Paris & Pups was an instant hit on YouTube. The CG-animated series for five- to nine-year-olds about Paris Star and her five pups premiered in late September and has since hit 10 million views. And a handful of consumer products partners have already gotten on board based on that level of out-of-the-gate success. Paris & Pups probably would have done fine with just its high-quality animation and cute pups. But its producers believe its focus on changing the narrative around ADHD is what really helped it make such a big splash. 

The show is loosely based on celebrity Paris Hilton’s life, and she has ADHD. So 9 Story Media Group, HappyNest Entertainment and Hilton’s own 11:11 Media were all aligned on baking ADHD representation in. But how do you do it in a way that breaks stereotypes, works for a young demo, and also creates new business opportunities? 

To better understand ADHD, 11:11 Media tapped New York-based Understood.org, a nonprofit that supports people with learning and thinking differences in the US, to consult on the series. And producers say that experience brought the show to a whole other level. 

Understanding Understood 

Licensed psychologist Andrew Kahn, Understood’s associate director of expertise and strategic design, was the Paris & Pups point-person at the org. He also has ADHD, and says he was able to tap into his personal experience to add a nuanced take on learning how to cope with it. 

Kahn consulted on all of the series’ scripts and helped develop main character Star and one of the pups, Slivington, both of whom reflect some of the traits associated with ADHD. 

One of the top insights Understood.org provided is that Paris & Pups should have two characters with ADHD so it could highlight different aspects of the disorder. This also means Star can model behavior for her pup and better empathize with Slivington’s behavior and feelings. 

This all comes together in one particular episode, when Slivington’s hyperactivity causes a little chaos, and the hotel where the series is set institutes a rule that pups have to be on leashes. The pups and Star decide to get on the hotel manager’s good side by throwing him a teatime party outside on the terrace instead. And while other aspects of ADHD, like distractibility and hyperfixation, lead to Star and Slivington losing track of time, the characters’ creativity results in such a nice party that the leash rule is lifted. 

Beyond providing purely ADHD-focused insights, Kahn contributed in other areas as well, such as on the topics of social emotional learning and meditation & mindfulness. For example, he helped develop the language the show uses for its “chill skills”. In one episode, an uptight hotel manager learns how to take time for himself; Kahn helped integrate these universally relevant lessons that give Paris & Pups more co-viewing potential.

Understood also created educational resources and activities to accompany the show, and Kahn made a YouTube video in which he speaks about Paris & Pups‘ take on ADHD. 

Understood previously worked with Hilton to develop her unscripted series Inclusive by Design, which sees her design her home in a way that helps her thrive. The org is new to consulting on kids & family content, but it’s open and eager to work with other companies and producers looking to ground their work in research, data and a real understanding of ADHD. 

Why this all matters 

The producers’ goal on a representation level was to reflect Hilton’s perspective as someone who considers ADHD to be her “superpower”. But by working to understand ADHD and portray it with nuance in the series, the studios have managed to attract a wide audience and opened up new business opportunities.

Plus, there’s a whitespace for kids programming that has any sort of disability representation. The Geena Davis Institute’s report from 2024 found that only 1.1% of characters in new kids programming from 2023 had a disability. 

Audiences and buyers are looking for content that highlights that sort of diversity, says Natalie Osborne, chief strategy officer at 9 Story Media Group. “There’s a real appetite for stories that reflect the diverse ways kids learn, play and process the world around them,” says Osborne. “From a strategic standpoint, that aligns with our broader goal at 9 Story and Scholastic to tell stories that both entertain and build empathy. Working closely with leading nonprofit Understood, we formed a world where inclusion in the series feels effortless—it’s not a theme or an episode; it’s just everyday life for Paris and her pups.” 

As for new opportunities, Scholastic, which signed on as a publishing partner for the series in June, is going to produce sticker, activity and novelty books for an August 2026 release. Plus, it’s releasing guidebooks to teach some of the coping skills from the series to kids. There’s a gap for resources designed to help this age group in the publishing market, and books like that are a surefire way to appeal to families looking for a product they can give their child that will both entertain them and help them grow, says Kahn. 

What’s next for Paris & Pups? 

There’s now a long-form version of the series in the works, and the team behind it will also work with Understood to highlight ADHD and coping skills for it, says Sadaf Muncy, EVP and head of development at Happy Nest. 

A bible for the long-form series is completed, and there are premises for episodes and specials available for companies interested in partnering on the project, Muncy adds. The new series will introduce an additional focus on rescue animals and story beats that involve Star seeing animals in the rest of the world. But there’s no intention to take the spotlight off of ADHD.

“What’s really cool is being able to frame ADHD for people and be like, ‘Yes, there is this negative thing, but let’s see how we can help you frame it as a positive,'” says Muncy. “The Understood piece, it’s a core of who Star and Slivington are. So we’re never going to walk away from that.”