freetime: Apple TV+ Kids and Family Programming

 Apple TV+ recently revealed a first look at its lineup of award-winning programming for kids and families returning with more episodes for kids and families to enjoy this spring. Daytime Emmy Award-winning series "Ghostwriter" and"Helpsters,'' both produced in partnership with Sesame Workshop, as well as "Doug Unplugs” from DreamWorks Animation are set to return with new episodes featuring new special guests.

 

Hailing from some of today’s most trusted franchises in kids and family programming, the new installments of “Ghostwriter,” “Helpsters” and “Doug Unplugs” will also premiere this spring alongside the beloved special, “It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown,” which will stream globally on Apple TV+ as part of an expanded partnership with WildBrain.

 

Additionally, ahead of the premiere of “Ghostwriter” season two, Apple TV+ will also launch "Ghostwriter: Beyond the Page," an educational adventure featuring bonus content and unsolved mysteries, available in subscribers' homes, and distributed free to libraries across the country this Spring as part of National Library Week.

 

"Helpsters"

Second half of Season 2 Premiere date: Friday, March 5, 2021

Teaser clip featuring Indya Moore: HERE

“Helpsters” is a live-action pre-school series from the makers of “Sesame Street," encouraging children to explore the power of teamwork and develop early pre-coding skills. Problem-solving pals Cody, Scatter, Mr. Primm and Heart are joined by a cadre of new celebrity guests this season, including Robin Thede, Judah Friedlander, Kate Micucci, Indya Moore;  musical guests include Protoje, The Mowgli’s and Ne-Yo. In this fun and fuzzy series, the Helpsters approach any challenge – from babysitting a lizard, to hiding successfully while playing “hide and seek,” to opening a park – with a can-do attitude, because everything starts with a plan.

 

The recipient of a Parents’ Choice Gold Medal Award and Common Sense Media Award, “Helpsters” has been recognized as "immersive, educational, and entertaining.” The series teaches young viewers important lessons that build pre-coding skills and inspire self-confidence, collaboration, effective communication and much more. Emmy Award winner and Parents’ Choice Gold Medal winner Tim McKeon (“Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends: Destination Imagination,” “Odd Squad”) is the creator and showrunner of “Helpsters.” He and Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop’s Executive Vice President of Creative and Production, are executive producers.  The series has also scored a season three renewal.

 

"It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown"

Premiere date: Friday March 26, 2021

Peppermint Patty tries to teach Marcie how to decorate eggs, Snoopy gets a birdhouse for Woodstock, and Linus convinces Sally that she doesn't need to color eggs because the Easter Beagle will bring them.

 

"It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown,” along with the other classic Peanuts specials, was produced by the Hollywood animation studio Bill Melendez Productions, with Lee Mendelson Film Productions and Peanuts Worldwide. 

 

"Doug Unplugs"

Second half of Season 1 Premiere date: Friday, April 2, 2021

Teaser clip: HERE

Hailing from DreamWorks Animation and based on Dan Yaccarino’s Doug Unplugged book series, “Doug Unplugs” follows a young robot named Doug who senses there’s more to life than just the facts. While other robots plug in for their daily download, Doug unplugs and journeys into the human world with his best friend Emma to experience its wonders firsthand.

 

“Doug Unplugs” is executive produced by Jim Nolan, Aliki Theofilopoulos and Dan Yaccarino, and stars the voice talents of Brandon James Cienfuegos, Kyrie McAlpin, Eric Bauza, Mae Whitman, Leslie David Baker and Becky Robinson.

 

"Ghostwriter: Beyond the Page"

Premiere date: Thursday, April 1, 2021

The world of Apple TV+'s mystery series "Ghostwriter" comes alive this Spring with "Ghostwriter: Beyond the Page," featuring on-platform bonus content, activities, and challenges for young adventurers. Hosted by children’s book author D.J. MacHale, four bonus videos star Donna (played by Hannah Levinson) as she revisits some of the series’ beloved books: "Alice in Wonderland," "The Jungle Book," "Trinity," and "Frankenstein."  Presented as video diary entries, the videos follow Donna as she embarks on a journey to write her own original story. Throughout each video, “Ghostwriter" characters will pop in and help Donna tackle various challenges in the writing process. As a companion to the bonus videos, viewers will have access to an online activity guide that matches up with Donna’s journey, available onApple.com. This bonus content will also be distributed to libraries via the Youth Outreach Coordinators at various State Public Library Systems which will be supported as part of National Library Week, April 4-10, 2021.

 

"Ghostwriter"

Teaser clip featuring guest star Kristen Kreuk: HERE

Second half of Season 2 Premiere date: Friday, May 2, 2021

In its second season, the young heroes of "Ghostwriter" work to save their bookstore and discover the true identity of their ghostly companion; viewers will dive into new stories including "Time Castaways" by Liesl Shurtliff and an original story called "The Cobalt Mask,” written especially for the show.

 

“Ghostwriter,” which garnered a historic Daytime Emmy Award win for Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Programming for Season 1, is a re-imagining of the classic Sesame Workshop series from the early nineties. The series is designed to expose children to a wide array of literature and foster a love of reading; each multi-episode story arc is themed on a different work, from beloved classics to new works commissioned from popular authors like D.J. MacHale and Kwame Alexander. Academy Award winning and DGA Award-nominated Luke Matheny returns as a writer and director on the series, with PGA Award-nominated Andrew Orenstein serving as showrunner. Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop’s Executive Vice President of Creative and Production, is executive producer. “Ghostwriter” is produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment.  The award-winning show joins “Helpsters” in gaining a season three renewal.

 

Apple TV+ is home to original series from some of today’s most trusted franchises in kids and family programming, including the Daytime Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter” and “Helpsters” from Sesame Workshop; as well as upcoming series “Fraggle Rock” from The Jim Henson Company; “Doug Unplugs” from DreamWorks Animation; “Stillwater” from Gaumont and Scholastic; and a newly imagined original series based on the stories and illustrations of Maurice Sendak.

 

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung, LG, Sony and VIZIO smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. This special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device.