Animated Documentary Super Heroes saving the world one math problem at a time.
New York, NY (PRWEB) February 05, 2014
Today, PBS Learning in conjunction with Ghost Light Films announced that 2014 is the year of “Education Activation,” featuring the new math-based cartoon series DOC SQUAD. The series airs now on the PBS Learning website. Michael Kantor (Superheroes: A Never Ending Battle), Peter Millrose (Mourning Glory) and Bryant Falk (Square Fish) created the series.
DOC SQUAD is an educational and comedic cartoon series about a team of superhero documentary filmmakers. When problems arise, these superheroes use their mathematical savvy and superpowers to save the day. The Doc Squad includes: Big LC, Hyper G, Sound Hound, Johnny Backdrop and their leader Dr. D.
In every episode, the group must rely on mathematical ingenuity and a touch of documentary superpower to solve everyday problems. The Doc Squad is designed as an educational supplement to be used in a 5th to 8th grade math curriculum. Through Doc Squad’s PBS Learning channel, students will receive problems sets to solve in tandem to the animated adventures. New episodes are on http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/doc-squad/.
Episode 1: Volume Formula
When background noise stops Sound Hound from recording an interview with Amy Kent Flywell, Dr. D. and the team must come up with a way to block out the background noise. The episode focuses on Volume of a three-dimensional container.
Episode 2: Pythagorean Theorem
On a visit to Japan, Big LC realizes he left the battery packs for his camera in the cube truck. In order to retrieve their precious batteries, the Doc Squad will have to use their superpowers, along with the Pythagorean theorem, to cross a pond filled with crocodiles.
Episode 3: Dividing Fractions by Whole Numbers
The Doc Squad joins Maria Cordoza to research the elusive kaleidoscope monkey. However, in order to get their documentary footage, the team members must first solve a drawbridge puzzle. This episode focuses on fractions.
Episode 4: Functions and the Distance Formula
Johnny Backdrop tumbles out of the window and it’s up to Hyper G to use her super speed and catch him before he hits the ground. Dr. D suggests the team use the function for a falling object to help save Johnny Backdrop.
DOC SQUAD is a part of Michael Kantor’s SUPERHEROES: A NEVER-ENDING BATTLE, the first documentary to examine the dawn of the comic book genre and its powerful legacy. Bryant Falk and Peter Millrose wrote the animated series. Beth Daniels provided math consultation on the math formulas and theorems used in each episode. Bruce Kronenberg conducted principal casting on the series.
As part of the Doc Squad series, PBS will also feature a special documentary on Phil Jimenez, an artist and writer for Marvel and DC Comics. Jimenez discusses his storytelling and gives tips on how to break into the industry.
DOC SQUAD is produced by Ghost Light Films in association with Abacus Entertainment. Founded in 1996, Ghost Light Films created the critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated six-part PBS series Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America, which was hosted by Billy Crystal and produced by Thirteen/WNET New York, in association with BBC-TV. In 2005, Ghost Light Films produced three hours of documentary material to accompany the 40th anniversary re-release of the film The Sound of Music, including a documentary hosted by Julie Andrews. That same year, Ghost Light garnered the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Nonfiction series for Broadway: The American Musical with Thirteen/WNET New York, NHK Japan and BBC in association with Carlton International. Most recently Ghost Light created Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy (narrated by Joel Grey) for the GREAT PERFORMANCES series on PBS. For more information, visit http://www.ghostlightfilms.net or follow DOC SQUAD on https://www.facebook.com/DocSquadTV or https://twitter.com/docsquad.
Abacus Entertainment is a media production house, based in NYC, that specializes in video editing, animation and corporate video production. Media clients include Foot Locker, Bloomberg, Walmart, AMC, MTV, The NBA and more. For more information visit http://abacusentertainmentnyc.com or follow Abacus Entertainment on https://www.facebook.com/abacusentertainmentnyc or http://www.twitter.com/AbacusEnt.
