"PB&J Otter" tackle "kid issues"By Helen Lee, posted July 1, 1998 Like all brothers and sisters, Peanut, Jelly and Baby Butter laugh, play and fight. But these animated otter siblings, seen every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET on Disney, do more than just entertain. "PB&J Otter" addresses what creator Jim Jinkins calls "kid issues." "Obviously we want (the shows) to be funny and entertaining for families, but beneath all that we want them to have a moral center." "PB&J Otter" features Ernest, the hard-working father who runs Dad's General Store, and mom Opal, a housewife and seamstress. Of course, the stars of the show are the kids: big brother Peanut is seven years old, responsible and cautious, while dynamo Jelly is a tomboy full of energy and ideas. Baby Butter comes along for the ride, living in her own little world and noticing things the others miss. The otters live in Lake Hoohaw, surrounded by neighbors like Flick, the 'hood's Eddie Haskell and a duck Jinkins calls "pre-school level dangerous;" Jelly's best friend Pinch, a "feminine girly girl;" and Scootch, Pinch's little brother who's a disaster waiting to happen. Jinkins says Pinch was inspired by the rhino in the film "The Gods Must Be Crazy" who couldn't resist trampling campfires, as well as his own 18-month old child. The show also includes a wealthy family of poodles called The Snooties, who live in a wedding-cake like floating mansion. "Lake Hoohaw doesn't have much money," says Jinkins. "The Snooties are the opposite, but we're trying to show that that doesn't make them happier. The simple things in life are important. We want to help kids appreciate what they have in life. "A lot of (the show) has to do with how people-in this case, kids-choose to treat each other," continues Jinkins. "The Snooties can be sort of mean and snotty, but when the kids at Lake Hoohaw are given the option of being mean or snotty back, they choose to include The Snooties in their fun. Kids learn to treat people with respect and include them." For example, in one episode the otters aren't able to slide down a hill with their friends because they can't afford a nice sled. The Snooties laugh, but Peanut, Jelly and Butter discover that as the snow melts, their stomachs allow them to slide down the mud with ease while the Snooties get stuck on their sleds. Then the otters give everyone-including The Snooties-rides. "PB&J Otter" shows usually have a message, but also tries to help kids create their own solutions. "We show the process of brainstorming in the Noodle Dance. They're not just running to someone else, an adult, to come up with solutions. We show them successfully solving their problems," says Jinkins. Though Peanut usually refuses to dance, he invariably gets caught up in the spirit with everyone else. This dance is the heart of the series, says Jinkins, "because there's nothing more fun than setting your mind free to dream up new ideas. The music gets in you and your body just kind of takes over, it gets sucked into you and you just can't stop." The music for the Noodle Dance and other songs is inspired by tunes from around the world, as is the look and feel of the rest of the show. "It takes all the colors and sounds of the world to make the world as interesting as it is," says Jinkins. "We're trying to introduce world music, but the basis is Irish folk music. It's simple, accessible, upbeat, and mixing African percussion music with it makes it more primitive-I love it. We're trying to mix it all together, make this world feel happy and exciting and simple." Unlike "Rugrats," which utilizes adult voices to create a sarcastic, tongue in cheek tone, Jenkins says he cast child actors for the voices of its main characters to make the characters "more honest, more real, more sincere." Jenell Slack, 12, plays the hyper Jelly; Adam Rose, 10, is level-headed Peanut; and Gina Marie Totorici, 4, is sunny 18-month old Butter. The earnest, heartwarming environment of Lake Hoohaw still isn't perfect, Jenkins points out: "Peanut, Jelly and Butter argue, get on each other's nerves-it's not all cutesy-pie and lovey-dovey, but ultimately they care for each other. We make something that has all this content and a moral center. I don't see this happening a lot out there." Top of page |