Wind Sun Sky Entertainment, the Ontario Water Centre educational charity and its ClearWater Farm social enterprise announce today the Potatoverse, a new multi-platform digital universe designed to help children counter climate “doomism” with hope, inspiration and empowerment to build a better future.
The Potatoverse revolves around a time-travelling, eco-superhero chicken named Potato, also known as “Future Chicken.” Featuring a variety of entertaining and educational experiences for young change-makers, geared primarily for kids aged six to 10 years old, the project is set to formally launch in September 2023 under the Future Chicken global brand.
Potato, named for her love of potato peels, travels back and forth from the year 2050 and reveals how today’s ideas, including those from kids, have taken hold in a better future. She journeys with her diverse group of loveable Planet Protectors including an electric catfish fascinated by fascinators, a joke-cracking egg with rocket pants for flight, a soil connoisseur worm and an eco-detective mushroom with a passion for cyclical regeneration. Together, they help kids understand that even small actions can lead to big and lasting positive effects for the planet.
Two Canadian media pioneers are behind the initiative: Annabel Slaight, founding chair of the Ontario Water Centre and co-founder of the OWL kids’ magazines, books and television brand that reaches more than 60 million families, and Catherine Winder, CEO of multimedia production company Wind Sun Sky Entertainment Inc., a brand-builder and entrepreneur who has worked with properties such as Star Wars: Clone Wars, Angry Birds, Ice Age and Invincible.
Working with a team of global creators, technologists, educators and storytellers, Slaight and Winder built the Potatoverse around a “flywheel” of entry points to digital content starring Potato and the Planet Protectors that helps kids learn on the platforms they choose. Multi-platform experiences include hundreds of animated 30 to 60-second videos, and an initial series called The Future Chicken Today Show that uses game engine animation technology to enable Potato to interview climate experts, celebrities and kids taking positive steps to help the planet.
The initiative also includes games on Roblox, a podcast for families to listen to together and a website hub where kids, parents and teachers can connect. These immersive experiences are designed to engage children across interconnected platforms and nurture an appreciation and curiosity about the wonders of nature and outdoor exploration.
“By providing kids with an optimistic lens, the Potatoverse ‘Future Chicken’ universe holds transformative potential to help the next generation become innovators who will make a lasting impact on our planet,” say Winder and Slaight.”By empowering kids to explore their own ideas while fostering a deep connection with nature, Potatoverse will be a forum for kids to contribute meaningfully as catalysts for positive change. We are filling the hope gap for children when it comes to the future. But as it should be for kids, play and fun is at the heart of everything we are doing.”
The Potatoverse is set to launch in September 2023. The co-creators are pursuing additional support from individuals, foundations or corporations.
windsunsky.com | clearwaterfarm.ca