TVOKids has commissioned Montreal-headquartered Sphere Media (Riley Rocket) for its next project—a factual series with a fun title that’s all about demystifying bodily functions for six- to nine-year-olds. 

Burps, Butts and Bones (working title, 26 x 11 minutes) is a live-action/CG-animated series  created by producers Karen Hawes and Kim Saltarski. 

Andrea Griffith, Sphere Media Kids and Family’s VP of content and development, is executive producing and has worked closely in developing the project with TVOKids. Barcelona-based GoldBee is distributing the series in partnership with Sphere’s distribution arm, Sphere Abacus.

The quirky concept will see a CG-animated medical skeleton named Bones answering body-related questions that are sent in by real-life children (during his dedicated “bodcast” called Bodies with Bones), while a squad of kid reporters known as the B Team find out more about the topic. Each ep also features “Weird But True” pop-up graphics showing fast facts about the human body that range from the odd to the outrageous.

The series should appeal to kids through its comedy-led style of edutainment while also helping normalize body diversity, said commissioning editor of TVOKids Kirsten Hurd in a release.

Burps, Butts and Bones aligns with Sphere Media’s push into live-action children’s programming, which has been ongoing since the company consolidated its kids scripted, animation and factual teams into one division in 2023. Sphere has built its presence in the live-action category with such projects as the agriculture-focused preschool show Gabby’s Farm and the tween-targeted STEM series Project Rube.

“We are seeing hybrid shows as the next big swing in kids’ entertainment,” noted Marlo Miazga, head of Sphere’s Kids and Family banner, in a release. “Of course, [Burps is] entertaining and informative, but above all, in our world of disinformation and looks-based stereotyping, it’s timely.”