On Tuesday
Targeted at kids ages two to five, "Mighty Express" has the same tone as "Paw Patrol, the same creator in
Like "Paw Patrol," it also has a catchy theme song that may become another earworm for parents, especially those working from home during the pandemic with children who watch shows on repeat.
"I feel like it falls under the 'sorry, not sorry' category," laughed
"Like, 'I apologize, but I'm here to serve your children. So if they like it, I'm happy, and I apologize if it's driving you crazy.'"
Animated by
This past summer in a video posted on social media,
"Paw Patrol" was also drawn into social media conversations questioning the presence of TV shows that portray good cops, in the wake of the police killing of
Dodge wouldn't comment on such discussions, which sparked unfounded rumours the show was cancelled and a
The series, which is on Netflix in
"'Paw Patrol' isn't going anywhere. We are currently in season eight on the air. We are in production on season nine. I think most importantly, and most excitingly, we are in full production on our first big CG theatrical animated feature that's going to be hitting screens globally next August."
Mikros Animation in
Such efforts come during "a really interesting time in kids programming" amid the pandemic, Dodge said in a phone interview.
She noted parents who are working from home and feeling guilty about how much time their kids are spending on their devices want to trust what they're putting their young children in front of.
"With our shows, we don't teach math or learning ABCs and one, two threes. But we definitely try to teach the lessons in resilience, in trying again, in sharing, in teamwork, in honesty -- those social emotional lessons -- so a parent will feel good when their child is watching it."
In the case of "Mighty Express," the learning comes from the "mega missions" the trains have to do with the help of their kid friends.
Atomic Cartoons did the animation for the show.
Dodge said it's the first time
The "Mighty Express" learning game app will launch either at the end of this year or early next year. A toy line with trains is due in fall of 2021.
The show will also have a "really robust YouTube presence," said Dodge.
"Mighty Express" has a slightly younger demographic than "Paw Patrol," but does have a little nod to its canine colleague.
"We did also put a dog in the show, in one of the trains, because we were like, 'We can't not have a dog in something now,'" Dodge said with a laugh. "I was like, 'We're not allowed to do a show that doesn't at least have one dog in it.'"
This report by
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