Ladybird & Bee returns to RTÉjr in spring
Date Posted: March 1, 2023
Following its successful first season in 2021, Ladybird & Bee, the show that uses simple stories to teach toddlers about biodiversity, returns to RTÉjr on 1st March with a second series.
Produced in Irish by Paper Owl Films, with funding from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund and Screen Fund, the show follows the bestie beasties, Ladybird and Bee, who inhabit the Wild Meadow. A place of big adventure, big fun and big friendship.
In every episode, the characters explore their local ecosystems and befriend the inhabitants that live there.
The cast has returned for the second series with the narrator, Ladybird and Bee played by talented, young stars – nine-year-old Róise Fields, 10-year-old Hillary Daly and 13-year-old Aaron Barashi. Like the characters, the episodes are small, but each one delivers a strong message to young viewers about the importance of respecting nature, nurturing friendships and paying attention to the little things in the world.
The show has also been a hit with parents, with one commenting: “I think I enjoy Ladybird & Bee just as much as my daughter does. It’s a really sweet animation with great characters. And a lovely, gentle change from the flashy, noisy, loud shows often aimed at young toddlers.”
The Irish News reviewed the first series saying: “If you’re keen for your toddler or pre-schooler to love nature and appreciate the need for biodiversity, then RTÉjr’s colourful animation series Ladybird & Bee gives you the perfect opportunity.”
Ladybird & Bee is created by Paper Owl Films. Creative Director, Gráinne McGuinness said: “We’re thrilled to bring Ladybird & Bee back to our younger audience’s screens on RTÉjr this spring, as we believe it is more important than ever that this generation learns about nature and the role it plays in the world they are set to inherit. We hope the colourful animation and simple storylines within the second series continue to enchant as well as educate young children about biodiversity.”
Suzanne Kelly, Head of Children’s & Young People’s Content at RTÉ comments: “Ladybird & Bee is such a beautiful series, delivering a really important message, the importance of biodiversity, to our youngest viewers. We are delighted to premiere the second series of Ladybird & Bee so everyone can continue to enjoy their magical adventures.”
Aine Walsh, Head of Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, said; “We are proud to support a second series of Bóín & Beach, Ladybird & Bee through our Irish Language Broadcast Fund and Screen Fund. The first series of this beautifully animated show was received very well by audiences. We’re delighted this spring young viewers can continue to explore the wonder and joy of nature and the importance of biodiversity.”
Gillian Calvert Ridge, Global Distribution Director – Acquisitions & Development at Jetpack Distribution comments: “Ladybird & Bee encourages kids to discover the wonder of nature and tells charming stories of the natural world, as seen from the perspective of two tiny best friends. The series of shorts is visually stunning and has been well received by broadcasters internationally looking for content to pad out their schedules and convey brand quality to their audiences.”
Bóín agus Beach ag filleadh ar RTÉjr san earrach
D’éirigh go geal le Bóín agus Beach ina chéad séasúr in 2021, an seó a bhaineann leas as scéalta simplí le naíonáin a mhúineadh faoin mbithéagsúlacht, agus beidh sé ag filleadh ar RTÉjr ar an 1 Márta, leis an dara sraith.
Paper Owl Films a léirigh an seó i nGaeilge le maoiniú ón Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge agus ón Chiste Scáileán de chuid Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann, leanann sé dhá chréatúr ar cairde is fearr iad, Bóín agus Beach, a chuireann fúthu sa Mhóinéar Fia: áit lán le heachtraí móra, spraoi mór agus cairdeas mór.
I ngach eagrán, déanann na carachtair a n-éiceachórais áitiúla a thaiscéaladh agus éiríonn siad mór leis na háitritheoirí a chónaíonn ann.
Tá an fhoireann aisteoirí ar ais don dara sraith leis na guthanna don reacaire, Bóín agus Beach déanta ag na réaltaí óga cumasacha – Róise Fields atá naoi mbliana d’aois, Hillary Daly deich mbliana d’aois agus Aaron Barashi atá trí bliana déag d’aois.
Amhail na carachtair tá na heagráin beag, ach seachadann gach aon cheann teachtaireacht láidir dár lucht féachana óg maidir leis an tábhacht a bhaineann le meas a bheith againn ar an dúlra, cairdis a chothú agus aird a thabhairt ar na rudaí beaga sa saol.
Bhí an-dúil ag na tuismitheoirí sa seó freisin, agus dúirt duine acu: “Ceapaim go mbainimse an sult céanna as Bóín agus Beach agus a bhaineann m’iníon. Is beochan ghleoite í le carachtair iontacha. Agus is athrú deas séimh é ó na seónna mórthaibhseacha callánacha a dhírítear ar naíonáin óga go minic.”
Rinne an Irish News an chéad sraith a léirmheas agus dúirt siad: “Más mian leat go mbeidh grá ag do naíonán nó do dhalta réamhscoile don dúlra agus an gá le bithéagsúlacht a thuiscint, tugann sraith dhaite bheochana RTÉjr Bóín agus Beach deis as cuimse duit.”
Paper Owl Films a chruthaigh Bóín agus Beach. Arsa an Stiúrthóir Cruthaitheach, Grainne McGuinness: “Tá lúcháir orainn Bóín agus Beach a thabhairt ar ais chuig scáileáin ár luchta féachana óg ar RTÉjr an t-earrach beag seo, mar go gcreidimid go bhfuil sé níos tábhachtaí ná riamh go bhfoghlaimíonn an ghlúin seo faoin dúlra agus faoin ról atá aige sa domhan seo a gheobhaidh siad mar oidhreacht. Tá súil againn go leanfaidh an bheochan dhaite agus na scéalta simplí laistigh den dara sraith orthu ag cur leanaí óga faoi dhraíocht mar aon lena múineadh maidir leis an mbithéagsúlacht.”
Dúirt Suzanne Kelly, Ceannasaí Ábhar do Pháistí agus do Dhaoine Óga in RTÉ: “Is sraith álainn í Bóín agus Beach, agus teachtaireacht ríthábhachtach á seachadadh aici, an tábhacht atá leis an mbithéagsúlacht, dár lucht féachana is óige. Tá ríméad orainn an dara sraith de Bóín agus Beach a chur i láthair chun go bhféadfaidh chuile dhuine sult a bhaint as a gcuid eachtraí draíochta fós.”
Dúirt Áine Walsh, Ceannasaí an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge, Northern Ireland Screen “Tá muid iontach bródúil go bhfuil muid ag tacú leis an dara sraith de Bóín & Beach, Ladybird & Bee. Thaitin an chéad sraith den bheochan álainn seo go mór leis an lucht féachana agus tá lúchair orainn go bhfuil deis ag daoine óga leanstan orthu ag fiosrú aoibhnis an dúlra agus tábhacht na bithéagsúlachta.
Arsa Gillian Calvert Ridge, Stiúrthóir Seachadta Domhanda – Éadálacha & Forbairt ag Jetpack Distribution: “Spreagann Bóín agus Beach leanaí chun iontais an dúlra a aimsiú agus insíonn sé scéalta gleoite faoin domhan nádúrtha, faoi mar a fheiceann dhá dhlúthchara bheaga é. Tá cuma iontach ar an tsraith ghearrscannán seo ó thaobh na físe de agus ghlac craoltóirí go maith leis ar fud an domhain agus iad sa tóir ar ábhar lena gcuid sceideal a líonadh amach agus ardchaighdeán branda a chur ar fáil dá lucht féachana.”
