Punky (Animated Series)
Encyclopedia
Punky is an Irish animated television series created by Lindsay J. Sedgewick and produced by Dublin based Monster Animation and Design. The series is the world's first animated series featuring a lead character with Down Syndrome
.
Punky relates stories from the everyday life of a six-year-old girl who has Down Syndrome. Punky is a happy little girl who loves music, dancing and hugs. She likes to play with her big brother, Con, and her dog, Rufus. She also tries to make Cranky, her grandmother, just a little less cranky.
Negotiations are at an advanced stage with a number of TV networks in the UK, Australia, Germany and Sweden to screen the show. An Irish language
version of the show is also in production, to be broadcast on TG4
.
The lead character is voiced by Aimée Richardson, a 29-year-old Dublin woman who has Down Syndrome.
The show's creative director Jason Tammemagi
, who has been involved in a number of animated shows for pre-school children, including Fluffy Gardens
.
The series is produced with the support of Down Syndrome Ireland, who also reviewed material during development and production of the series. The series is supported by investment incentives from the Government of Ireland (Section 481), in association with RTÉjr, with the participation of the Irish Film Board
and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
’s Sound & Vision Fund.
Down syndrome
Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...
.
Punky relates stories from the everyday life of a six-year-old girl who has Down Syndrome. Punky is a happy little girl who loves music, dancing and hugs. She likes to play with her big brother, Con, and her dog, Rufus. She also tries to make Cranky, her grandmother, just a little less cranky.
Negotiations are at an advanced stage with a number of TV networks in the UK, Australia, Germany and Sweden to screen the show. An Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
version of the show is also in production, to be broadcast on TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
.
The lead character is voiced by Aimée Richardson, a 29-year-old Dublin woman who has Down Syndrome.
The show's creative director Jason Tammemagi
Jason Tammemagi
Jason Tammemagi is the creator, writer and director of preschool show, Fluffy Gardens. He also directed Roobarb & Custard Too and Irish animated drama, Ballybraddan....
, who has been involved in a number of animated shows for pre-school children, including Fluffy Gardens
Fluffy Gardens
Fluffy Gardens is an Irish preschool animation television show created, written and directed by Jason Tammemagi and produced by Monster Animation & Design Ltd. Each seven-minute episode tells the story of a different character. Characters include Paolo the Cat, Lola the Mosquito, Wee Reg the Puppy,...
.
The series is produced with the support of Down Syndrome Ireland, who also reviewed material during development and production of the series. The series is supported by investment incentives from the Government of Ireland (Section 481), in association with RTÉjr, with the participation of the Irish Film Board
Irish Film Board
The Irish Film Board is Ireland’s national film agency and major film funding body. It was recommended for abolition by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in 2009.-Formative years:...
and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland was established on 1 October 2009 effectively replacing the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland ....
’s Sound & Vision Fund.