The Bravest Knight Explained

Genre:Magical, adventure, fantasy
Creator:Daniel Errico
Director:Shabnam Rezaei
Creative Director:Shabnam Rezaei
Voices:
Theme Music Composer:
  • Michael Richard Plowman
  • Justin Tranter
Opentheme:Justin Tranter
Composer:
  • Jack Kitchen
  • Michael Richard Plowman
  • Justin Tranter
Country:Canada
Language:English
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:13
Executive Producer:
  • Aly Jetha
  • Shabnam Rezaei
Location:
  • United States
  • Canada
Editor:Randy Rogel
Runtime:12 minutes
Company:Big Bad Boo Studios
Network:Hulu
Last Aired:present

The Bravest Knight is a Canadian animated television series, produced by Big Bad Boo Studios and a Hulu original which became the first kids original on the streaming service.[1] The first episodes were added to the streaming service on June 21, 2019[2] [3] and the other eight on October 11, 2019.[4] The show, which was created by Daniel Errico, and directed by Shabnam Rezaei. It is a fantasy and adventure story focused on how a young kid and pumpkin farmer turned into the "bravest knight" through wild adventures across the lands, which he tells his adopted daughter.[5] [6] [7] The series is one of the first all-ages animations to have an "openly gay main character".[8]

On February 20, 2024, it was announced a second season is currently in production.[9]

Premise

Cedric, formerly a pumpkin farmer and now married to a prince named Andrew, tells the story of how he became the "greatest knight" to his 10-year-old adopted daughter, Nia.

In an attempt to get Nia, a not-yet-knight, to learn from his example, he recounts the challenges he encountered along the way, accompanied by his friend Grunt.[10] Nia, in the process, learns how to be her "best self" and that being a knight is more than just slaying dragons.[11]

Characters

Main

Supporting

Other characters

Episodes

Season 1 (2019)

Promotion, production, and release

The show is based on Errico's novel The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived and a short animation which premiered in 2015 of the same name.[22]

Shabnam Rezaei, who founded Big Bad Boo Studios with her husband Aly Jetha,[23] was the producer of the series. Rezaei later said that it has been a "pleasure to work alongside Hulu." She also said that the show is teaching life lessons and called it an "adventure about how to be a great knight" and how to be a good person.[24] She also remained confident the show would air in Canada, parts of Western Europe, the UK, and Australia. The show itself was greenlit by Hulu in November 2017 and went into production in early 2018, with "approximately 120 people working on the show," with Errico and Randy Rogel writing the stories for each episode, with the animation done in Vancouver. The show was supervised by Eddie Soriano, while Paddy Gillen was VP of production, and Benjie Randall was the casting director. The show's biggest challenge was, as Rezaei admitted, the budget, in trying to cast big-name stars like RuPaul and Wanda Sykes.

Apart from this, Enrico, in a September 2019 interview, said that he was inspired to create the character after reading fairytales and trying to create "multi-dimensional protagonists who also happened to be gay," but stated that it was not a sure thing that Hulu would take the series.[25] He also said that while he hasn't had the opportunity of working with many other writers, he realizes that as a white and cisgender man, that "fair access to opportunities in family entertainment demands a dedication to change," with the necessity of working with "creative writers of color." Furthermore, he said that each episode has a lesson, and to touch on themes like self-confidence, forgiveness, and a message of "being yourself and being true to yourself." Elsewhere he stated the importance of "giving children more role models, more diverse examples or heroes" and noted that most networks he approached with the story were "resistant to having an LGBTQ protagonist," but Hulu gave the show a green light.[26] [27]

Reception

The series was positively received. GLAAD's chief communications officer, Rich Ferraro, praised the series as bringing "important lessons about diversity and acceptance to young audiences," giving children with gay parents an "animated family that they can relate to and applaud." Curtis M. Wong of HuffPost called the series "forward-thinking" and "LGBTQ-inclusive."[28] Jamie Sugah of The Geekiary was also supportive, saying that the show will "join the ranks of children's programming that has featured openly LGBTQ+ characters" and applauded Hulu, and platforms like Netflix for "creating this sort of content for children" which features "an interracial gay couple and their daughter."[29] In contrast, Lapacazo Sandoval in the Los Angeles Sentinel criticized the series for "coloring in a Black or Brown character" in the series, since the creator is a White man, rather than someone from the Black community, even as he called it a "good show." Similarly, James Michael Nichols of HuffPost said that the series helps make the representation of "the whole spectrum of human love and experience" a reality[30] and Brian T. Carney of the Washington Blade described the series as family-friendly, having a terrific voice cast, along with lively and colorful animation, and presenting "issues of diversity in an age-appropriate and matter-of-fact manner."[31] Additionally, Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media stated that there are "stellar messages" in the series, with a "same-sex relationship at the emotional heart of the story," toned down violence, with hories often using their wits to "escape dangerous situations than to physically fight."[32] Slayton also remarked that the "gentle messages" of the series are "easy to love."

The show was praised for being "groundbreaking" because it features a household of two dads (Cedic and Andrew), making it one of the first all-ages animations to have an "openly gay main character."[33] [34] [35] Justin Tranter, a board member of GLAAD, composed the opening theme song of the series.[36] [37] [38] The series also generated considerable debate, with a "fierce battle" on the show's Facebook page between those who defended it and critics from the religious right who criticized it.[39] The series later won the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence award in kids’ programming at the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence awards in October 2019.[40] [41] [42]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Bravest Knight . . 2020 . Big Bad Boo Studios . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200810043003/https://bigbadboo.com/index.php/propertiesdetail/pid/59/The%C2%A0BravestKnight . August 10, 2020 . live.
  2. Web site: New kids cartoon The Bravest Knight will feature gay couple as main characters . Stakey . Adam . May 23, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201024214448/https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/23/new-kids-cartoon-bravest-knight-will-feature-gay-couple-main-characters-9671623/ . October 24, 2020 . live.
  3. Web site: Queer Sh*t to Watch This Week . Farber . Lawrence . June 21, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200220015001/http://www.newnownext.com/queer-shit-to-watch-june-21-2019-hedwig-the-bravest-knight-beyond-stonewall-a-bigger-splash/06/2019/ . February 20, 2020 . live.
  4. Web site: 'Bravest Knight' Gallops Back to Hulu with 8 New Eps . Milligan . Mercedes . October 3, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201030083718/https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/bravest-knight-gallops-back-to-hulu-with-8-new-eps/ . October 30, 2020 . live.
  5. Matter . Cassandra . Tasto . Christine . July 29, 2019 . Common Sense Media Announces Summer 2019 Common Sense Seal Honorees for TV . United States . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200808030055/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/news/press-releases/common-sense-media-announces-summer-2019-common-sense-seal-honorees-for . August 8, 2020 . live.
  6. Ferreira . André . Strunck . Claire . Mullen . Brian . October 10, 2019 . Canada Celebrates the Power and Beauty of Diversity at MIP . Canada . Canada Media Fund . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200928211221/https://cmf-fmc.ca/en-ca/news-events/news/october-2019/canada-celebrates-the-power-and-beauty-of-diversit . September 28, 2020 . live.
  7. Web site: "The Bravest Knight": Hulu Shares Official Trailer for Animated Kids Show . Kade . Leigh . May 31, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926223443/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-bravest-knight-hulu-shares-official-trailer-for-animated-kids-show/ . September 26, 2020 . live.
  8. Web site: Hulu Sets Animated Kids Series With Openly Gay Main Character; T.R. Knight, Bobby Moynihan, RuPaul & Others Add Voices 'The Bravest Knight' . Petski . Denise . May 23, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201107235957/https://deadline.com/2019/05/tr-knight-bobby-moynihan-rupaul-the-bravest-knight-animated-kids-series-openly-gay-main-character-hulu-1202621288/ . November 7, 2020 . live.
  9. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/02/the-bravest-knight-trains-for-s2-return-with-jane-lynch-alan-cumming-joining/
  10. Web site: . The Bravest Knight -- Homepage . Official website of The Bravest Knight . Big Bad Boo Studios . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201218204613/http://thebravestknight.com/ . December 18, 2020 . 2020 . live . mdy-all .
  11. Web site: The Bravest Knight . . 2020 . Hulu Press . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200929202815/https://press.hulu.com/shows/the-bravest-knight/ . September 29, 2020 . live.
  12. Hulu announces The Bravest Knight kids cartoon with same-sex parents . Romano . Nick . May 23, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200807105924/https://ew.com/tv/2019/05/23/hulu-the-bravest-knight-same-sex-parents/ . August 7, 2020 . live.
  13. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/02/the-bravest-knight-trains-for-s2-return-with-jane-lynch-alan-cumming-joining/
  14. Web site: Wilson Cruz On 'The Bravest Knight', 'Star Trek: Discovery' And LGBTQ Legacy Of 'My So-Called Life's Ricky Vasquez . Ramos . Dino-Ray . June 24, 2019 . . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201218233712/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wilson-cruz-bravest-knight-star-200151668.html . December 18, 2020 . live.
  15. Web site: 'The Bravest Knight' Gets a Colorful Trailer to Start Pride Month . Fox . Sarah . June 1, 2019 . Slanted . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190607121024/https://theslanted.com/2019/06/33333/the-bravest-knight-trailer-1-hulu-pride-month/ . June 7, 2019 . live.
  16. Web site: About Us . . 2020 . Alley Theatre . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200922003218/https://www.alleytheatre.org/about-us/artist/emilio-delgado . September 22, 2020 . live.
  17. Web site: . The Bravest Knight -- Multi-Episode Page. Official website of The Bravest Knight . Big Bad Boo Studios . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201022203835/http://www.thebravestknight.com/episodes.html . October 22, 2020 . 2020 . live . mdy-all .
  18. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/02/the-bravest-knight-trains-for-s2-return-with-jane-lynch-alan-cumming-joining/
  19. Web site: . Shabnam Rezaei Produces New Hulu Kids' Series That's Among First To Feature Openly Gay Main Character. Women You Should Know . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200922232105/https://womenyoushouldknow.net/shabnam-rezaei-kids-series-first-gay-main-character/ . September 22, 2020 . 2020 . live . mdy-all .
  20. Lee . Paul Sun-Hyung . bitterasiandude . 983532819392512002 . April 9, 2018 . Thank you for letting me play today!!! So. Much. Fun. #okseeyou #bravestknight #animation . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201219041213/https://twitter.com/bitterasiandude/status/983532819392512002 . December 19, 2020 . live.
  21. Web site: . Julie Nathanson – Far Cry 5. Starry Magazine . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190811112906/https://starrymag.com/julie-nathanson-far-cry-5/ . August 11, 2019 . June 7, 2018 . live . mdy-all .
  22. Web site: "The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived" Gives Gay Kids A Fairy-Tale Ending . Avery . Dan . . December 18, 2020 .
  23. Web site: Pioneers of the Toon Frontier: Big Bad Boo's Inclusive New Series 'The Bravest Knight' . Zahed . Ramin . September 20, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925014215/https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/pioneers-of-the-toon-frontier-big-bad-boos-inclusive-new-series-the-bravest-knight/ . September 25, 2020 . live.
  24. Web site: How The Bravest Knight is turning the tide for LGBTQ kids programming . Romano . Nick . September 6, 2019 . . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201218232112/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bravest-knight-turning-tide-lgbtq-202851426.html . December 18, 2020 . live.
  25. Web site: What's Wrong With Hulu's "The Bravest Knight"? . Sandoval . Lapacazo . September 5, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201027153452/https://lasentinel.net/whats-wrong-with-hulus-the-bravest-knight.html . October 27, 2020 . live.
  26. Web site: 'The Bravest Knight' writer Daniel Errico wants to create a 'multi-dimensional hero' for children and give them more diverse role models . Sunil . Aruni . June 3, 2019 . MEAWW . Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201027204741/https://meaww.com/children-gender-identities-discussion-same-sex-marriage-the-bravest-knight-author-daniel-errico-hulu . October 27, 2020 . live.
  27. Web site: Your Kids Should Be Watching 'The Bravest Knight' This Pride Month — Here's Why . Walsh . Kathleen . June 21, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201027202706/https://www.romper.com/p/the-bravest-knight-on-hulu-is-important-show-for-kids-to-see-creator-daniel-errico-explains-why-18134367 . October 27, 2020 . live.
  28. Web site: Hulu's 'Bravest Knight' Will Be Cartoon Fairy Tale Featuring Gay Dads . Wong . Curtis M. . May 29, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200110114614/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hulu-the-bravest-knight-lgbtq-series_n_5ced341ae4b00e036574ab60 . January 10, 2020 . live.
  29. Web site: Kids' Cartoon "The Bravest Knight" Will Feature Openly Gay Main Character . Sugah . Jamie . May 23, 2019 . The Geekiary . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201125134652/https://thegeekiary.com/the-bravest-knight-hulu/65094 . November 25, 2020 . live.
  30. Web site: 'The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived,' Queer Fairytale, Premieres On Hulu . Nichols . James Michael . February 2, 2016 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201219042113/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/bravest-knight-who-ever-lived_n_7545240 . December 19, 2020 . live.
  31. Web site: 'Vida,' 'Bravest Knight' among new shows you may have missed . Carney . Brian T. . August 22, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191203014757/https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/08/22/vida-bravest-knight-among-new-shows-you-may-have-missed/ . December 3, 2019 . live.
  32. Web site: The Bravest Knight [Review] ]. Slayon . Joyce . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201207232037/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-bravest-knight . December 7, 2020 . live.
  33. Web site: Bobby Moynihan, T.R. Knight talk groundbreaking 'Bravest Knight' . . June 21, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200922131110/https://www.today.com/video/bobby-moynihan-t-r-knight-talk-groundbreaking-bravest-knight-62406213645 . September 22, 2020 . live.
  34. Web site: Hulu's The Bravest Knight Features Two Dads & Is Too Cute to Handle . Ermac . Raffy . May 23, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190601180632/https://www.pride.com/geek/2019/5/23/hulus-bravest-knight-features-two-dads-too-cute-handle . June 1, 2019 . live.
  35. Squires . Mitchell . Levine . Heather . May 22, 2019 . Hulu Announces One of a Kind New Original Animated Kids Series "The Bravest Knight" . United States . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201218225042/https://press.hulu.com/news/2019/05/22/hulu-announces-one-of-a-kind-new-original-animated-kids-series-the-bravest-knight/ . December 18, 2020 . live.
  36. Web site: The Bravest Knight: New children's TV show will centre on a same-sex relationship . West . Amy . May 25, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201107234907/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/05/25/the-bravest-knight-new-childrens-tv-show-will-centre-on-a-same-sex-relationship/ . November 7, 2020 . live.
  37. Web site: Hulu's "The Bravest Knight" Breaks New Ground . Beck . Jerry . May 23, 2019 . The Animation Scoop . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200123050250/https://www.animationscoop.com/hulus-the-bravest-knight-breaks-new-ground/ . January 23, 2020 . live.
  38. Web site: The GLAAD Wrap: 'Booksmart' in theaters, 'The Bravest Knight' and 'Pose' first looks, and more! . Deerwater . Raina . May 24, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200929134141/https://www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-booksmart-theaters-bravest-knight-and-pose-first-looks-and-more . September 29, 2020 . live.
  39. Web site: What do we tell the kids? Children's TV struggles with LGBTQ characters . . October 14, 2019 . . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200811195620/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/tell-kids-childrens-tv-struggles-lgbtq-characters-103425677.html . August 11, 2020 . live.
  40. Web site: MIPCOM: Starz's 'Vida,' Hulu's 'The Bravest Knight' Among Diversity Award Winners . Roxborough . Scott . October 15, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191016175917/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mipcom-starzs-vida-hulus-bravest-knight-win-diversity-awards-1247624 . October 16, 2019 . live.
  41. Web site: Hulu's 'The Bravest Knight' Launching 8 New Episodes October 11 . . October 4, 2019 . . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200930145001/https://www.awn.com/news/hulus-bravest-knight-launching-8-new-episodes-october-11 . September 30, 2020 . live.
  42. Web site: The Bravest Knight wins diversity prize at MIPCOM . . October 29, 2019 . RDV Canada . December 18, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200803093329/https://rdvcanada.ca/en/success/the-bravest-knight-wins-diversity-prize-at-mipcom/ . August 3, 2020 . live.

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