Doug Unplugs Available Now on Apple TV+

Great TV happens when Dreamworks partners with Apple TV+

I am so excited to share with you that Doug Unplugs is premiering on Apple TV+.

Based on the critically acclaimed children’s book by Dan Yaccarino, DreamWorks “Doug Unplugs” follows a curious six-year-old robot, Doug, as he ‘plugs in’ to learn new facts about the world every day. Sensing there’s more to life than just the facts, Doug journeys into the human world in search of experience. And to do that, Doug has to…unplug. With the help of his best friend, a human ball of energy, Emma, the two discover all the simple wonders of the world. Join Doug as he learns about the intersection of technology and humanity, and how they both keep us truly connected! 

The series is ideal for preschoolers and early elementary kids.  Kids will enjoy the whimsical introduction of math and problem solving techniques with Doug and Emma. 

I had the opportunity to chat with Dan, the creative mind behind the series, about his inspiration for Doug Unplugs and working with such talented voice actors.

Me: What was your inspiration for creating Doug?

Dan: Ten years ago, when my 2 children were making their way through elementary school, I noticed that they were increasingly using online resources for information. This got me thinking about how much was at their fingertips, but also how much there was to understanding something through experience. We live in New York City, so there was a wealth of museums, libraries, and so many other ways they were able to fill in the rest of their understanding.

Online resources and digital technology are incredibly useful, but I feel that they should be used to inform and enhance our real-life experiences. I then knew I wanted to explore the idea of online vs experiential learning, but I wasn’t sure exactly how I’d do it. In 2010 I was on a flight from Los Angeles back to New York when I doodled a robot boy in my sketchbook and I knew at that moment I would hang the concept on him. He would be a robot, but with something extra: curiosity and the desire to experience life.

Me: I am familiar with the work of Eric Bauza from TMNT and a few other series and video game platforms. How did you get this legendary voice actor for this project?

Dan: We were very lucky! I believe that once he read the overall concept of the show and the role we wanted him to play, he agreed. The best experience you can have on a series is that the actors take the script and elevate the words to another level, beyond the voice you imagined inside your head of the line read. Eric, as well as all of the cast members, do that.

Me: What was your biggest challenge bringing Doug to life onscreen?

Dan: There are so many ways a concept like the robot/human world in Doug Unplugged could be interpreted. I created a pitch bible for translating the books into an animated series. DreamWorks and I worked on fleshing out the concept for a while, but then we brought on Jim Nolan, as our showrunner. He pulled the whole thing together beautifully and once we partnered with Apple, we staffed up and launched the production. I guess the challenge was hitting the ground running.

Check out the trailer for Doug Unplugs

Click here to view the trailer and be sure to check out Doug Unplugs on Apple TV+

What TV series does your child enjoy watching?