Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum

Last updated

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.jpg
Based onOrdinary People Change the World
by Brad Meltzer
Voices of
  • Aidan Vissers
  • Ian Ho
  • Zoe Hatz
  • Wyatt White
Theme music composer
Opening theme"Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Theme"
Ending theme"Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Theme" (instrumental)
ComposerMeiro Stamm
Country of origin
  • Canada
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes56 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerJennifer Bradley
EditorsMeghan Read
Tom Hastings
Running time22 minutes (11 minutes)
Production companies 9 Story Media Group
Brown Bag Films
Original release
Network PBS Kids (U.S.)
TVOKids (Canada)
ReleaseNovember 11, 2019 (2019-11-11) –
present (present)

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum is an animated children's television series produced by 9 Story Media Group, based on Ordinary People Change the World, a children's book series written by Brad Meltzer and Chris Eliopoulos. [1] It premiered on November 11, 2019, on PBS Kids. [2] The series follows young Xavier Riddle, his sister Yadina, their friend Brad, and their robotic companion Berby, who visit the Secret Museum to meet historical figures portrayed as children. Each episode introduces a historical hero, such as Rosa Parks or Leonardo da Vinci, who inspires the characters to overcome their own challenges. The show aims to teach young viewers important values such as courage, kindness, and perseverance through engaging storytelling and real-world role models. [3]

Contents

Premise

The series involves a Peruvian-American boy named Xavier Riddle, his sister Yadina Riddle (alongside her stuffed turtle Dr. Zoom) and their best friend Brad. In each episode, a problem or difficulty is encountered. They go to the Secret Museum to time travel to the past to observe, interact, and learn from the historical heroes. They then return to the present and use their experience to solve the problem. [1] [4]

Characters

Main

Supporting

Production

Brad Meltzer wrote the book Ordinary People Change the World and began a series based on the book named the Ordinary People series in 2014 with I Am Abraham Lincoln, I Am Amelia Earhart, I Am Rosa Parks, and I Am Albert Einstein. [5]

The series is produced by 9 Story Media Group's animation division, Brown Bag Films. 9 Story's Chief Creative Officer Angela Santomero states that Xavier Riddle lets kids know they have "the curiosity and adventurous spirit to change the world". Meltzer added to that statement: "When my own kids watch this series, I get to see them realize that there’s extraordinary within the ordinary." [6]

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1 37November 11, 2019 (2019-11-11)January 31, 2022 (2022-01-31)
2 TBAJanuary 15, 2024 (2024-01-15)TBA

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President

A TV special titled Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President aired on March 16, 2020. [7] [8] In the special, Yadina, who dreams of becoming president one day, realizes all the presidents were men. [7] She questions if she can still be president, even though it is something no girl has done yet. The trio visit the Secret Museum, where a five-part star is shown to them. They travel to different periods in time, where they meet women who are attempting to do something that has never been done before. Yadina learns from them on what is needed to do something that has never been done before, as she attempts to complete the star. She meets Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Amelia Earhart, Junko Tabei, Sally Ride and herself as an adult. [9] Amelia Earhart is the only historical figure to be featured in both the movie and an episode.

Broadcast

The series premiered on PBS Kids in United States on November 12, 2019. It premiered on TVOKids in Canada on December 10, 2019. [10] It airs on Super3, a Catalan-language children's channel in Spain. [11] Season 2 was released on January 15, 2024.

Reception

Critical response

Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media gave Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum a mixed review. She stated that "the show makes many historical inaccuracies, which makes it odd for a TV show that wants to make history come back alive for kids." She also stated that "the show's tendency to play too fast and loose with the historical facts is confusing, and that 'Go for it!' is an unlikely motto for Amelia Earhart, who disappeared in 1937 and didn't complete her solo Atlantic flight as a grade school student, as Xavier depicts." George Washington Carver did have a secret garden as a child, in which he learned important lessons that impacted his career in botany. But, as Slaton states, "it's a real stretch to imagine him having to defend plants from renegade soccer players in 19th century Missouri", and that "the show seems to overlook his importance as an activist for ex-slaves and champion of sustainable agriculture, instead boiling his messages down to 'take care of plants and you'll take care of the earth.'" [12]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2020 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool ChildrenXavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumNominated [13]
2020 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated ProgramCory Bobiak, Steven Boeckler and Susan HartNominated [14] [15]
2020 TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming Xavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumNominated [16]
2021 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool ChildrenXavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumNominated [17]
2021 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Special Class Daytime Animated ProgramXavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Madam PresidentNominated [18]
2021 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing Team for a Preschool Animated ProgramXavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumNominated
2021 TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingXavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumNominated [19]
2022 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool ChildrenXavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumNominated
2022 Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Preschool Animated Series Xavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumNominated

Notes

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    References

    1. 1 2 "Brad Meltzer on Finding Heroes for "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum"". TV Shows. November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
    2. ↑ "PBS KIDS Announces New Series Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, Premiering November 11, 2019". PBS . Retrieved February 1, 2019.
    3. ↑ Columnist, Francine Brokaw Community. "'Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum' premieres on PBS Kids". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
    4. ↑ "A New PBS Show That Lets Kids Learn from the Example of Historical Heroes". WTTW Chicago. November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
    5. ↑ "Brad Meltzer's kid-friendly history comes to PBS". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
    6. ↑ Siegel, Fern (November 13, 2019). "'Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum' Streams on PBS Kids Platforms". The Streamable. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
    7. 1 2 "Rick's Review: Brad Meltzer makes history fun with 'Xavier Riddle' on PBS". March 12, 2020.
    8. ↑ "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie". February 26, 2020.
    9. ↑ "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President - TV Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. April 2, 2020.
    10. ↑ "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum (@XavierRiddleHQ) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
    11. ↑ "Xavier Enigma i el museu secret". CCMA. April 6, 2023.
    12. ↑ "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum - TV Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. November 19, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
    13. ↑ Mercedes Milligan (December 2, 2019). "47th Annie Awards Nominations Announced". Animation Magazine . Retrieved December 31, 2019.
    14. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (May 21, 2020). "Daytime Emmy Nominees: 'Elena of Avalor,' 'Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure' Lead Toon Contenders".
    15. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (July 26, 2020). "Daytime Emmy Awards: 'Dragon Prince,' 'Ask the Storybots' & 'Last Kids on Earth' Win Key Animation Categories for Netflix".
    16. ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (July 9, 2020). "TCA Awards: Watchmen, Unbelievable and Schitt's Creek Lead Nominations". TVLine. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
    17. ↑ Mercedes Milligan (April 17, 2021). "Soul / Wolfwalkers / HildaFESTIVALS AND EVENTSNORTH AMERICA Annie Awards: 'Soul,' 'Wolfwalkers' & 'Hilda' Score Most Wins". Animation Magazine . Retrieved April 17, 2021.
    18. ↑ Zahed, Ramin (June 28, 2021). "TV Academy Announces Animation/Children's Emmy Nominations".
    19. ↑ Turchiano, Danielle (July 15, 2021). "'Ted Lasso' Scores the Most 2021 TCA Awards Nominations". Variety . Retrieved July 19, 2021.

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