First PBS Kid's Series in HD to Debut

[Gregg Lengling]

Mel Brooks stars as Wiley the Sheep in PBS KIDS' new 3D, CGI-animated series
 
 
  Aug. 28, 2003 -- Produced by Mike Young Productions for Entara, JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS -- bringing the charm and inspiration of Irish storytelling to American youngsters -- joins the PBS KIDS weekend line-up beginning Sunday, September 7, 2003 (check local listings). Starring Mel Brooks as Wiley the Sheep, the series is created by London-based Entara and produced entirely in 3D, CGI animation, by leading Los Angeles-based animation studio Mike Young Productions. PBS affiliate WLIW in New York serves as the presenting station.

The series of 26 half-hour episodes for 4 to 7 year olds follows the adventures of Piggley Winksä, a spunky eight-year-old pig, and his friends Dannan the Duck and Ferny the Bull on Raloo Farm in Ireland. While the intrepid trio are enjoying their escapades ("Jakers!ä" is their oft-used Irish expression of delight and amazement), American transplant Wiley the Sheep (voiced by Mel Brooks) is busy offering wild and woolly advice to his all-too-sheepish flock. The opening and closing of each story features Piggley Winks as a granddad, telling these tales of childhood shenanigans as entertaining lessons in life to his three very contemporary, rambunctious city-dwelling grandpigs.


 
Eyes-and feet-on the ball: Soccer superstar Cobi Jones joins friends Piggley Winks, Dannan the Duck and Ferny the Bull, three stars of the new CGI-animated PBS KIDS show JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS.  

Following each of Grandpa Piggley's animated tales, soccer great Cobi Jones of the 2002 MLS Cup Champion team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, and three-time US World Cup team member, hosts a three-minute live-action epilogue entitled "Jakers! Live and Learn." These educational moments spotlight children from diverse cultures and backgrounds sharing sometimes amusing, sometimes poignant, real-life anecdotes that complement the moral lesson of Piggley's exploits.

"PBS KIDS is the perfect home for Piggley and his friends," says Mike Young, executive producer of the series. "JAKERS! brings the wonderful tradition of storytelling to modern-day kids—and PBS, perhaps more than any other network, appreciates the importance of good stories to engage and educate children. In Piggley's case, his stories also demonstrate what an enormous positive influence grandparents can have on their grandchildren."

"With Mike Young Productions' tradition of educational and engaging children's programming, we are delighted to introduce JAKERS! – with its unique cultural and life lessons for children – to our PBS KIDS line-up," says John Wilson, senior vice president of PBS programming.

"PBS has always illuminated a variety of cultural experiences, and we're delighted to be a part of this great tradition," says Stéphanie Gougeon, CEO, Entara and an executive producer of the series. "With stories that travel from Ireland to America and are passed from grandfather to grandchildren, JAKERS! proves what a small world this truly is, and how alike we all are under the surface."
 
We've got the bleat: The legendary Mel Brooks-a man of "shear" comic genius-lends his distinctive voice to Wiley, a sheep with a baa-a-ad attitude, on JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS, the new CGI-animated series making its debut on PBS KIDS on Sunday, September 7 (check local listings).

JAKERS! features the voice talents of comedy legend Mel Brooks as Wiley the Sheep, a recent American transplant to Raloo Farm, who tries with varying degrees of success to lead his flock in somewhat unconventional ways.

"This is the most fun I've had in years," says Mel Brooks. "I get to play a sheep with a ba-a-ad attitude, and I get to impress my five-year-old granddaughter. What more could a guy want from a part!"

Rounding out the cast are some of the industry's most well-know voice actors, including: Maile Flanagan as Piggley (Men in Black, the Series); Russi Taylor (the official voice of Minnie Mouse) as Ferny the Bull and as Mrs. Winks; Tara Strong (Bubbles in The Powerpuff Girls) as Dannan the Duck and Molly (Piggley's little sister); Peadar Lamb (Far and Away) as Grandpa Piggley; Nika Futterman (CatDog) as twin grandpigs Sean and Seamus; Melissa Disney (Ginger in As Told By Ginger) as Meg (the twins' older sister); Charlie Adler (Rugrats in Paris: The Movie) as Da (Dad) Winks and as schoolteacher Mr. Hornsby; Fernando Escandon (The Pagemaster) as Don Toro (Ferny's father); and Pamela Segall Adlon (Bobby in King of the Hill) as Hector (Piggley's teasing schoolmate).

"I've worked with some of the best teams in the world, but nothing compares to working with major players like PBS KIDS and Mel Brooks!" says Cobi Jones. "I'm especially excited to be presenting the 'Jakers! Live and Learn' moments—because to me, helping kids grow is the ultimate goal."

"We're proud to be the presenting station for JAKERS!" says Terrel L. Cass, WLIW president and general manager. "These charming stories will captivate children, while teaching them the vital lessons in life: the satisfaction that comes with hard work; how to deal with feelings of fear, anxiety or insecurity; the joy of using your imagination; appreciating everyone's unique talents—and, of course, the immeasurable value of a Grandpa's wisdom!"

About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS provides a nonviolent, noncommercial daily television schedule that empowers children as members of their communities, nation and world. PBS KIDS welcomes parents, teachers and caregivers as learning partners through broadcast as well as online through pbskids.org. PBS, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a private, nonprofit media
enterprise, owned and operated by the nation's 350 public television stations. Serving nearly 100 million people each week, PBS enriches the lives of all Americans through quality programs and education services on noncommercial television, the Internet and other media.