The series centers around Daniel Tiger. The series also features other children of the characters from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, such as Katerina Kittycat, Miss Elaina, O the Owl, and Prince Wednesday. Two 11-minute segments are linked by a common socio-emotional theme, such as disappointment and sadness or anger and thankfulness. The theme also uses a musical motif phrase, which the show calls "strategy songs," to reinforce the theme and help children remember the life lessons. Many of the "strategy songs" are available in albums or as singles under the artist name "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood." The program is targeted at preschool-aged children; it teaches emotional intelligence, kindness, and human respect. Its content follows a curriculum based on Fred Rogers' teaching and new research into child development.
Production
The series is co-produced by the Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers Productions, New York City-based Out of the Blue Enterprises, and with animation produced in Canada by 9 Story Media Group with Adobe Animate and music created at Voodoo Highway Music & Post.
Release and availability
In 2006, three years after Fred Rogers' death, and after the end of production of Blue's Room, The Fred Rogers Company contacted Angela Santomero to ask what type of show she would create to promote Rogers' legacy. That conversation led to the creation of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. PBS initially ordered 40 episodes, which were broadcast between September 3, 2012, and February 21, 2014. PBS Kids renewed the series for a second season of 20 episodes, which premiered on August 18, 2014. On July 7, 2015, the series was renewed for a third season of 25 episodes. On October 11, 2017, the series was renewed for a fourth season of 20 episodes and a one-hour special Won't You Be Our Neighbor, which premiered on July 11, 2018. Cartoon Network UK's sister pre-school channel Cartoonito premiered Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood on March 1, 2016. The series had previously been available for streaming on Netflix before July 1, 2016, when a multi-year agreement for the catalog of many of PBS's children's series with Amazon Prime Video went into effect. A smaller selection of current episodes is also available through the PBS Kids app on several digital media player and tablet/smartphone platforms. It also now airs on international CBeebies channels around the world.
Characters
Characters from Daniel Tiger's neighborhood include Daniel Tiger, his little sister Margaret, and their parents Mr. and Mrs. Tiger. In school they encounter a teacher named Teacher Harriet and classmates Miss Elaina, O the Owl, Katerina, Prince Wednesday, and others. They ride a semi-sentient trolley known as "Trolley."
