PBS KIDS launched Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, a new animated series based on the children’s book series Ordinary People Change the World, from New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos.
This new multi-platform series, produced by 9 Story Media Group’s animation studio Brown Bag Films, will debut nationwide in next fall on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and PBS KIDS digital platforms.
The show will introduce kids to inspiring historical figures, from Rosa Parks to Leonardo da Vinci, who will help them learn important social-emotional concepts.
The series follows the adventures of Xavier Riddle, his sister Yadina, and their friend Brad. In each episode, they face a problem and turn to the Secret Museum, a hidden room under an ordinary museum, to help them solve it. The museum allows Xavier, Yadina and Brad to travel back in time to meet real-life historical figures when they were kids.
Along with the television series, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum will offer digital content for kids, parents, and teachers next fall. This includes games at pbskids.org and on the free PBS KIDS Games app. An Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum app will also launch after the series’ debut.
Each episode of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum will include two animated 11-minute stories with accompanying interstitial content. The series is currently in production of 37 half-hour episodes and a one-hour special.
Produced at Brown Bag Films’ Toronto studio, executive producers on the series are Vince Commisso, Brad Meltzer, Christopher Eliopoulos, Fonda Snyder, and Rob Weisbach. The series is directed by Cory Bobiak (Peg + Cat), with Meghan Read (Dot, Dino Dan) as executive story editor. The look of the show is based on Christopher Eliopoulos’ illustrations featured in the Ordinary People Change the World series.
