Ryan Dean, CEO of RD Group and Treehouse Productions, the companies behind Milkshake!’s recently-launched live-action kids’ series Treehouse, discusses the new series, opportunities for eco-conscious content and the group’s sustainability mission.
Ryan Dean
Treehouse Productions recently launched the children’s series Treehouse on Milkshake! Tell us about the show.
Treehouse is a live-action preschool show that blends costumes, puppetry and 2D animation in a vibrant 30×7’ series that’s a celebration of nature. Each episode explores kindness, inclusion and empathy through fun adventures. At the centre of it all is Squiggle, a wide-eyed young squirrel who lives in a magical treehouse in the countryside with his best friends, Fluff, a mischievous mouse, and Nok-Nok, the nosy woodpecker. Through a magical wall of windows, Squiggle visits his woodland neighbours, from dancing ladybird Dotty to the energetic owl Magnus, and the best friend duo Badger and Scratch. Squiggle learns something new in every episode, whether it’s how to do ballet or celebrate Diwali, and brings that lesson home to share with Fluff. The characters are non-verbal, communicating through physical movement, while a friendly narrator guides the action and gently lands the message, making it easy for young viewers to connect and join in. The show was specifically designed to support speech development and motor skills in very young children, encouraging active participation and imitation through expressive movement and storytelling.
How did the production of Treehouse align with RD Studios’ [part of RD Group] sustainability mission?
From the very start, Treehouse was designed with sustainability at its core. It was filmed at RD Studios in Park Royal, powered by solar energy, featuring rainwater harvesting and fully electric operations. The sets were made from recyclable, paper-based materials in partnership with Vectar Sets, drastically reducing environmental impact. This wasn’t just a show about nature; it was made with nature in mind.
How does Treehouse strive to represent inclusivity among children?
Treehouse focuses on emotional and developmental inclusivity. The characters don’t represent any specific race or background; they’re vibrant, colourful, non-verbal creatures with a mix of personalities and interests, designed so children from a wide range of backgrounds can see themselves in the stories. The show gently explores themes like kindness, empathy and curiosity in ways that resonate universally. While a few episodes touch on specific celebrations like Diwali or Christmas, the broader focus is on shared values and experiences that all children can connect with.
Children’s series Treehouse draws inspiration from the Teletubbies and In the Night Garden
How is the style of Treehouse influenced by other shows of the past, and why did Treehouse Productions decide to draw inspiration from these?
Treehouse draws inspiration from beloved live-action shows of the late 1990s and 2000s – like Fimbles, Teletubbies and In the Night Garden, which encouraged interaction, movement and early speech in young viewers. Today, many children’s shows rely on fast-paced animation that, while visually engaging, can be overstimulating and doesn’t always support healthy developmental engagement. With Treehouse, we deliberately slowed things down. The show uses thoughtful pauses, clear visual cues and non-verbal storytelling to give children time to process, imitate and physically respond. When children watch Treehouse, you will find they start clapping along, mimicking movements, or trying new words. It’s a return to screen time that invites participation, not just passive watching.
What other children’s shows are on Treehouse Productions’ production slate?
While Treehouse is our flagship in children’s content for now, we are actively developing several new projects aimed at preschool and early school-age audiences. We’re continuing to experiment with formats that blend live-action, puppetry and animation, always with strong values, bold design and green production practices at the centre.
How is RD Studios navigating a difficult climate for the content industry, hit by rising production costs and decreasing budgets?
We’ve built the RD Group (RD Studios and production agency RD Content) as a vertically-integrated model, allowing us to manage development, production and post-production entirely within our group of companies. We think we’re unique in that sense as an independent producer in the UK. We work across a number of different fields in content creation and this diversification helps us remain robust. Within the group, we have a broadcast equipment rental business, film and television studios, production services, advertising and, of course, original content development and production.
Is RD Studios using AI in any of its work and, if so, how is it doing so sustainably?
RD has always strived to be at the forefront of technology, and we have been working on integrating AI into several of our workflows. From storyboarding and concept art through to using AI to assist with more mundane administrative tasks, we’re looking at how AI can make us more efficient. At the same time, we’re aware of the sustainability concerns surrounding AI and we’re exploring ways to integrate it into our workflow in a way that doesn’t harm the environment.
What are the biggest opportunities you see in the children’s content space at the moment?
There’s a growing appetite for children’s content that reflects today’s values of empathy, inclusivity and environmental awareness, while still being imaginative, joyful and fun. Parents are seeking shows they can trust, and kids want characters and worlds they can genuinely connect with. Eco-conscious content is a huge opportunity. Treehouse is our way of showing that it’s possible to make bold, beautiful television in a way that’s lighter on the planet. Beyond the content itself, there’s a big opportunity in how these shows live beyond the screen. Social media and digital extensions can massively increase a brand’s presence and relevance. At RD Content, we’re experts at creating engaging content across platforms, which helps extend the life and impact of a show far beyond broadcast.
What are the RD Group’s core goals and ambitions for the next year?
At the RD Group, we see a huge opportunity in helping other productions meet their sustainability goals. Whether that’s navigating certification processes, such as the Albert sustainability scheme, or implementing greener practices on set, our fully integrated in-house model enables us to provide practical advice and hands-on support throughout a project’s lifecycle. As sustainability becomes an industry standard, we’re uniquely positioned to help productions reduce their environmental footprint without compromising creativity or quality.
