Kiddipedia
by Matthew Fernandes
Where did the initial inspiration for Dino Ranch come from?
I grew up in the country as a boy and spent much of my days outside with friends surrounded by cows and horses and the great outdoors. And the one thing I learned about observing ranch life was that you counted heavily on your family unit to be successful. The stronger the family the stronger the ranch. And what was interesting was that the adults depended on the children to handle big important jobs, just as much as each other. So I had always been interested in doing a story about kids on a family ranch. Of course, I have always had a love of dinosaurs so the idea of mixing the two felt really fresh and unique for this age group
How long has it taken to get it from brain to screen, and what’s the process been like for you?
Every show is different and has its own journey to make it to screen. Dino Ranch was, however, the fastest transition from idea to production that I have ever experienced. At every stage people just immediately understood the concept and could see the potential. So the process was very quick. Thankfully we have a wonderful team of artists and storytellers that eagerly jumped on board.
How does the finished version compare with your initial ideas?
Most every show goes through a period of growth or changes direction through the natural cycle of development. Dino Ranch and its characters have not only managed to remain exactly as I had presented them, but has also exceeded my expectations.
What aspects of the show are you most pleased with/excited by?
The world itself is unique to this audience as the concept of mixing farming, dinosaurs and cowboys has never been done before. And while we deliver stunning visuals, I think what I’m most pleased about is our characters. Watching our Dino Ranchers interact and bond with their dinosaurs as if they were puppy dogs is what makes the show so appealing and is what drives all our stories.
Dino Ranch promotes teamwork and diversity – why do you feel it’s important to have these kinds of messages in your shows? What else would you like kids to take from them?
Our characters are not only a diverse team but a diverse family. Dino Ranch has strong themes around the importance of family teamwork and how everyone has a role to play in solving a problem. In our show the Cassidys, much like their Dinos, are diverse and reflect that family members can look unique and can come in different shapes, sizes or even come from different places. I think it’s important now more than ever to show that not all families have to look the same.
You obviously love all the characters in Dino Ranch, but do you secretly have any favourites, and if so why?
I would have to say that Biscuit the T-Rex is my secret favourite. Biscuit is the biggest and oldest Dino who protects the ranch from danger like a loyal guard dog. Although his bark is worse than his bite – Biscuit is more like a big old puppy at heart.
Kids worldwide love both dinosaurs and cowboys – for you, what’s the key to their appeal?
Children love to hold special knowledge over adults and I would say that most children can educate their parents on a variety of intricate dinosaur facts. The idea that giants walked the earth millions of years ago sparks a child’s imagination, without the fear of ever running into one. The fact that these creatures got to run around and be big and be wild and be mighty is very appealing to children who are small and often must follow the rules of an adult world. Cowboys, and more specifically ranchers, also share the same appeal of being rough and tumble and free. Our ranchers get to roam in the wild outdoors and get their hands dirty while wrangling a whole host of dinosaur pals, and I think that freedom in nature is particularity appealing at the moment.
Were you a dinosaur fan as a kid, and if so did you have a favourite dino, and why?
I was a Dino fan as a kid and I’m a Dino fan now for all the same reasons. The idea that the world was run by giant monsters is terribly fascinating. But I would have to say my favourite dinosaurs were the ones that lived in the oceans. I would love to have seen what the ocean floor looked like 65 million years ago!
Ditto cowboys – did you play cowboys as a kid, or watch any cowboy shows?
My grandmother’s favourite show was Bonanza and we used to watch it together on many of our visits together. I would say that this show had a big influence in inspiring Dino Ranch and many of the themes came from this old classic.
You’ve created so many hit kids’ shows over the years – what is it that you love about specialising for this market, what are the main challenges – and what’s the secret to creating a hit show?
I grew up in a family of artists who specialised in children entertainment. From DC comics in the 1930s, to Sesame Street, to children’s publishing, I have always been surrounded by children’s stories so it has always come naturally to me. What I love most about kids’ entertainment is simply that a child’s imagination knows no bounds. As a storyteller you can push your creativity further to build new worlds because children are willing to follow you on that ride. And if you are lucky enough to captivate a child’s imagination, and they connect to your show in a positive way, then there is a satisfaction knowing that they might carry that positive memory into their adult lives. Of course, what makes children’s television challenging is that kids are also the most honest critics so you have a small window to grab their interest otherwise they will move onto the next thing.
I’m not certain there is a secret to creating a hit show, and if there was I wouldn’t share! I think the best you can do is be passionate about the story you have to tell. There are so many roadblocks and obstacles and daily challenges in making a tv show that your passion for your idea needs to be the north star that everyone follows.
