Get ready for a Ray of Sunshine this winter from Daily Madness and RTEjr
Dublin-based animation studio Daily Madness has announced that their latest original preschool series, Ray of Sunshine, will premiere on RTE 2 and RTEjr this December, with the first 13 of 26 seven-minute episodes airing.
Set in the Dublin city-centre Sunshine Apartments, the series focuses Ray, an out-going, sunshine-y seven-year-old with the gift of gab who loves to spend time in his apartment courtyard tending his garden, hosting tea parties and having fun with his Sunshine neighbours.
Aimed at 3-6 year olds, Ray of Sunshine sets to break boundaries by promoting play as gender-neutral. Play patterns such as tea parties would historically be considered “girl play” but a play pattern that promotes socialization, conversation, caring and sharing is of value to all genders and all children, not just girls. Ray of Sunshine seeks to normalize play traditionally labelled as “for girls” as play that is actually for everyone who enjoys it.
The series also stresses the importance of shared spaces in a community and portrays inner-city life as authentic, valuable and enriching. A love letter to Dublin, authentic Irish voices have been cast with newcomer and Dubliner Evan Oglesby taking on the lead role of Ray. The series also features Irish national treasure Don Conroy as Mr Ryan, the caretaker for Sunshine Apartments and frequent guest at Ray’s tea parties.
Suzanne Kelly Head of Children’s & Young People’s Content RTÉ said: “The moment I first discussed Ray of Sunshine with Lindsey Adams, Founder of Daily Madness I was sold! The siting of this wonderfully joyful series, the themes explored and the pitch perfect casting have delivered what can only be described as pure sunshine in a bottle. During these wintery months I urge everyone young and old to tune in and watch Ray and his friends on RTÉjr and the RTÉ Player, you are guaranteed an incredibly heart-warming watch!”
Created by Lindsey Adams and Shannon George with Art Direction by Adam Kavanagh, Head Writing by Kristina Yee and Music by Jonathan Casey, Daily Madness was also proud to make their First Credit Initiative a part of Ray, with three writers getting their first on-screen writing credit on the series. Ray of Sunshine was produced with the funding support of RTÉjr, Screen Ireland and the Section 481 tax credit and will premiere on 12th December on RTÉ2 and 19th December