Local talent behind the voices of Drawn In: Ricco Martin (playing Tyler), Riley Adams (playing Nevaeh), and Leia Yogi (playing Grace). Courtesy of Nine PBS / Jason Winkeler Photography
Nine PBS and Academy Award-winning studio Lion Forge Animation have partnered to represent kids of color and help bridge the literacy gap with a new multimedia initiative called Drawn In. The project will consist of adventure stories featuring four Midwestern kids who live in Midland City, a fictional place largely based on St. Louis.
In every Drawn In adventure, the real world will collide with the comic world, and the kids will have to come up with ways to save their city using problem-solving and literacy skills. Adults and children will be able to access Drawn In through animated video shorts, print and digital comic books, and, eventually, broadcasts on Nine PBS. There is also be a website dedicated to the initiative, where kids can play educational games and educators and adults can access resources to further support literacy goals.
David Steward II, the executive producer of Drawn In and owner of Lion Forge Animation, is excited for the effect the project will have on its audience. “I’m most excited to see the kind of impact on people’s lives. If we can start changing some outcomes for kids and get them excited about learning, maybe 10-15 years down the road, when these kids are adults, if I run into some folk and they say, ‘You know what, I got into reading because I watched Drawn In,’ I’ll know what we’ve accomplished.”
Courtesy of Nine PBS/Lion Forge Animation
Beyond the project’s impressive literacy goals, Nine PBS and Lion Forge Animation are also ensuring that kids of color see themselves on screen. Growing up in the ‘80s, Steward II remembers seeing few people of color in lead roles on television. Those that he did see were often shoehorned into stereotypes. He wants to change that with Drawn In. “We really want to start seeing more [Black and brown] kids go into STEM-related careers. We want to see more kids achieve more in these areas, and the best way to do it is to see themselves doing those things,” he says. According to Nine PBS and Lion Forge, Drawn In is actually among the nation's first kids' initiatives to feature African Americans as lead characters in public media.
One of the most exciting parts of the project is its local focus, drawing inspiration from the St. Louis community. Local talents, including Ricco Martin, Riley Carter Adams, and Leia Yogi, help bring the characters to life. Drawn In is also being co-developed with St. Louis families, educators, and community leaders through focus groups and community learning sessions. Nine PBS and Lion Forge Animation have asked for the community’s feedback through multiple stages of the drafting process for an authentic representation on the screen.
“It’s very important to us to get that community voice, but also get creative notes as well from the community to make sure that we’re in line with properly representing them as well on the screen.” Steward II says.
Drawn In will reflect a story unique to St. Louis that creators hope will also resonate with audiences nationwide. Games, comics, and animated shorts are already available online, and families can find print comics on newsstands and in the St. Louis American through the end of the year. Drawn In will hit Nine PBS later this fall. For more information, visit drawnin.org.
