TV network, Universal Kids has announced the premiere dates for two new preschool series- Where’s Waldo? from DreamWorks Animation and Norman Picklestripes, to make the summer months fun and fresh.
Where’s Waldo? brings the iconic character to life in a new animated series from DreamWorks Animation, executive producer F.M. De Marco (Spy Kids: Mission Critical) and co-executive producer John Tellegen (Spy Kids: Mission Critical). Twelve-year-old Waldo (voiced by Joshua Rush) and his best friend Wenda (voiced by Haley Tju) are members of the Worldwide Wanderer Society—the international order of curious travelers who circle the globe celebrating cultures and solving problems through observation.
Their mentor—Wizard Whitebeard (voiced by Thomas Lennon), a seasoned wanderer—sends these inquisitive young adventurers on international travel missions so they can earn their stripes and someday become wizard-level wanderers too. Standing in Waldo and Wenda’s way, is their rival Odlulu (voiced by Eva Carlton), who can’t help but cause trouble wherever she goes.
Where’s Waldo? invites kids and their families to play along on an international treasure hunt and indulge into it with a sense of curiosity, desire to discover, and appetite for adventure as you explore new places, cultures, and customs around the world with Waldo and his best friend Wenda.
On the other hand, Norman Picklestripes finds the comedic adventures of Plywood Forest’s can-do handyman. It follows around Norm, the son of Mother Nature, who spends his days helping his quirky and demanding animal neighbours using a touch of imperfect magic and superior fix-it skills. With Broadway-inspired musical numbers in every episode, Norman Picklestripes celebrates the great outdoors and proves that when you work together, anything is possible! His mission is to make the forest a harmonious, peaceful place free of leaky maple trees and loud possum parties.
The series comes from Emmy-winning executive producers Alex Rockwell (Word Party, Pajanimals) and Judy Rothman Rofé (Julie’s Greenroom, Madeline). Original Broadway-inspired songs are featured in each episode, with Emmy-winning Jeffrey Zahn serving as the series music supervisor. Norman Picklestripes is produced in stop motion by BAFTA and Kidscreen-award winning, multi-genre animation studio Factory.
Where’s Waldo? will premiere on 20 July at 10 am on Universal Kids, providing a sneak peek on 1 July on Universal Kids digital platforms including VOD, UniversalKids.com, and the Universal Kids app.
Norman Picklestripes will premiere on 27 July at 11am on Universal Kids, providing a sneak peek on 15 July on Universal Kids digital platforms including VOD, UniversalKids.com, and the Universal Kids app. An encore sneak peek will air on Universal Kids on Saturday, July 20 at 10:30am following the premiere of Where’s Waldo?
