Exploring the NZ environment aspect and why they are fairies:
So one of Monarch Park's goal is to create awareness of the native flora and fauna around NZ at a miniature level. Showcase the beauty to kids around NZ who might not spend as much time outside these days. Get them involved in being able to name and recognise the plants and flowers that the characters represent. Also native birds, bugs, and animals that the fairies use as their transport.
The stories are character-driven narratives about real life kids doing real things but with a fantasy twist. The first season is fun stories of what they get up to during their school holidays. But with over arcing plots of their friendships splitting up and getting back together at the end. They are fairies because that is a universal creature that spends its time in among the environment and has a closer perspective to plants and animals.
I want the characters and NZ identity to work together in harmony. Especially not letting the environment aspect over power the stories of the characters. It needs to have purpose when used within the stories and scenes.
I have thought about having parts where characters explain what their flower is and some facts about them during 'commercial breaks'. Also activity and colouring books that would have flower facts and ways to take care of plants in them. Competitions that get kids to take photos of the flowers they see and recognise, their own flower fairy characters that could be part of the Monarch Park world. Games where facts are sprinkled in while they're having fun. All this comes into the transmedia of this project. Getting kids and parents involved in the NZ environment outside, but also able to learn and interact inside online or board games. Stationary merchandise to promote being prepared for classes and learning.
But again, I don't want to be obviously pushing an environmental message or any message, because kids would retain it better through an edutainment method. If the main focus is the characters and stories that kids can relate to then the occasional fact would be fun to learn, not a chore.
This is also because I personally am more interested and passionate about the characters and stories. Obviously the environment aspect is also important to me but not my priority.
Target Audience:
Another goal of Monarch Park is to bring NZ stories to NZ television that's made by New Zealanders for kiwi kids. There is plenty of preschool content like this already but a lack in the 8-12 department. Most of the animated shows on TV are from overseas. I do want to change that with Monarch Park. This is why the perceived target audience by outsiders is important to know. I need to accurately target this age demographic and make it clear it's not specifically for preschool age. This is why Canadian animation is influential on me as they have a huge industry there for this age range and older.
I plan to have a wall of influences and leave it viewers to look and compare what I envision and then give feedback and their opinions on what audience they think it is. I might need to look into how ethical this is. Perhaps contact the person who's quote I might used to get their permission. Or have something there to be read and agreed to and signed. I might not even use anyone's feedback.
Politics:
A comment in particular made me concerned that people will politicize my characters. Comparing Hilda to a Disney princess and saying that isn't what she should be then me explaining that her personality is that she is girly and reserved and worrisome but likes to help others,- then she was pinned with a conservative label. In reality they wouldn't be even thinking about politics like kids shouldn't be. They're kids. I certainly don't want people being divided because they judge one character being a certain way when they don't really know them at all. Hilda's character arc is that she does come out of her shell and stops worrying all the time. Which is a crucial skill for children to learn in order to function in the adult world when necessary.
Honestly I believe politics shouldn't enter the equation of creating a show for children. Sure there are values and morals to cover, no content that is unsuitable in the eyes of our currents laws. The only thing that could be classed as political could be the environmental messages but that's just common sense taking care of the world you live in. It's not talking about legislation.
