Toon duo bolster Apple TV+ kids offering

Doug Unplugs is based on a series of books by Dan Yaccarino

Apple TV+ is gearing up to launch two new series aimed at children later this year after partnering with DreamWorks Animation (DWA), Gaumont and Scholastic.

From DWA and based on Dan Yaccarino’s Doug Unplugged book series, Doug Unplugs follows a young robot who senses there’s more to life than just the facts.

While other robots plug in for their daily download, curious Doug unplugs and journeys into the human world, and with his best friend Emma, experiences its wonders first hand. The show launches on November 13 and is executive produced by Jim Nolan, Aliki Theofilopoulos and Yaccarino.

Stillwater, meanwhile, is based on the Scholastic book series Zen Shorts by Jon J Muth and is produced by Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment.

It will debut on December 4 and is executive produced by Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan, Terry Kalagian, Iole Lucchese, Caitlin Friedman, Jef Kaminsky and Rob Hoegee.

Stillwater is based on the Scholastic book series Zen Shorts

The series centres on three siblings who have a wise panda as their next-door neighbour. Through his example, stories and gentle humour, Stillwater gives the children a deeper understanding of their feelings, as well as mindfulness tools that help them face their own day-to-day challenges.

The shows join other kids’ originals on Apple TV+ such as Ghostwriter and Helpsters, the second seasons of which launch on October 9 and October 16 respectively.

In addition to content from Sesame Workshop, Apple TV+ also features series from Peanuts, the upcoming Fraggle Rock series from The Jim Henson Company and a newly imagined original series based on the stories and illustrations of Maurice Sendak.