Sesame Workshop is leaning into new stories about diverse families and heroes that kids want to see on screen. The nonprofit company has crafted its new development slate and is currently looking for broadcasting partners. 

Early Birds (pictured) stars an eight-year-old girl and her grandmother (both African-American) who become part of a covert network of elderly spies to keep their town safe. It targets kids ages six to eight, and focuses on multi-generational family relationships and community. Keion Jackson (Karma’s World) created the show.

“Our audience is always looking to see their family and friendship bonds reflected on screen,” says VP of creative development Kim Díaz. 

Known for tackling difficult issues through its research-based content, Sesame is always working to model diversity on Sesame Street. In May, it introduced its first Filipino-American muppet to the show, following the entry of a Black muppet in 2021 and one with autism in 2017.

The company is taking a more fantastical approach to diversity with its other new series, Henriyeti (pictured below). In this preschool concept, developed by Sindy Spackman, a young yeti uses her unique abilities (e.g. super-strength) to show how being different from your family also means bringing something special to the mix. It’s an expanded version of a same-name package of shorts (four x two minutes) that 2Tall Animation produced in 2016 for Sesame’s YouTube channel, where one episode alone racked up more than 30 million views.  

Henriyeti follows a young yeti who shows how being different is good.

Early Birds and Henriyeti, which both have an undetermined number of 22-minute episodes, are the byproducts of a shift at the Workshop to gradually expand from live action and puppets to animation, says Díaz. 

The company’s flagship series, Sesame Street, has featured animated segments and songs since its premiere back in 1969. But in recent years, the company has pushed further into the medium with animated shows such as Mecha Builders (2022) and Esme & Roy (2018).