Eugene Haynes and Joseph L. Lewis, III, creators of popular cartoon character,Teddy P. Brains, have been invited to participate in Chicago Museum of Science and Industry's 2008 Black Creativity program. The exhibit is called "The Magic of Television and Film" and it will showcase achievements of African Americans in the film and television industries. The month long event will begin in February 2008.
Hayes and Lewis will also talk to Chicago public school students about what it takes to bring an animated television show to life, and they will participate in a symposium “Taking over the Digital Divide: African Americans and Digital Animation."
The Museum of Science and Industry has a legacy of programs that promote diversity. The annual Black Creativity program, will celebrate its 37th year in 2008. It highlights the achievements and contributions of African Americans in science and technology and is a commemoration of cultural expression and innovation.
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Concerned with lack of diverse programming for children, Hayes and Lewis created the 3-D animated series The Adventures of Teddy P. Brains: Journey into the Rain Forest that launched in April 2007.
The series nonstop adventures follow Teddy, along with his cousin Tempest and dog, D'Artagnan, through space, time and around the World with the help of Teddy's magic diploma and rocket ship, The Boundless Explorer.
"It was the desire to produce quality entertainment that drove us to start our company and parenthood that inspired this project," said Haynes, co-creator of Teddy P. Brains and co-founder of Fourth and One, the company that produced Teddy. " Teddy P. Brains has put our company in the middle of the knowledge-entertainment revolution, a revolution that will include a positive self-image of African American youth."
The DVD, Journey Into the Rain Forest, is available on teddypbrainstv dot com. The Website has interactive games, coloring books, lesson plans for educators and a way for every student to earn their very own "magical" diploma.
Kimberly Hodges Ross, owner of KHR Creative, a marketing and media firm, said "Teddy P. Brains will be to our children what other cartoons with a message like “Fat Albert” and “School House Rock” was to my generation," she says. "Ask me anything about the history, science or social skills I learned in third grade, I could not tell you, but the life lessons learned from Fat Albert and the knowledge-infused songs from School House Rock I remember to this day. Teddy P. Brains has that kind of staying power, the series is unforgettable!"
Teddy P creators are reaching out to knowledge seekers of all ages to find out" Where should Teddy go next?" For more information or to offer suggestions, visit www.teddypbrainstv.com.
