Bobby & the Bottle Brigade: An inclusive and fun adventure for the little ones

12 September 2024

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Welcome to Planet Zuplez, where little Bobby, an eight-year-old boy, and his trusted friend, Fiji the Crab, live on a tropical island. But beneath the surface of the waters surrounding their home lies a vibrant and surprising world, inhabited by colorful characters like Flowers, Sipple e Solomon, better known as the Bottle Brigade. These friendly underwater heroes have a very special mission: to solve the problems of sea creatures, who ask for help by sending messages in bottles.

Every adventure of Bobby and the Bottle Brigade is a mix of comedy and crazy challenges. Between funny puzzles to solve with the help of friends like Squidly e Alessia, and the annoying interference of the crab Thornella, the team never gives up. Together, they tackle each mission with determination, always ready to save the day and earn real-world rewards. Who would have thought that solving problems could be so much fun?

The animated series Bobby & the Bottle Brigade, a co-production of Something Big (France) e Kavaleer Productions (Ireland), has been selected to be presented at the Cartoon Forum 2024 in Toulouse, France. The presentation of the series will take place on Tuesday, September 17, a highly anticipated event that could mark an important step forward for this promising animated production.

Bobby & the Bottle Brigade is an animated series designed for preschool children and consists of 52 episodes of 11 minutes each. Set in the fantastic Planet Zuplez, the series follows the adventures of Bobby and his underwater rescue team, always ready to solve the daily problems of the inhabitants of the sea. The stories are simple and funny, but also deal with important and relatable themes for the little ones, such as friendship, cooperation and perseverance.

A particularly significant aspect of the series is its strong emphasis on inclusivity. Bobby, in fact, uses a bathyscaphe adapted to a wheelchair to experience his underwater adventures, demonstrating that even those with physical disabilities can be heroes. This positive representation offers a powerful example for young viewers, promoting acceptance and celebration of diversity.

“We are thrilled to partner with Kavaleer on Bobby & the Bottle Brigade," he has declared Frederic Puech, producer of Something Big. “This series is not only funny, but it also promotes inclusion and celebrates differences. We are bringing something truly unique to the preschool space, combining the appeal of a rescue program with humor. We are thrilled to present the series at Cartoon Forum and share Bobby’s world with audiences and partners around the world.”

The producers of Knight, Gary Timps e Andrew Kavanagh, stressed how important this collaboration is: “Kavaleer is proud to join forces with Something Big to bring to life Bobby & the Bottle Brigade. We have always championed programs that promote diversity, and this series perfectly balances authentic representation, rescue adventures, and a ton of comedy. We are thrilled to be part of a project that will help preschoolers explore their world through fun and friendship.”

The series was created by Vasily Hahalushka, who also serves as artistic director, and Michael Mennies, who serves as producer and voice director. The creative team also includes the director Virgile Trouillot (What's the Big Idea, Go Astro Boy Go), the editorial consultant and screenwriter Alan Keane (The Amazing World of Gumball), And Jim LeBrecht, nominated for an Oscar, as a disability consultant.

Bobby & the Bottle Brigade stands out for its mix of humor, adventure and a positive message of inclusivity. With a cast of engaging characters and fun stories, this series has the potential to become a reference point for children and their families, teaching them that, no matter what their difficulties, everyone can be a hero and make a difference in the world. We can't wait to see where this underwater adventure will take Bobby and his crew!