Hasta La Motion!

PBS KIDS is launching a new multiplatform animated series, Hero Elementary on 1 June on all PBS stations. 

Co-created by former Sesame Street EP Carol-Lynn Parente and co-produced by Twin Cities PBS and Portfolio Entertainment, Hero Elementary is expected to spark a love of science among kids and understand its power.

This all-new animated show takes the superhero theme in a fresh direction: the lead character is on the autism spectrum.

 Hero Elementary centers around a school for budding superheroes, where kids learn to master their innate powers, like flying and teleportation, while exploring science along the way. Targeted to children aged four to seven, the series will feature important tools to help them solve problems by encouraging them to think and act like scientists, igniting their natural curiosity. Hero Elementary also showcases character and social-emotional concepts such as kindness, empathy, and commitment to working together to solve problems.

 Commenting on the series, PBS KIDS Content head Linda Simensky said, “With its unique, fun and informative stem, literacy and social-emotional learning curriculum, Hero Elementary is sure to be a heroic hit with kids, parents and teachers alike.”

The stories of the animated series revolves around a diverse group of super students, led by their quirky and enthusiastic teacher, Mr. Sparks. The team works together to help people, solve problems, and try to make the world a better place. When their imperfect powers aren’t up to the task, they look to their other powers – the superpowers of science – to help them investigate, observe, make predictions, and figure out a solution.

 The “Sparks’ Crew” includes Lucita Sky, an empathetic natural leader with the power to fly – and a fear of heights; AJ Gadgets, a superhero who is passionate about all things “super” and has the ability of thought projection and making super gadgets – and who also happens to be on the Autism spectrum; Sara Snap, who’s tiny, but mighty, with super strength and the power to teleport; and Benny Bubbles, a loyal and protective animal lover with a heart of gold, who can create amazing bubbles that double as force fields and more. Both Mr. Sparks and Lucita are bilingual Spanish/English speakers. Rounding out the crew is Fur Blur, the class hamster with an epic appetite and super speed.

 “Hero Elementary has the right formula to help empower kids to make a difference in their own backyards and beyond by actively doing science. The series combines the excitement of superheroes and the power of science to help show kids that they can be superheroes and save the day, too,” added Parente, who co-created the series with Christine Ferraro. 

 The science curriculum in Hero Elementary addresses crucial components of children’s learning – the ability to develop and test ideas, ask questions, predict, and observe – skills known to contribute to learning in other content areas, such as literacy, language development and critical thinking. Each episode will include two animated 11-minute stories accompanied with interstitial content. The series is currently in production for 40 half-hour episodes, which will premiere on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24*7 channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms.

Along with the television series, the Hero Elementary universe will include a collection of interactive digital components to supplement and expand the television world, reinforce learning, and encourage interactive play for kids everywhere. Hero Elementary games will be available on pbskids.org and on the free PBS KIDS Games App, along with clips and full episodes streaming across PBS KIDS’ video platforms, including the free PBS KIDS Video App. A collection of Hero Elementary parent and educator resources will be available on PBS KIDS for Parents and PBS LearningMedia, respectively.

 Hero Elementary is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Ready To Learn Initiative is a federal program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to preschool and early elementary school children and their families.

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While the world still battles Coronavirus, lockdowns across the world have started to eased up or lifted. Disney World too has received a go ahead on reopening Disney World, Florida on 11 July.

Tourists and Disney fans and admirers can visit the place while maintaining social distancing and wearing masks. This comes after a month after SeaWorld and Universal Studios are set to reopen as well, officials said on Friday, 29 May.

Mayor of Orange County Jerry Demings said, “Walt Disney World Resort and Sea World have received approval of their reopening plans.” 

Florida has also green-lit the reopening of Sea World for 10 June and Walt Disney World for 11 July, Demings said. The Disney parks – Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will also open the same day, followed by the EPCOT center on 15 July.

The Universal Studios theme park already has approval to reopen on 5 June, after the abrupt closure of Orlando’s theme parks in mid-March due to restrictions on public gatherings to contain the spread of the virus.

“It may be different from the last time you visited. But together, we can find new ways to create magical moments — and memories to treasure” – Disney World’s website read.

Orlando, located in central Florida, is home to most of the state’s theme parks and draws millions of visitors from around the world every year.

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As the month of June is around the corner here are the games releases that will see the light of day in May 2020 midst of the global lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak:

Tour de France 2020 (4June): Tour de France 2020  is a game based on the experience and the intensity of the Grande Boucle from inside the peloton with Tour de France 2020. Pedal into the thick of the action as a cyclist for one of the top teams in the Tour de France. Elbow to elbow in the peloton, experience the attacks, breakaways, sprints and other tense situations of this famous race. You will need to optimise your tactics and stamina management to slip on the iconic yellow jersey.

Platforms: Xbox One, PC, PS4

Grounded (9June): Grounded is based on the world which is a vast, beautiful and dangerous place – especially when you have been shrunk to the size of an ant. Explore, build and survive together in thefirst person, multiplayer, survival-adventure. The task of the game is to thrive alongside the hordes of giant insects, fighting to survive the perils of the backyard.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC

Warborn (12 June): Warborn is a strategy games based on the rise up and deploy for battle in the variable armour, a technologically advanced suit of war. With command over this giant robotic weapon, lead a strike force of deadly mecha towards victory and liberation in Warborn. It features turn-based tactics and quick-fire clashes.
Platforms:PS4, Switch, PC, Xbox One

Desperados III (16 June): Desperados III is a real-time tactics video game developed by Mimimi Games and published by THQ Nordic. The first installment in the series since the 2007 spin-off title Helldorado,The task is to command a band of Desperados led by gunslinger John Cooper in the real-time tactics game
Platforms PS4, Xbox One, PC

Disintegration (16June): Disintegration is an upcoming first-person shooter that incorporates elements of real-time strategy games. directed by the co-creator of Halo, Marcus Lehto, the game is shaping up to have similarly intriguing sci-fi elements, where you play as a group of humans-turned-robotic outlaws striving to reclaim control over society from a militant superpower bent on converting humanity into robots.
PlatformsPS4, Xbox One, PC

The Last Of Us Part II (19 June): Set five years after the events of its universally loved predecessor, Naughty Dog’s The Last Of Us Part II follows an older Ellie and Joel, who have finally found a life of peace among a thriving community of survivors. That is until a violent event forces Ellie to embark on a new journey in search for vengeance, justice, and closure. On June 19, you can experience this beautiful, but dangerous, world for yourself. And thanks to the newest iteration of the Naughty Dog engine, the characters and world are more realistic and meticulously detailed than ever before.
Platforms: PS4

Little Town Hero (23June): Little Town Hero is a role-playing video game developed by Game Freak. In the game you have to protect your home and you’ll need to gather your ideas and fight! With the unique combat system of Little Town Hero, you can plan your attacks, garner support from your friends, and fend off giant monsters with the power of ideas!
Platforms: Switch, PS4

The Almost Gone (June 25):The game is poised between life and death, isolated and alone, one must unravel the poignant truths that led to your fate. Dig beneath the beautifully rendered façades and interiors of an ordinary suburban lifestyle to discover a contemporary tale crafted by an award-winning author. Piece together this compelling story by revealing objects and memories, and decipher these clues to reveal more of the story and its secrets. From your own home to eerily deserted streets, beautiful apartment blocks to abandoned hospitals, you must search forensically for clues and the path forwards. Each new revelation takes you that one step closer to understanding, and to the people and places that surrounded you, in your all too short life.
Platforms: PC ,Switch

Hunting Simulator 2 (30 June): Hunting Simulator 2 is set in stunning natural environments. With your hunting dog by your side, explore the Texan desert and forests of Colorado and Europe as you track down 33 animal species. Choose your gear from over 160 official weapons, accessories and clothing items (including Browning, Winchester and Bushnell).

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One

The Wonderful 101: Remastered (30 June): The Wonderful 101 is an action-adventure game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game was directed by Hideki Kamiya and produced by Atsushi Inaba; the pair also worked together on the Viewtiful Joe series and Ōkami. In the game players control a horde of superheroes from an isometric viewpoint and can turn them into various objects called “Unite Morphs.” As levels progress, players must explore each stage to find helpless citizens and recruit them to join their army of heroes. The more heroes gathered, the greater the special morph powers can be

Platforms: Switch, PS4

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If there’s ever been a time to show what your brand is made of, it’s now. If there’s ever been a time to show what we as marketers can do in the toughest of times, it’s now. So, in these times of binge WFH (Work From Home), I’ve written out some OTT (Over-the-Top) thoughts in the order they passed my mind.

> Stranger Things – This whole scenario that is playing out in front of us seems like a script straight out of an extremely creative writer, high on sci-fiction movies’ imagination, run amok! It seems like an out of the reality experience and yet it’s actually happening. For real.

> Inception – It’s happening around us in every dimension – from ‘Janta Curfew’ to ‘lockdown’ to working from home to working at home to zoom calls to kitchen duties to laundry chores cut to work presentations to baby duties interspersed in a quick montage of agency meetings, network discussions, creative approvals cut to a quick round of broom duty. We are truly truly being super human currently. Not by choice, but by necessity. This is the new world, its new people, you, me, our consumers each one is evolving daily. We are right in the middle of it as humans and as marketers. Wow! So, we do a quick reset and re-imagine, re-engineer, rejig, reinvent and recreate to survive. Brands need a deep relook. They need a redo – a quick makeover while staying true to its essence. Brands will need to rebrand and reposition themselves. Godspeed. Literally.

> F.R.I.E.N.D.S – Make digital your best friend. With social distancing being the new normal, even offline consumers are being forced to unlearn old habits of walking to a store or a restaurant or the mall and instead learn to replicate the same behaviour online. These are a whole new bunch of consumers for many brands that have typically only been in brick and mortar formats. Adaptability with agility is key and digital is a great mentor and companion – embrace it in all its avatars – tech, e-comm, social media marketing, influencer marketing, market places, aggregators.

> Modern Family – This time that we never imagined we would see in our lifetimes is here. Your consumer is worried about her wellbeing, her near and dear one’s safety. It’s time to get your brand to be really empathetic to her cause, listen carefully, and be there for her. Your brand must play a father figure role in reassuring her that all is well and that we will get through this together. Your brand must don the role of a mother who maintains the highest quality and safety standards at home. Your brand must be that high on quality and safety, for that’s what the consumer cares about now. First, not as a third or fourth criterion in her decision making. Your brand must be that sibling who will pull the consumer’s leg and infuse a spirit of light hearted fun in these testing times.

> Money Heist –  Do what is fundamentally correct. Develop an entrepreneurial spirit to conserve cash. Your brand must research into this new consumer psyche, this new change in consuming lots and lots of content online and on television as is evident from this little piece as well. Understand these new touch points, these new habits – sleeping, eating, working, resting, interacting and then carefully plan your marketing mix. Don’t rush in – first observe and learn and then slay like a seasoned professor. Your brand is sure to hit gold!

As each day unravels a new beginning in the learning curve, let’s lean in and do what’s right, decisively and incisively. We are getting better at it, aren’t we now?  They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit. We are over 63 days into the new reality now and that’s given us 21*3 = 63, that’s 3 learning cycles already! We are pretty much masters in the art of this new marketing mantra. Hope you enjoy reading this piece as much as I did writing it with a steaming mug of OTT!

(This article has been contributed by Baskin Robbins Marketing head Samyukta Ganesh Iyer, and AnimationXpress does not necessarily subscribe to these views)

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