“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” to Premiere on PBS Kids
Los Angeles, CA — A new generation of preschool “neighbors” will get to experience the Neighborhood of Make-Believe when Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood premieres this fall on PBS Kids. The first TV series inspired by the iconic, award-winning Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood from The Fred Rogers Company stars 4-year-old Daniel Tiger, son of the original program’s Daniel Striped Tiger, who invites young viewers into his world, giving them a kid’s-eye view of his life.  As they closely follow and share Daniel’s everyday adventures, preschoolers ages 2-4 and their families learn fun and practical strategies and skills necessary for growing and learning.  Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood premieres Monday, September 3, on PBS KIDS with a special one-hour block of two back-to-back episodes.  The series will air daily following its Labor Day premiere (check local listings).
“No one knew better than Fred Rogers how to connect with children,” said Bill Isler, President of The Fred Rogers Company.  “And, like Fred, Daniel Tiger will visit preschoolers every day.  Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is an exciting new series with all the right elements to appeal to today’s children and families.  It’s well-poised to become a much-loved classic for years to come.”
Recent research proves what Fred Rogers knew all along: social and emotional competencies are the building blocks of doing well in school and in life. To help boost these invaluable skills among preschoolers, each episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood consists of two engaging stories that center on a common early learning theme such as dealing with disappointment.  One of the key ingredients that sets the new series apart is its groundbreaking use of catchy, musical strategies that reinforce each theme and that preschoolers and parents will both sing — and use! — together in their daily lives.  Every story includes an “imagination moment” in which Daniel plays out a preschool fantasy set to music.  Then, the day’s strategy is reprised in a full song at the end.
Daniel Tiger talks directly to viewers, warmly drawing them in and making them feel like one of his neighbors.  The series’ stories are based on extensive input from a wide range of early learning specialists, formative research with children and the benefit of more than 40 years of the work of Fred Rogers.  It all adds up to a powerful tool for parents: an entertaining and thoughtful guide for today’s families that integrates music, interactivity and a research-based curriculum.
“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood builds on the work of one of PBS’ most respected pioneers, Fred Rogers,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children’s Media, PBS. “Just as Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood revolutionized the use of television for early learning, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood breaks new ground, as a multiplatform media property with a unique approach to harnessing the power of media to meet the needs of today’s children. This new series will leverage media across platforms to help a new generation of kids build critical life skills like self-control, patience, persistence and resilience.”
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood brings together some of today’s top creators of quality children’s media.  Angela C. Santomero, of leading production partner Out of the Blue Enterprises and the imaginative force behind Super WHY and Blue’s Clues, has provided the outstanding creative vision for the new series.  Santomero and Kevin Morrison of The Fred Rogers Company are executive producers of the show, which is animated by award-winning 9 Story Entertainment.  Game designer Schell Games will help extend the new show and its positive messages far beyond the TV screen with exciting online games.
Daniel starts his day by donning his red sweater, tying his sneakers and inviting his preschool pals at home into the bright and lively Neighborhood of Make-Believe.  Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood features the next generation of the original characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.  Daniel’s best friend is O the Owl, who lives with his Uncle X in the tree next door to Katerina Kittycat, daughter of Henrietta Pussycat.  Daniel also loves to visit Prince Wednesday, the youngest member of the royal family headed by King Friday, in his castle; and Miss Elaina, who lives with her parents, Lady Elaine Fairchilde and Music Man Stan, in the Museum-Go-Round. The familiar red trolley “ding dings” its way all around the Neighborhood.
The series will be accompanied by interactive content for young viewers, their parents and teachers.  A robust Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood website will launch on Monday, August 6, featuring online games that will offer preschoolers a chance to ride through the Neighborhood on Trolley, pick up Daniel and his friends to give them a ride, and further explore Daniel’s world and his daily routines.  Through game play, preschoolers will build on the skills covered in the series by actively engaging in pretend play activities with Daniel, exploring routines such as bedtime and bath time, expressing feelings and creativity through music and art and modeling positive relationships and appreciation for others.  Online resources for parents, caregivers and teachers also will be available to complement each episode.
