Longtime kids TV exec Angela Santomero has opened presales for Make a Kids Show, her new masterclass aimed at helping kids content makers and writers sharpen their skills and develop their TV concepts.

Santomero hosts the online program, which includes a 12-module video series, a workbook, and monthly Q&As and virtual group meetings. It’s designed to give creators a blueprint to flesh out and refine their ideas into projects that are positioned to succeed in today’s marketplace.

With nearly three decades of kids TV experience under her belt, Santomero is drawing on her strong track record for creating iconic preschool hits such as Blue’s Clues (co-created with Todd Kessler and Traci Paige Johnson for Nick) and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (PBS KIDS). Her work has won a Peabody Award for Outstanding Childrenʹs Programming and more than 25 Emmy Award nominations, including a win in 2012.

She developed Make a Kids Show after sensing a strong demand for a succinct, expert-backed course that deals specifically with the in and outs of the kids genre, she says.

“I’ve always been asked to speak about how to make a show that lasts a really long time and is also a quality kids show, so I started writing down my process, and that [eventually] turned into this video series,” she tells Kidscreen.

In her masterclass, Santomero will explain how to craft the best pitch for a show; share methodologies and data points; highlight common mistakes to avoid; and outline the creative strategies she has tapped into for her past work. “I give case studies of things that I’ve done wrong and things that I believe in, such as the importance of formative research [for kids TV development],” she says.

And for a more illustrative element, she’ll also provide a behind-the-scenes look at how she is shaping her latest creation—a new digital series called Princess Penelope’s Purple Purse of Preposterous Things (pictured above) that’s currently in production. 

Featuring Santomero’s signature interactive style, this CG/2D-animated mixed media series stars a cute kitten in a premise she teases as “Blue’s Clues in reverse.” Using Princess Penelope as a case study, she’ll explore aspects ranging from creating an efficient pitch deck, to changing a character design in mid-development.

This new IP has also locked down a publishing deal for a four-book series, with the first title due out later this year, Santomero adds.

Presales for Make a Kids Show are now open online—and creators can receive a US$100 discount by using the promo code “Kidscreen.”

Make a Kids Show offers resources for aspiring writers/creators through a digital workbook.