Kids

PBS KIDS will debut Carnival of the Animals, a new 30-minute animated special inspired by Camille Saint-Saëns’ beloved orchestral suite, on November 16, bringing classical music to young audiences just in time for the holiday season. The vibrant 2D production features the complete score performed live by acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, recorded at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. The special also opens with a short introduction narrated by Dudamel’s 15-year-old son, Martín Dudamel.

Designed for children and families, the dialogue-free special uses music as its storytelling engine. Set in a colorful town populated by animals preparing for a carnival parade, the story follows a young hero on a quest to recover Big Lion’s stolen crown before the festivities begin.
The project aims to introduce children aged 2 to 8 to classical music through an engaging visual narrative, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and an appreciation for orchestral performance. Each of the 14 movements from Saint-Saëns’ composition, originally dedicated to a different animal or setting, has been woven into a single continuous adventure featuring dancing tortoises, mischievous chickens, playful donkeys, an elegant elephant, penguin pianists, and other memorable characters.

“We’re beyond thrilled to collaborate with the incomparable Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic on this new special,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager of PBS KIDS and Education. “We know parents are looking for intentional, thoughtful content for their children, as well as specials the family can watch together. This charming introduction to classical music through Carnival of the Animals is exactly that.”
Dudamel added: “Music has a beautiful way of opening the imagination and helping us see the world with fresh eyes. That is why Carnival of the Animals has remained so beloved for generations. Sharing this project with my son Martín has filled it with even deeper meaning for me, because together we are inviting young people to discover the joy, humor, and wonder that live inside this extraordinary music.”

The release will be accompanied by five live-action digital companion shorts, including one featuring Dudamel, designed to expand the educational experience by introducing viewers to the musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), as well as the instruments associated with the animals featured in the story. Carnival of the Animals is produced by Silver Creek Falls Entertainment (Weather Hunters, Not a Box) and animated by Passion Pictures Animation (Not a Box, The Lost Thing) in association with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.