Alma's Way Explained

Genre:	Animation Adventure Fantasy
Creator:	Sonia Manzano
Director:	Dave Barton Thomas Shawn Seles
Opentheme:	"It's Alma's Way!", performed by Flaco Navaja and Summer Rose Castillo
Endtheme:	"It's Alma's Way!" (instrumental)
Num Seasons:	2
Num Episodes:	43 (84 segments + 1 special)
List Episodes:	List of Alma's Way episodes
Runtime:	25 minutes
Network:	PBS Kids
Last Aired:	present

Alma's Way is an animated children's television series from Fred Rogers Productions created and executive produced by former Sesame Street actress Sonia Manzano and animated by Canadian animation studio Pipeline Studios. The series premiered on PBS Kids on October 4, 2021.

The show is set in The Bronx, New York and revolves around Alma Rivera, a 6-year-old Puerto Rican girl, as she ventures out into her Latino neighborhood to demonstrate decision making and social awareness skills.^{[1] [2] [3]} The title's meaning refers to Alma's ability of thinking things through, to help her solve problems within each episode.^[4]

On August 2, 2022, it was announced the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on September 18, 2023.^[5] The second season introduced a new female character named Yolette, new voice actors for Eddie and André, and a new live-action, post-episode segment called My Way.

Plot

Alma Rivera is a 6-year-old girl who lives in the Bronx with her family and friends. She faces lots of problems every day, and always stops, listens, looks, thinks, and explains to help her solve everyday problems.

Characters

The Rivera family

• Alma Rivera (voiced by Summer Rose Castillo) is a curious 6-year-old girl who likes solving problems. Her favorite baseball team is the Sweat Sox. In the episode, "Alma Goes to Puerto Rico", it was stated that she's named after her great-grandmother.
• Ruben "Junior" Rivera (voiced by Neo Vela) is Alma's 5-year-old younger brother who loves dinosaurs and dancing. His favorite singer is Elyssa B, and his favorite baseball team is the City Seagulls. It was stated by Lulu in the episode, "Alma Goes to Puerto Rico", Junior is named after Ruben but goes by Junior as a nickname but is actually Ruben Rivera Jr.
• Lulú "Mami" Rivera (voiced by Annie Henk) is Alma and Junior's mother, and Ruben's wife. She is a musician and music teacher. She is a great cook, but isn't good at making mofongo. Her favorite singer is Elyssa B.
• Ruben "Papi" Rivera (voiced by Jesús E. Martinez) is Alma and Junior's father, and Lulú's husband. He's a veterinarian, and hosts his own show called Ruben to the Rescue. His favorite baseball team is the City Seagulls.
• Gustavo "Abuelo" Rivera (voiced by Danny Bolero) is Lulú and Gloria's father, and Alma, Junior and Eddie's maternal grandfather.

Supporting

• Eddie Mambo (voiced by Jacob Crespo in Season 1 and Adrian Marrero in Season 2) is Alma's next-door neighbor and cousin. He is a gifted musician who plays drums, guitar, and horn. He wears leg braces and uses crutches due to cerebral palsy.
• Uncle Nestor (voiced by Marco Antonio Rodriguez) is Alma's uncle and Eddie's father. He is a playwright and musical director of a Bomba ensemble.
• Tía Gloria (voiced by Sharon Montero) is Alma's aunt and Eddie's mother. She is a New York City Transit Authority Train Conductor.
• André King (voiced by Niason DaCosta in Season 1 and Ja'Siah Young in Season 2) is Alma's friend. He is great at drawing and sketching. His mother is Nea and his father is James.
• Rafia Huda (voiced by Naysa Nishash Shokeen) is Alma and André's Bangladeshi friend. She loves to play sports.
• Lucas Reed (voiced by Julian Lerner in Season 1 and Declan Fennell in Season 2, Episode 9 - Current) is Alma, André and Rafia's friend. He is a gifted singer.
• Becka (voiced by Emily Isabel) is a Jewish-American keyboard player.
• Safina Huda (voiced by Jenna Qureshi) is Rafia's older sister. She volunteers at Ruben's pet clinic.
• Harper (voiced by Uschi Umscheid) is Alma's friend, an only child whose father away serving in the military.
• Owen Reed (voiced by Andy Talen) is Lucas's father.
• Anik Huda (voiced by Ratnesh Dubey) is Rafia and Safina's father. He owns a small grocery store.
• Nea Omema King (voiced by Justine J. Hall) is André's mother. She owns a bookstore. Alma introduces her as Mrs. Omema in the episode, "Alma's Masterpiece". She doesn't go by Mrs. King.
• Frankie Four Feet (voiced by Victor Cruz) is the owner of the Bronx Community Center.
• Granny Isa (voiced by Sonia Manzano) is Alma's maternal grandmother who travels the world.
• Howard (voiced by Dwight H. Clarke in Season 1 - Season 2, Episode 7 and Chance Smith in Season 2, Episode 8 - Current) is Alma, Junior, Lucas, Rafia, Eddie, André, and Harper's friend. He loves playing water tag.
• Yolette (voiced by Khloe Bruno) is Alma, Junior, and André's friend.

Episodes

See main article: List of Alma's Way episodes.

Interstitial shorts

Jelly, Ben and Pogo

Starting from the show's premiere, television airings are followed up by Jelly, Ben and Pogo, which are shorts that focus on Filipino culture.^[6]

• Jelly (voiced by Vanille Velasquez) is an optimistic 6-year-old Filipino-American girl. She seems to role as the leader of the group.
• Ben (voiced by the creator Jalysa Leva) is Jelly's 5-year-old little brother who serves as the smallest and youngest of the trio.
• Pogo (voiced by Christina Sivrich) is the kids' green quadrupedal Ogopogo-like sea creature friend.

Other shorts

On November 1, 2022, it was replaced by Molly of Denali: The Big Gathering, which are shorts based on Molly of Denali. On December 26, 2022, television airings are also followed up by City Island, a series of shorts centered on civics that follows a group of sentient object characters.^[7]

Reception

Adiba Nelson of The Washington Post wrote, "Afro-Latino children finally have characters they can relate to."^[8]

Awards and nominations

!Year!Award!Category!Nominee!Result!Ref.

2022	Imagen Awards	Best Voice-Over Actor (Television)	Summer Rose Castillo		^[9]
		Best Youth Programming	Alma's Way
2023			Alma's Way		^[10]

References

Notes

Notes and References

1. News: Del Rosario . Alexandria . December 3, 2020 . 'Alma's Way': PBS Kids Announces New Animated Series From Sonia Manzano & Fred Rogers Productions . December 16, 2020.
2. News: Graeber . Laurel . In 'Alma's Way,' a Young Latina Thinks for Herself, Like Her Creator . 1 November 2021 . The New York Times . 1 November 2021.
3. News: Zorrilla . Monica Marie . 'Sesame Street' Alum Sonia Manzano on Animating the Bronx and Latina Representation in 'Alma's Way' . November 1, 2021 . Variety . November 3, 2021.
4. Web site: Alma's way is to think things through. . 2021-11-08. Twitter. en.
5. Web site: Fred Rogers' Hit 'Alma's Way' Greenlit for S2 on PBS KIDS . 2 August 2022 .
6. Web site: Ong . Giannina . Pinoys Are Loving "Jelly, Ben & Pogo," A New Animated Series for Kids . Mochi Magazine . 1 February 2024 . 21 February 2022.
7. Web site: Eakin . Marah . PBS' "City Island" teaches civics with short-form cartoons . Current . 1 February 2024 . 27 January 2023.
8. News: Nelson . Adiba . 2021-10-05 . With 'Alma's Way' on PBS Kids, Afro-Latino children finally have characters they can relate to . The Washington Post.
9. Web site: Reul . Katie . 2022-10-03 . 'Encanto' Co-Director Shocked by Best Director Win Over Steven Spielberg at 2022 Imagen Awards: 'That's Serious Bragging Rights' . 2023-12-04 . Variety . en-US.
10. Web site: Tinoco . Armando . 2023-12-04 . Imagen Awards 2023 Complete Winners List: Eva Longoria & 'Flamin' Hot' Take Top Honors In Film . 2023-12-04 . Deadline . en-US.