Pablo is a British-Irish children's television series that premiered on CBeebies on 2 October 2017. Grainne McGuinness created it. The series follows the adventures of Pablo, a five year old (later 8 year old) autistic boy, and his imaginary anthropomorphized animal friends, the Book Animals, who go on adventures in Pablo's 'Art World'.[1][2] It is a hybrid of live action sequences and 2D animation. The series features a voice cast and writing team who are all autistic.
| Pablo | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Children's television |
| Created by | Grainne McGuinness |
| Directed by | David McGrath |
| Voices of | Jake Williamson Sumita Majumdar Scott Mulligan Michael White Rosie King Tony Finnegan |
| Composer | Michael Keeney & Kris Stronge |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom Ireland (episodes only) |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 105 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Pauline MacNamara |
| Producer | Graínne McGuinness |
| Running time | Approx. 11 minutes |
| Production companies | Paper Owl Films Kavaleer Productions Ingenious Media Cake Entertainment (episodes only) |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBeebies (UK) RTÉjr (Ireland) (episodes only) |
| Release | 2 October 2017 – 11 June 2020 |
It also broadcasts internationally, including on ABC Kids, Nat Geo Kids, CBC Kids, Universal Kids, S4C and Netflix.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
On 11 October 2021 it was announced a third series was in development. This season will be reworked, with Pablo now eight years old and with a redesigned art style, and be for an older audience.[9] On 1 April 2022, BBC Children's announced it had commissioned the third series, although in October 2024 it was refocused into a spin-off called Pablo: Boy Meets School, with Crayola joining to produce along with Cake and Paper Owl, it is set to release in 2026.[10][11]
Format
editSeries 1 & 2
editA typical episode will begin in the real world, where Pablo will be engaging in some sort of activity. When encountering a problem or something he doesn't understand (like the loss of his own smell following a bath or the unusual way sandwiches are cut to be rectangular rather than triangular), the episode will transition into an animated 'art world', represented by Pablo's drawings. There, Pablo and the Book Animals will work together to solve whatever problem is at hand.
Pablo: Boy Meets School
editThe spin-off follow up series will send a now eight year old Pablo to primary school, a fascinating and at times overwhelming place. With the Book Animals at his side, Pablo will face new challenges and adventures.
Characters
edit- Pablo (played by William & Oliver Burns (live-action), voiced by Jake Williamson): the kind and playful protagonist. He loves to draw things in the Art World with his crayons.
- Mouse (voiced by Rachael Dickson): Mouse is very reliable, cute and organized, but she also hates loud sounds, she also talks in third person.
- Noa (voiced by Tony Finnegan): Noa is a Noasaurus who's sensitive, but often doesn't know how to express his feelings. He "stims" by flapping his hands.
- Tang (voiced by Michael White): Tang is an orangutan who's the big, fun goofball of the group. He's always ready to do anything, but has problems reading social cues and isn't always very careful.
- Wren (voiced by Sumita Majumdar): Wren is gentle and loves to sing and flap her wings. Her words in her comforting voice always sooth others when they're in stress.
- Llama (voiced by Rosie King): Llama loves to skip around back and forth on her four legs as physical "stimming". She has echolalia.
- Draff (voiced by Scott Mulligan): Draff is a giraffe who's the smartest of the group. Because of this, he's highly intelligent and precise. His most commonly used phrase is "in point of fact", as he loves explaining things; he represents Pablo's "infodumping" and his catchphrase "point of fact" is his verbal "stimming".[12][13]
- Pablo's Mum (played by Rosie Barry): caring and attentive, she supports her son in any way she can. She mainly appears in the live action segments.
Episodes
edit| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 52 | 2 October 2017 | 24 September 2018 | |
| 2 | 52 | 7 October 2019[14] | 13 April 2020 | |
| Specials | 2019-present | |||
Series 1 (2017–2018)
edit| No. | Title | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Big Purple Bird" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Paul Isaacs | 2 October 2017 | |
|
Pablo thinks his mum's fascinator is a strange purple bird and doesn't know where his mum is. | ||||
| 2 | "The Party Present" | Andrew Brenner | 3 October 2017 | |
|
Pablo hides from a birthday party. | ||||
| 3 | "The Big Book of Animals" | Andrew Brenner | 4 October 2017 | |
|
Pablo can't find his favourite book. | ||||
| 4 | "The Lost Smell" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Donna Williams | 5 October 2017 | |
|
After having a bath, Pablo goes in search of his lost smell. | ||||
| 5 | "The Super Place" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 6 October 2017 | |
|
Mouse finds the noisy colours of the supermarket overwhelming, so Pablo and his friends try to help. | ||||
| 6 | "The Noise Dragon" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Paul Isaacs | 9 October 2017 | |
|
When Pablo is woken by banging and scraping he draws a cave to hide in, afraid of the noise dragon. | ||||
| 7 | "Taste of Triangles" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 10 October 2017 | |
|
Pablo doesn't like his sandwiches being square: he likes them as triangles. | ||||
| 8 | "Goodnight Blues" | Andrew Brenner | 11 October 2017 | |
|
It's bedtime, but Pablo keeps turning the light back on. Wren worries that when you go to sleep, you disappear, and Pablo agrees with it. | ||||
| 9 | "Mirror Boy" | Andrew Brenner | 12 October 2017 | |
|
Pablo is fascinated with the boy in the mirror. He draws his new friend and introduces him to the art world. | ||||
| 10 | "The Fiona" | Andrew Brenner | 13 October 2017 | |
|
Pablo meets Mum's friend, Fiona. | ||||
| 11 | "Talked Out" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Donna Williams | 16 October 2017 | |
|
Pablo doesn't want to talk, but Draff just can't stop! | ||||
| 12 | "The Sparkles" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Paul Issacs | 17 October 2017 | |
|
Pablo is splashing in a puddle, making little spots of light dance on the surface. Everyone loves these sparkles and tries to catch them. | ||||
| 13 | "The Aroma" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 18 October 2017 | |
|
There is an unusual smell in the house. In the Art World this aroma becomes a swirling character that makes it hard to think or speak at all. | ||||
| 14 | "Squeak, Squeak, Squeak" | Andrew Brenner | 19 October 2017 | |
|
One day Pablo hears a strange sound and discovers his Mum has some squeaky new shoes. He wants to know what they're trying to say. | ||||
| 15 | "Big Coat, Small Coat" | Andrew Brenner | 20 October 2017 | |
|
When Pablo's mum says his coat is getting too small, Pablo is horrified. He draws himself small so his old coat will still fit. | ||||
| 16 | "Tummy Talk" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Paul Issacs | 13 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo is making funny noises. Noa thinks he's swallowed something. They realise it's his tummy, but nobody knows what it's trying to say. | ||||
| 17 | "The New Crayons" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 14 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo's old crayons are running out, but his new ones are the wrong shade, design and smell. How will he be able to draw? | ||||
| 18 | "Chasing the Breeze" | Andrew Brenner | 15 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo loves feeling the breeze as he swings on the swing. When it's someone else's turn, Pablo enters the Art World and draws a swing. | ||||
| 19 | "Facts and Mistakes" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Rachael Dickson | 16 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo makes a mistake in drawing himself, so he decides not to draw himself at all. But his friends in the Art World want to find him. | ||||
| 20 | "Scaredy Cat" | Rosie King | 17 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo is scared by a print on the wall of a cafe. He draws a very confusing world in response and decides it's okay to be a scaredy cat. | ||||
| 21 | "One Mum's Rubbish" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 20 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo likes plastic ice cream spoons even more than ice cream. He keeps them and makes them his friends. | ||||
| 22 | "The Wildman" | Andrew Brenner | 21 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo doesn't want a haircut, so he draws a picture and enters the Art World. But Tang warns him about becoming The Wildman. | ||||
| 23 | "Slippy Mouth" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Paul Issacs | 22 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo's mum's voice sounds disjointed and garbled. Draff thinks it sounds like Slippy Mouth, a very naughty creature who jumbles words up. | ||||
| 24 | "Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Donna Williams | 23 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo and the Book Animals are playing with words, treating them as meaningless sounds, which Mouse and Draff find very confusing. | ||||
| 25 | "Paint the Music" | Andrew Brenner | 24 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo uses his crayons like a conductor and draws colourful music, but Draff insists that music is for your ears, not your eyes. | ||||
| 26 | "Feeling Scribbly" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 27 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo feels uncomfortable and doesn't know why. He draws himself as a scribble and his friends have to figure out who he is. | ||||
| 27 | "Into the Fluff" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Donna Williams | 28 November 2017 | |
|
Pablo imagines himself shrinking down and exploring colorful fluff. | ||||
| 28 | "Crisps Everywhere" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 3 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo spills a packet of crisps everywhere. He goes to the top of a mountain, the bottom of the sea and the moon to get them back. | ||||
| 29 | "Happiness" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Paul Issacs | 4 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo has a funny tickly feeling inside and doesn't know what to make of it. In the Art World his friends discover he's full of happy sparkles. | ||||
| 30 | "Pick Us, Pablo" | Rosie King | 5 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo does not know which pair of shoes to put on. | ||||
| 31 | "The Duvetsaurus" | Andrew Brenner | 6 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo does not want to get dressed because his clothes are itchy. | ||||
| 32 | "Surprise" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 9 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo receives a late birthday present, but is afraid to open it. | ||||
| 33 | "Mr Whizzy" | Andrew Brenner | 10 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo is fascinated by a whisk. | ||||
| 34 | "When Foods Collide" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 11 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo can't eat his lunch: his egg and spaghetti hoops are touching. | ||||
| 35 | "Word Search" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 12 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo can't tell his grandma what he wants for his breakfast. | ||||
| 36 | "Everything Pineapple" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 13 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo can't stop tasting pineapple everywhere. | ||||
| 37 | "Night Noises" | Tony Finnegan | 16 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo hears strange sounds when he sleeps. | ||||
| 38 | "Back and Forth" | Tony Finnegan | 17 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo wishes he could make time go faster so his dessert will be ready sooner. | ||||
| 39 | "Around the Houses" | Stuart Vallantine and Andrew Brenner | 18 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo and his Mum are waiting for a bus, which isn't on time. | ||||
| 40 | "Flapping Away" | Andrew Brenner | 19 April 2018 | |
|
Pablo is enjoying flapping his arms so much that he is unable to listen to his Mum or to his animal friends. | ||||
| 41 | "The Smell Gobbler" | Tony Finnegan | 20 April 2018 | |
|
When Mum leaves a can of air freshener on the counter, it’s up to Pablo and his friends to stop The Smell Gobbler eating all the smells in the house, including the nice ones. | ||||
| 42 | "Feeling Floaty" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 10 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo thinks he'll float away. | ||||
| 43 | "Scab Billy" | Rosie King | 11 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo discovers a scab on his knee and is upset. | ||||
| 44 | "Face Feelings" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 12 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo learns his face is saying things he doesn't know about. | ||||
| 45 | "The Lift" | Michael White | 13 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo is worried about the lift at the department store, so his friends in the Art World reassure him that he will be able to get out again. | ||||
| 46 | "Book Spider" | Michael White | 14 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo loves the Book Animals, but when he gets a new book with a spider in it, Pablo thinks the spider looks scary. But it turns out the spider is a bit frightened as well. | ||||
| 47 | "Missing Music" | Rosie King | 17 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo hears a song on the radio and wants to hear it again, but he can't make it come out anymore. The Book Animals try to help him find a way to get it back again. | ||||
| 48 | "Zip It" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 18 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo is fascinated with the way the zipper on his coat closes up and opens again. With his friends in the Art World Pablo explores the magic of opening and closing things. | ||||
| 49 | "Journey to the Centre of the Telly" | Rosie King | 19 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo wants to know what is happening to the characters on his favourite TV program after the TV is turned off. Luckily Noa has an idea about how they can find out! | ||||
| 50 | "Captain Pinecone" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 20 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo has two pinecones for tapping, which turn out to be explorers! They lead the Book Animals on a journey to discover sounds and textures and Llama makes an aural map. | ||||
| 51 | "How Are You?" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 22 September 2018 | |
|
When Mum's buddy Fiona comes over to visit and asks Pablo how he is, Pablo doesn't know the answer. He explores the question with his friends in the Art World and they all try to figure out what it means. | ||||
| 52 | "Water Boy" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Paul Issacs | 24 September 2018 | |
|
Pablo loves watching the rain. Some of his in the Art World friends don't. Draff and Mouse hate getting wet, but Pablo loves the rain so much that he actually turns into it! | ||||
Series 2 (2019–2020)
editStarting with "The New Sofa" on 7 October 2019, all the week's Pablo episodes would be made available on BBC iPlayer before their individual broadcast on CBeebies. From "Finger Prince" onwards, however, episodes would only go on iPlayer after their individual broadcast.
| No. | Title | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The New Sofa" | Michael White | 7 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo's Mum buys a new sofa, but Pablo isn't happy. Why can't it be like his old sofa? | ||||
| 2 | "Chicken Pops" | Michael White | 8 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo and the Book Animals get chickenpox and don't know what to do! | ||||
| 3 | "Llama the Lion" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 9 October 2019 | |
|
When Pablo's cardigan gets in the way of playing with his shiny things, Llama must lead the way through. | ||||
| 4 | "The Swimming Pool" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 10 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo goes to the pool, but will the echoey walls, the cold, wet floor and the smell of chlorine be too much to deal with? | ||||
| 5 | "The Number Snake" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 11 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo is entranced by the strange thing his Mum uses for measuring, and before long, meets the marvelous Number Snake. | ||||
| 6 | "Up in the Clouds" | Stuart Vallantine & Andrew Brenner | 14 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo and the Book Animals are about to fly on a plane, but how will they get on? | ||||
| 7 | "Locomotion" | Michael White | 15 October 2019 | |
|
Can Pablo make the sad steam trains at the transport museum happy again? | ||||
| 8 | "The Floating Mattress" | Tony Finnegan | 16 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo's new mattress is so high it floats! Can he and the Book Animals bring it back to the ground? | ||||
| 9 | "Magic Towel" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 17 October 2019 | |
|
A paper towel advert has such a catchy jingle that Pablo keeps spilling his juice. | ||||
| 10 | "Bleugh" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 18 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo can't make up his mind: should he go to the library or the pool? | ||||
| 11 | "A Visit to the Zoo" | Michael White | 21 October 2019 | |
|
The Book Animals pay a visit to their families at the zoo - but where's Noa's? | ||||
| 12 | "What a Picture" | Michael White | 22 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo and the Book Animals try to deal with a camera that never stops taking pictures. Or flashing! | ||||
| 13 | "Tom" | Rosie King | 23 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo is worried about meeting Mum's new friend, and him coming for tea. Can the Book Animals help him? | ||||
| 14 | "Big Boy" | Michael White | 24 October 2019 | |
|
There's a big slide at the indoor playground, but Mum says it's only for big children. Soon, Tang learns why Pablo must wait. | ||||
| 15 | "Sorry Bowl" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 25 October 2019 | |
|
Pablo feels sorry for a bowl Mum didn't use. But how can a bowl have feelings? Does everything? | ||||
| 16 | "Too Many Tasks" | Tony Finnegan | 18 November 2019 | |
|
Pablo is told to clean his room, but all the toys and objects keep calling for his attention. How can Pablo get this muddle sorted? | ||||
| 17 | "The Guinea Pig" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 19 November 2019 | |
|
Lorna shows off her new pet guinea pig to Pablo. Pablo is unsure about how to act around it: Noa is unsure, Mouse is cautious and Tang wants to scoop it right up! How will the group learn how to treat it? | ||||
| 18 | "The Gift" | Michael White, Based on an idea by Donna Williams | 20 November 2019 | |
|
Thanks to his Uncle John, Pablo has two toy cars and they are exactly the same make. One must go back to the shop, but which one? | ||||
| 19 | "Can't Touch This" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 21 November 2019 | |
|
Pablo is warned not to touch the doughnuts, flowers or vase on the table. However, this only makes Tang want to touch them more! | ||||
| 20 | "My Fluffy Friend" | Andrew Brenner | 22 November 2019 | |
|
Pablo has a fluffy jacket that he absolutely adores wearing. Mum says he doesn't need it inside, but Pablo wants to keep it on - otherwise, it'll get lonely. | ||||
| 21 | "In Point of Draff" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 25 November 2019 | |
|
When Lorna offers to play with Pablo's cars, he puts them right back in the box. It turns out, this is because of Draff's orderliness. How will Pablo have any fun? | ||||
| 22 | "Hiding Places" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 26 November 2019 | |
|
At dinner, Fiona keeps looking at Pablo. Embarrassed by the unwanted attention, Pablo turns himself invisible. | ||||
| 23 | "Nothing to Worry About" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 27 November 2019 | |
|
Mum says she's lost nothing - but Pablo tries to figure out where her 'nothing' has gone to. | ||||
| 24 | "Box of Buttons" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 28 November 2019 | |
|
Pablo really loves Uncle John's box of buttons, but Tang can't stop mucking about with them. Now they're loose! | ||||
| 25 | "Magic Post Box" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 29 November 2019 | |
|
When Mum's parcel is lost in the post, Pablo and the Book Animals go on an adventure through the postal system to find it. | ||||
| 26 | "Toy Shop" | Michael White | 2 December 2019 | |
|
Pablo arrives in the toy shop just as it's closing. The toys would like to go to bed, but Pablo doesn't want to leave! | ||||
| 27 | "Finger Prince" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 9 March 2020 | |
|
Pablo is not very happy when some jammy fingerprints appear on his picture, but the fingerprints want to stay. | ||||
| 28 | "The Repair Person" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 10 March 2020 | |
|
When the heating stops working, Pablo is scared of the Repair Person coming round, somebody he doesn’t know. The radiators are scared too. | ||||
| 29 | "Distractionland" | Michael White | 11 March 2020 | |
|
When Pablo gets lost in Distraction Land, Draff tries to keep everyone together while they search for him. | ||||
| 30 | "The Hut" | Anna Greenberg & Andrew Brenner | 12 March 2020 | |
|
In the Super Place, Pablo is surprised to find a hut. The Book Animals try to help him work out what it’s for, but as far as Pablo’s concerned it doesn’t belong! | ||||
| 31 | "Buzz, Buzz, Buzz" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 13 March 2020 | |
|
The buzzy sound of a fly is muddling up everything for Pablo and making it really hard for him to concentrate. | ||||
| 32 | "Goodbye! Goodbye! Goodbye!" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 16 March 2020 | |
|
Mum’s friend Fiona has already said goodbye, so why are they still chatting at the front door? This leaves Pablo very confused! | ||||
| 33 | "Murky Moods" | Tony Finnegan | 17 March 2020 | |
|
It’s a foggy day, so Pablo and the Book Animals have to work together to find a way to put the colour back into their lives and be happy again! | ||||
| 34 | "Sun Cream" | Michael White | 18 March 2020 | |
|
It’s a hot sunny day, but Mum is making Pablo stay in the shade because he doesn’t want any cold and sticky sun cream! | ||||
| 35 | "Wheel of Pasta" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 19 March 2020 | |
|
Pablo is overwhelmed by all the different pasta shapes calling to him in the Super Place. He can't choose! | ||||
| 36 | "Headache Volcano" | Abel Diaz | 20 March 2020 | |
|
Pablo gets a 'funny feeling' in his head, and it won't go away. Can the Book Animals help? | ||||
| 37 | "Follow the Shapes" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 23 March 2020 | |
|
The sounds and shapes of a noisy cafe keep taking Pablo and his friends to different places, from which they need to find a way back. | ||||
| 38 | "Oink, Cluck, Neigh!" | Abel Diaz | 24 March 2020 | |
|
Visiting the city farm, Pablo sees the simpler lives of the animals and decides to become one. Can the Book Animals change his mind? | ||||
| 39 | "Touchy Feely" | Anna Greenberg & Andrew Brenner | 25 March 2020 | |
|
Pablo is fascinated by the wrinkly hands of his elderly neighbour. He wants to see what they feel like and travel into the wonderful world of the landscape they evoke. | ||||
| 40 | "Joining Out" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 26 March 2020 | |
|
Pablo wants to play with Lorna and her friend, but it’s making Noa feel wobbly and that makes the Art World wobbly too. Can they all find a way to play without joining in? | ||||
| 41 | "Draff's Robot" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Paul Issacs | 27 March 2020 | |
|
People don't always want to hear Draff’s facts, so he decides to draw himself a robot who will. But is a robot that says you’re right all the time really a better friend? | ||||
| 42 | "In Point of View" | Michael White | 30 March 2020 | |
|
Pablo finds Granny’s glasses, but he can’t see through them properly. Mouse thinks they’re broken, Tang wants to make new ones and the sofa wants to hide them again. | ||||
| 43 | "The Missing Colours" | Constantíne | 31 March 2020 | |
|
Pablo and his cousin are drawing together, but when Pablo thinks Lorna has taken some of his colours, he is upset. Luckily, Mouse can remember what really happened. | ||||
| 44 | "Pablo's Away Dream" | Andrew Brenner, Based on an idea by Paul Issacs | 1 April 2020 | |
|
Pablo is sitting still and staring into space. His friends wonder what’s up, until Wren finds another Pablo up in the fluffy clouds, taking a break from life’s many demands. | ||||
| 45 | "Personal Space" | Andy Norton | 2 April 2020 | |
|
When Pablo tries to approach other children in the park, they move away. He has to learn how to show that he is friendly, so Llama helps Draff teach him about personal space. | ||||
| 46 | "Quieter Than A Mouse" | Constantíne | 3 April 2020 | |
|
When Pablo goes to sleep at his Granny’s, it's too quiet even for Mouse! Pablo and his friends miss the sounds of their city home. Luckily, Granny has an idea that can help. | ||||
| 47 | "Round and Round and Round" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 6 April 2020 | |
|
Pablo is playing the same song repeatedly and won’t stop. He and the Book Animals enjoy the feeling shapes, but Draff warns them not to get stuck in a loop! | ||||
| 48 | "Stage Fright" | Michael White | 7 April 2020 | |
|
Pablo finds it difficult when people look at him or give him compliments, so when the Book Animals have a talent show, Pablo doesn’t want to perform unless he can’t be seen. | ||||
| 49 | "The Zebra and the Bus" | Constantíne | 8 April 2020 | |
|
Pablo and his friends are happily singing The Wheels on the Bus, but a police zebra makes them stop because it is not true that the wheels go round all day long. | ||||
| 50 | "The Dentist" | Rosie King | 9 April 2020 | |
|
Pablo is scared of going to the dentist, so the Book Animals and the dentist’s tools work together to show him that the dentist is only trying to help his sore tooth. | ||||
| 51 | "The Spork" | Constantíne | 10 April 2020 | |
|
Pablo and his mum are having a picnic, but the only thing Pablo has to eat with is a surprising object that doesn’t seem to be a fork or a spoon. What is he supposed to do? | ||||
| 52 | "Umbrella" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 13 April 2020 | |
|
Pablo is sad to come in from the rain, but says he’s happy being sad. The umbrella understands; you can be more than one thing, like wet on one side and dry on the other. | ||||
Specials
editIn addition to the main programme, a series of online shorts were produced in 2019. These include Going to School, Pack for School, Making Friends and Everything Pumpkin. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, an episode-length special was produced.
| No. | Title | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "House Time" | Sumita Majumdar & Andrew Brenner | 11 June 2020 | |
|
Pablo has had to be in the house a lot more than before. He thinks about what it was like getting used to this and worries about things having to change again. With the Book Animals, Pablo creates a sparkly place, to embrace the things that he knows and loves, and remembers that even though some things keep changing, not everything has to change. | ||||
Awards
editPablo won Best Preschool Programme at the 2019 Broadcast Awards.[15] It was nominated at the 2018 British Academy Children's Awards in Digital,[16] was a Children’s Finalist at the 2018 Royal Television Society Awards and won the TORC Award for Excellence at the 2018 Celtic Media Festival. It was nominated at the 2021 Irish Animation Awards for Best Animated Preschool Series and Best Writer for Preschool Animation (for Andrew Brenner, which it won).[17]
Spin-off books
editIn April 2020, Ladybird began publishing a series of picture books, adapted from previous Pablo episodes.[18][19] Sumita Majumdar and Andrew Brenner, who wrote on the series, oversaw these.
- Goodnight Pablo (based on "Goodnight Blues"), ISBN 9780241415245
- Pablo and the Noisy Party (based on "The Party Present"), ISBN 9780241415740
- Pablo Picks His Shoes (based on "Pick Us Pablo"), ISBN 9780241415757
- Pablo’s Feelings (based on "Face Feelings"), ISBN 9780241415764
- Pablo Goes Shopping (based on "The Super Place"), ISBN 9780241490273
- Pablo at the Zoo, ISBN 9780241490280
There will also be "Ladybird Readers" Level 1 books, designed to aid children develop their speech, reading and writing skills.
- Pablo Chooses His Shoes, ISBN 9780241533741
- Are You Sad, Pablo?, ISBN 9780241475546
- Pablo: Noisy Party, ISBN 9780241475492
Stage version
editIn 2019, it was announced Selladoor Worldwide is developing a stage musical adaptation of Pablo, in collaboration with Paper Owl Films. The original creative team will be involved.[20]
See also
edit- A Kind of Spark, another BBC children's series performed and written by autistic people.
- Ready Eddie Go!, a Sky Kids series also about a small autistic boy, performed and written by autistic people.
References
edit- ^ Baldock, James (28 September 2017). "Everything you need to know about Pablo: CBeebies' brand new show about autism". Metro. UK. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ "CBeebies Pablo: empowering young people with autism". About the BBC. 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Meet Pablo! New RTÉjr show gives insight into autism". RTÉ.ie. 27 September 2017.
- ^ "Pablo - CBC Media Centre".
- ^ "'Pablo' en Nat Geo Kids: El mundo como lo siente un niño autista". 5 May 2018.
- ^ "NEW CBC KIDS SERIES PABLO CELEBRATES CREATIVITY AND INDIVIDUALITY - CBC Media Centre".
- ^ Desk, TV News. "Universal Kids to Premiere PABLO, the First TV Series To Star A Child with Autism April 2". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "S4C - Pablo".
- ^ "Paper Owl Films ages Pablo up".
- ^ "BBC Children's Commissions New-Look Series of Paper Owl's 'Pablo'". April 2022.
- ^ Alfano, Alexa (2 October 2024). "BBC, RTÉjr Co-Commission New Series". TVKIDS. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "New CBeebies animated show explores life on the autistic spectrum". Grimsbylive. 20 September 2017 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "BBC - Pablo - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Second series of acclaimed kids' TV show Pablo to air this month". Belfasttelegraph.
- ^ "Best pre-school programme: Pablo".
- ^ "Children's Awards Winners 2018". 17 October 2018.
- ^ "Irish Animation Awards nominees announced as event goes virtual". 14 April 2021.
- ^ Pablo: Pablo and the Noisy Party. 19 March 2020.
- ^ "The best books to read your children in 2020". Independent.co.uk. 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
- ^ https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2019/selladoor-to-develop-stage-version-of-cbeebies-show-pablo-featuring-autistic-cast/ [dead link]
External links
edit- Official Pablo Page at CBeebies
- Pablo at IMDb