Seven exciting new episodes of preschool series on Marc Brown’s Hop are set to premiere exclusively on Max on 15 August.
The series initially debuted on Max 4 April, capturing the hearts of audiences young and old with its lovable characters showcasing the powers of friendship and kindness. Co-creators and fellow Arthur alums, Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown join Brown in bringing his beloved children’s book illustrations to life on Hop, produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation.
In these brand-new episodes, Hop (David Connolly), an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other, and his quirky friends continue to navigate the mud puddles of life with a healthy dose of laughter, silliness, and adventure. Set in the aspirational community of Fair Village, every episode is grounded in emotional reality but soars into the world of fantasy, populated by dragons, trolls, and talking banjos. With a gentle balance of humour and heart, our heroes promise to captivate audiences of all ages with delightful journeys filled with friendship, valuable life lessons and endless possibilities.
“Our entire ensemble cast of characters are coping with some type of disability, which teaches our audience to embrace their own, and others’, uniqueness,” said Brown. “In this new batch of episodes we introduce a blind character and we continue to create a show that will challenge our viewers to understand and appreciate people who are not like them.”
“Hop marks a significant milestone in inclusive children’s entertainment, helping kids relate to, and better understand others,” said series executive curriculum advisor Cheryl Gotthelf. “I am honoured to have played a leadership role on a series that helps ensure young people with disabilities are authentically represented. At Epic Story Media, we believe in the power of inclusive storytelling to positively impact our society and foster a more diverse and equitable world.”
To ensure the series Hop positively impacts how society views and values people with disabilities, Gotthelf collaborated with RespectAbility, an esteemed advocacy nonprofit organisation that fights stigma and advances opportunities for people with disabilities.