Groundbreaking
new series offers
an adventurous
mix of
Alaska Native Values,
and
exciting education
On Monday, July 15, a groundbreaking new animated series called Molly of Denali will begin sharing Alaska Native culture and values on WTTW Kids. Produced by WGBH Boston, the show will be the first nationally distributed children’s series to feature a Native American lead character.
Alaska Native Molly Mabray is the main character of Molly of Denali. A feisty and resourceful 10-year-old Gwich’in/Koyukon/Dena’ina Athabascan girl, she will guide viewers ages 4- to 8-years-old on adventures while fostering literacy skills along the way.
With an emphasis on family and intergenerational relationships, episodes of Molly of Denali will also emphasize Alaska Native values like respect for others, selfless generosity, and honor for elders. They will also showcase contemporary aspects of rural life, including strong female role models and how technology aids in communication.
MOLLY OF DENALI | PBS KIDS
KEEPING UP WITH MOLLY
PREMIERE
Monday, July 15 at 8:30 am and 4:00 pm on WTTW11
LIVESTREAM AND ON-DEMAND
wttw.com/kids
OVER THE AIR
WTTW PBS Kids 24/7 channel 11.4
Comcast digital channel 368
RCN channel 39
Double feature in every show
Each 30-minute episode of Molly of Denali will include two 11-minute stories in which she navigates her world and solves problems with the help of books, online resources, field guides, historical documents, maps, tables, posters, photos, Indigenous knowledge from elders, her very own vlog and more.
“WTTW Kids is delighted to present Molly of Denali — a series that celebrates inclusiveness and diversity in engaging and educational ways,” says Dan Soles, WTTW Chief Television Officer. “We know our young audiences are going to enjoy meeting Molly and learning about her culture.”
Live-action follow-up
The two stories will be followed by a live-action segment featuring local children in their regions. Separately, beginning May 30, kids and families can share in the early adventures of Molly and her friends through The Molly of Denali podcast, a new eight-part weekly prequel to the series.
Authenticity
Molly of Denali includes Alaska Native voices in all aspects of the production, both on camera and behind the scenes.
The lead character of Molly is voiced by Alaska Native Sovereign Bill (Tlingit and Muckleshoot), and the series will create opportunities for developing Alaska Native talent via a Scriptwriting Fellowship.
The program’s theme song was sung by Phillip Blanchett and Karina Moeller of the Yupik Alaska Native band Pamyua, and the Athabascan fiddle and traditional drum in the song were played by Gwich’in fiddler Brennan Firth.
Molly of Denali is co-produced by WGBH and its animation partner, Atomic Cartoons, in association with CBC Kids. The series is developed and produced with funding from CPB, the Department of Education’s Ready To Learn Grant, public television viewers and the Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit. Corporate funding provided by Homer.
About WTTW Kids
WTTW Kids, part of WTTW Chicago public media, presents quality children’s content for audiences aged 2-11. Kids and parents can stream programs live via WTTW PBS Kids 24/7 or on demand onwttw.com/kids, where they will also find games, information about local family events, and the WTTW11 kids television schedule. Programs are also available on demand on the PBS/WTTW video app. Connect with WTTW on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Send your programming updates to Reel Chicago Editor Dan Patton, dan@reelchicago.com.
