The Jim Henson Company has partnered with Toronto’s marblemedia to develop a new live-action comedy series aimed at debunking stereotypes and stigma around neurodiversity.

Felix (10 x 30 minutes) targets kids eight to 12 and families, and follows a boy who is learning to manage his emotions after starting at a school for neurodivergent kids. Miklos Perlus (Student Bodies) is the show’s creator, and it’s inspired by his own family’s experiences.

Felix’s feelings will be represented by five puppet characters called “feels” (in development at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop) that each embody a big emotion. Henson and marblemedia previously worked together on Hi Opie! (2014) and the spin-off Opie’s Home (2016), which featured a puppet lead.

Marblemedia VP of kids A.J. Trauth (pictured) says Felix is designed to address a significant gap in the market by putting neurodivergent kids and their stories in the spotlight.

“The series strives to broaden the understanding of neurodivergent kids by putting a neurodiverse character in a leading role, and supporting him with a neurodiverse cast of characters who are so much more than their diagnoses,” Trauth tells Playback Daily sister publication Kidscreen. He adds that both studios are committed to assembling a cast and crew that includes people on the spectrum who can bring their own experiences to the production.

To combat stereotypes, Felix highlights how neurodiverse kids aren’t that different from kids who aren’t on the spectrum, Trauth says. It also aims to break down communication barriers between different generations when it comes to talking about mental health by focusing on Felix’s relationship with his family.

Neurodivergent characters are appearing in children’s content with greater frequency these days, but still not as often as they should, in Trauth’s opinion. He adds that “when they do appear on screen, it’s usually in a token or secondary role.”

This story originally appeared in Kidscreen

Image courtesy of marblemedia