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Ever since Rebecca Elliot introduced her charming owl character Eva in the chapter book Eva’s Treetop Festival back in 2015, young readers have fallen in love with the creative bird. This month, she will find a whole new set of fans when Apple TV+ premieres the new animated show Eva the Owlet, based on Elliot’s popular book series Owl Diaries. Produced by Scholastic Entertainment and Brown Bag Films (in Dublin and Bali), the show centers on Eva and her next-door friend Lucy’s woodland world and their friends in the woodland world of Treetopington.
“Owl Diaries, now 17 books in, remains a favorite with kids,” says the show’s executive producer, Caitlin Friedman (Clifford the Big Red Dog, Stillwater), SVP and general manager of Scholastic Entertainment. “Along with our readers, we fell in love with Eva and knew that she and her family and friends would make for an adorable series. Happily, Apple TV+ agreed!”
Executive producer Jef Kaminsky, VP of TV production at Scholastic, whose credits include Clifford the Big Red Dog and Stillwater, says he loves the fact that Eva is so enthusiastic about just about everything. “She loves her family and her friends and trying new things even if she makes mistakes,” he says. “But perhaps even more than that, what we love most is that Eva isn’t afraid to experience and express all her feelings. She doesn’t always understand what she is feeling. To help her, and the viewer, she writes her feelings down in her diary.”
Hatching Eva
The producers began developing the show about five years ago. “We brought Brown Bag Films on board for early visual development as part of the pitch,” says Friedman. “Once Apple TV+ ordered the series, we were able to officially invite Brown Bag Films to join us on this production.”
While the creative team opted for a CG-animated show, they decided to lean heavily into the natural world since the backdrop is a town nestled in trees. “The artists at Brown Bag Films successfully created a world where kids will feel that they are in the treetops with Eva and her friends,” says Kaminsky. “We wanted Treetopington to feel safe and cozy for young viewers, so we chose natural lighting and toon-shaded textures for the designs, and that’s all supported by a very serene, ambient woodland sound design.”
One of the reasons the show stands out is that all of the stories take place at night, since owls are nocturnal creatures. Kaminsky adds, “Additionally, Apple TV+ encouraged us to stick as close as possible to the style of the book series, which is great because the fans of the stories will feel like this is a natural extension of the world they see on the pages of the books they love.”
“Sometimes productions go really smoothly, and we were super lucky with Eva the Owlet,’ adds Friedman. “All of the people involved shared a similar vision for how the show should look, and the writers really brought out the humor and the charm of this character and her friends. This production and this team of people have been an absolute pleasure since day one.”
When asked about their overview on the state of animation in 2023, both producers are optimistic about the medium’s future, despite all the ups and downs in the business. As Friedman points out, “Animation has always been a form of storytelling that withstands big cultural or economic shifts. We are also seeing that animation is resonating with older kids and adults and is easily becoming an area of growth for those looking for co-viewing experiences. So, beyond preschool, we are currently developing animated series based on our horror, sci-fi and young adult titles because we love the creativity and flexibility of the medium and what it can add to storytelling.”
For now, Both Kaminsky and Friedman have high hopes for their charming little feathered friend. “At the core of our episodes, Eva uses her diary to process her feelings,” says Friedman. “Since journaling is a proven tool to help kids (and grown-ups) better understand their emotions, we are hoping that our viewers will try it when they are grappling with something that can be overwhelming and hard to share.”
“First and foremost, we want kids to enjoy watching Eva and her adventures across the first and second seasons,” concludes Kaminsky. “Along with providing a fun viewing experience, we ideally want the show to help our viewers identify, express, understand and manage their feelings.”
Eva the Owlet premieres globally on Apple TV+ on March 31. Watch an exclusive sneak-peek clip below:
