Canada’s Lopii Productions has locked in TVOKids and Knowledge Kids for its first-ever mixed-media series M is for Me, due out next fall.

This 26 x three-minute preschool series will blend live-action footage, animation, art and music to showcase what it means to real kids to be Canadian. Lopii is currently casting four- to eight-year-olds.

M is for Me is a celebration of inclusivity and acceptance—messages that have taken on increased importance amid Canada’s ongoing cultural and economic feud with its closest neighbor and longtime partner, the US, says Lopii co-founder Rennata López, who co-created the series concept with her sister, Georgina.

“In today’s cultural and political landscape, with a growing sense of national pride (Elbows up!), we wanted to create a series that celebrates Canadian identity, while also addressing the increasingly divisive conversations around immigration, refugees and cultural diversity,” López tells Kidscreen, noting that anti-immigration sentiment has been “creeping up here, too.”

“As immigrants ourselves, our motivation for this series is to offer a gentle reminder that being Canadian means embracing newcomers and valuing diverse languages and traditions, as Canada is made up of immigrants and their descendants,” she says, adding that she and her sister immigrated from Arizona, and their family is from Mexico. “As always, our goal is to empower children to be proud of who they are, including their origins, languages, cultures and traditions.”

TVOKids shared a similar sentiment. “This series arrives at a time when showcasing Canadian stories on screen is more vital than ever,” said Kirsten Hurd, commissioning editor of TVOKids. “One of our core goals is ensuring children see themselves reflected in the content we create. M is for Me does exactly that—celebrating identity, culture and belonging through the voices of real kids.”

This is Lopii’s seventh original series, following productions such as Dream It to Be It (TVOKids and Knowledge Network), Bestest Day Ever With My Best Friend! (CBC Kids) and The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy (Family Jr.).

Photo by Igor Kyryliuk & Tetiana Kravchenko on Unsplash.