Supported by the European Commission’s fund for the environment and produced by award-winning animators including Curtis Jobbling, best known for the internationally acclaimed pre-school series Bob The Builder™, the series called “My Friend Boo” will be broadcast in more than 11 languages. Episodes will also be rolled out in schools, social clubs and associations across Europe, through networks like the Europe Region of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts .
My Friend Boo tells story of Ben, Jaq and Lucy and Boo, a magical dog who comes to life in their attic. Boo takes the kids on magical and whacky adventures to find out about issues such as water conservation and pollution and the importance of water to the world. Project architect and spokesperson, Luigi Petito said: “Children can be huge drivers for change and cartoon animation is a wonderful means to help them identify with a range of important topics which are sometimes too complex for them to understand. By using comedy, adventure and letting their imaginations run wild, you can put what seem like mammoth issues into their context, this was our intention with Boo”. The series has pioneered a new approach to creating educational programmes for children. Messages and storylines were developed with the help of leading independent experts such as WWF and tested at each main production phase on hundreds of European children. Speaking from the London launch, Antonia Mochan from the European Commission in the UK said: “Children will be coming to these environmental issues from very different perspectives, depending on whether they are in Northern or Southern Europe, living in cities or the countryside, and also the sort of television they watch. What My Friend Boo seems to have got right is an approach that works across such divisions, to resonate with millions of children. It's a great example of a European approach that works locally “. Laura Cottey from Girlguiding UK said; “Care for the environment has always been an important part of guiding. The project is a terrific example of an educational effort that talks to today’s multi-level learning environment. The series can be used as an educational tool in and outside of school – this is where children often do their learning. We hope that Boo reaches and motivates many young girls across Europe and perhaps a few adults too! My Friend Boo will be broadcast across Europe from June. Each episode will be accompanied by free downloadable teaching packs for schools and educators.
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