Thunderbird Wins Peabody
by Staff
(June 10, 2020 – Vancouver, BC) Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.has announced that the animated series Molly of Denali has been awarded a highly coveted George Foster Peabody Award. Produced by WGBH Boston and the Company’s Kids and Family Division (Atomic Cartoons) for public broadcasters PBS KIDS and CBC Kids, Molly of Denali is the 2020 Peabody Award winner in the Children’s and Youth Category.
Often compared to the Pulitzer prize for literature, Peabody Award winners represent the most compelling and empowering stories released in broadcasting and digital media. Sixty nominees were announced earlier this year from approximately 1,300 entries across news, entertainment, documentary, children’s, public service, and web/interactive programming. From those 60 nominees, Molly of Denali is one of just 30 productions chosen to receive a prestigious Peabody award.
“We are deeply honoured to be included amongst such a high calibre of award recipients, all of whom are telling stories that celebrate and champion diversity. Nothing is more important at this time, and I could not be prouder of everyone involved in the creation and production of Molly of Denali,” said Jennifer Twiner McCarron, Chief Executive Officer of Thunderbird and Atomic Cartoons.
Since its 2019 premiere, Molly of Denali has been recognized as the first nationally distributed children’s series in the United States to feature an Indigenous lead character. More than 60 Alaska Native actors, writers, advisors, producers and musicians are involved across the production, which is designed to help kids ages 4-8 develop informational text skills through video content, interactive games, and real-world activities.
Molly of Denali follows the resourceful Molly Mabray, who has cultural heritage from three Athabascan groups: the Gwich’in, Koyukon and Dena’ina, as she helps her parents run the Denali Trading Post in interior Alaska. She and her friends explore the epic surroundings and rich Native culture that is home. In the United States, Molly of Denali airs on PBS KIDS and is also available on the PBS KIDS Video App. In Canada, it airs Wednesday and Saturday mornings on CBC and is also available on the free CBC Gem streaming service.
SOURCE: Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.
