Seriality in Children’s Films Notes

Seriality in Children’s Films

Introduction

  • The concept of series is increasingly prevalent in children's art and media, including movies and television.
  • Sequels are often produced after a successful movie until the series loses popularity or the target audience moves on.
  • Many film series are based on popular children's literature, such as:
    • The Hunger Games trilogy (2008–2010) by Suzanne Collins (four film adaptations).
    • The Percy Jackson pentalogy (2005–2009) by Rick Riordan (two film adaptations).
  • Exceptions include animated films like:
    • Toy Story (1995–2010; two sequels and a fourth film announced for 2020).
    • Ice Age (2002–2016; four sequels).
  • These films aren't based on previously published children's books.
  • Children's film series are distributed through various channels:
    • Cinema.
    • Television.
    • Internet streaming (e.g., Netflix).
  • Netflix has capitalized on the commercial potential of film series for children, producing series like:
    • Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–), based on Daniel Handler’s books.
    • Anne with an E (2017–), based on Lucy M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables (1908; seven sequels).
  • In 2018, Netflix commissioned a series based on Tonke Dragt’s The Letter for the King (1962).

Scholarly Attention to Children’s Film Series

  • Despite the increasing sophistication of serially produced children’s films, scholarly attention is limited, except for discussions on Sesame Street's educational value.
  • The lack of interest stems from the perception of series as