Red Rock Films and the National Wildlife Federation are set to develop a new kids series based on magazine and book character Ranger Rick.
The upcoming series will be a modern day re-imagination of Ranger Rick that urges viewers to explore their environment by bringing awareness to one conservation issue per season, such as monarch butterfly migration.
Ranger Rick magazine has been a Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner for the past 10 years. First published as “The Adventures of Rick Raccoon,” by the National Wildlife Federation in 1959, the character eventually evolved to its own magazine — then called Ranger Rick’s Nature Magazine — in January 1967 and is now in its 54th year.
“For decades, Ranger Rick has inspired millions of children to explore, love, and protect nature,” said Dawn Rodney, National Wildlife Federation’s chief innovation and growth officer. “Bringing this iconic character to life on TV will inspire an entire generation in a whole new way, thanks to the passion, creativity, and imagination that Red Rock Films and Bix Pix bring to this partnership.”
At the center of the show is outdoors-loving raccoon Ranger Rick alongside characters Scarlett Foxx, a social media-savvy conservation enthusiast; Boomer the Badger, an innovative upcycler; and Tunia the Monarch Butterfly, whose 3,000-mile adventure to reach her ancestral family tree is the focus of the first season.
For Red Rock Films, Brenda Wooding is developing and executive producing the series. Animation studio Bix Pix entertainment is a series producer, with owner and founder Kelli Bixler to executive produce.
“There’s never been a better time to bring the legacy of Ranger Rick to the forefront of TV and further spark kids’ passion for exploring our natural world,” said Wooding. “This series will not only have one of the largest and most trusted conservation organizations backing it, but will also have the fresh, imaginative storytelling and animation magic of Bix Pix steering it forward for the next era. My hope is that kids connect to the series and realize they too can make a difference.”
The show’s creators are currently in talks with various streaming platforms and kids-focused media outlets.