Toronto’s 9 Story Media Group has entered into a development deal with Canadian registered charity Earth Rangers to create an animated workplace comedy for kids ages six to nine.

The Canadian prodco and Earth Rangers, which is billed as the world’s largest youth conservation organization, have started development on the series with the aim of empowering young viewers and their families amid concerns about the state of environment, according to a news release.

Mark Steinberg (Hotel Transylvania, Big Blue, Numb Chucks) is attached as head writer with 2023 CBC-BIPOC TV & Film Showrunner Catalyst program participant Nelu Handa (Run the Burbs, Baroness von Sketch Show, Odd Squad) as story consultant. 

Karen Fowler, VP, development, 9 Story Media Group (Rosie’s Rules, The Electric Company, Scout and the Gumboot Kids, Dot), is leading development of the series out of the Toronto studio.

The teams are also working on a serialized podcast (6 x 8 to 10 minutes) that will serve as an “appetizer” to the series and capitalize on Earth Rangers’ “already significant and dedicated audience,” Fowler said in a statement.

Earth Rangers has 350,000 members and alumni across Canada and was founded in 2004. The agreement with 9 Story follows the organization’s recent expansion into the U.S., which was announced last month.

Vince Commisso, president and CEO, 9 Story Media Group said in a statement that he is a “big believer” in Earth Rangers’ goal of creating “new generations of conservationists,” noting “we have a responsibility to future generations to fix what is happening with our planet.”

The prodco’s animated preschool series Wild Kratts, which features wildlife and ecology, has taught 9 Story “that kids are inherently passionate about the environment from an early age,” Commisso added.

“Our goal with this partnership is to reach a slightly older audience and help maintain this passion for animals and the environment.”

Earth Rangers has always aimed to meet kids “where they are,” said Tovah Barocas, president of Earth Rangers, in a statement, adding that the series will “resonate” with kids by reflecting their passion for the environment with “compelling characters and humour.”

Image courtesy of 9 Story Media Group