Punky (TV series)

Punky
Genre Children
Created by Lindsay J. Sedgwick
Written by Andrew Brenner
Directed by Simon Crane
Starring Aimée Richardson
Maureen Ward
Bradley Burke
Paul Tylak
Composer(s) John Atkinson
Country of origin Ireland
Original language(s) English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 40
Production
Producer(s) Gerard O'Rourke
Running time 7 minutes
Production company(s) Monster Animation and Design
Release
Original network RTÉjr on RTÉ Two
Picture format 16:9
Original release 3 May 2011 (2011-05-03)[1] – present
Website

Punky is an Irish animated television series created by Lindsay J. Sedgwick and produced by Dublin based Monster Animation and Design. The series features the lead character as having Down Syndrome, with the intention of being the first animated series to do so[2]

Development

The show's creative director is Jason Tammemagi, who has been involved in a number of animated shows for pre-school children, including Fluffy Gardens.

The series is produced with the support of Down Syndrome Ireland, who also reviewed material during development and production of the series.[3] The series is supported by investment incentives from the Government of Ireland (Section 481), in association with RTÉjr, with the participation of the Irish Film Board and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Sound & Vision Fund. A second series (also 20 x 7 mins) was launched in February 2014.

Characters

Punky relates stories from the everyday life of a six-year-old girl who has Down Syndrome. Punky is a happy little girl who loves music, dancing and hugs. She likes to play with her big brother, Con, and her dog, Rufus. She also tries to make Cranky, her grandmother, just a little less cranky.

The lead character is voiced by Aimée Richardson, a 29-year-old Dublin actress who has Down Syndrome.

Broadcast

Negotiations are at an advanced stage with a number of TV networks in the UK, Australia, Germany[4] and Sweden to screen the show. An Irish language version of the show is also in production, to be broadcast on TG4.[5]

References

  1. RTÉ launches new animation series Punky Retrieved: 2011-05-10
  2. ‘Punky’ and ‘Gumball’ Arrive on TV Screens Retrieved: 2011-05-10
  3. ‘Punky’ and ‘Gumball’ Arrive on TV Screens Retrieved: 2011-05-10
  4. Punky, a cartoon heroine for the Saorview age Retrieved 2011-05-11
  5. How my cousin Aimée, the first Down's TV star, made me smile through the tears. . . Retrieved: 2011-05-10

External links

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