Generation Cures - make it better

Zebrafish: Sharing the Vision

Perched on top of the Boston Children's Museum, a small team with big talent creates inspiring stories, educational software, and media for children. The company is FableVision, and as the name implies, the vision is one of hope, optimism, and making the world better for kids.

In their own words, "We are a media company dedicated to helping ALL learners discover their true potential."

How appropriate that this group of designers, educators, artists, and writers created our web story, Zebrafish. Their optimism is evident from the moment you meet them - in the way they work together, their commitment to quality, and without a doubt, their incredible sense of fun. Most importantly, FableVision knows how to design smart, sensitive, innovative media for kids. In fact, it's what they do best.

Let's step inside the inner circle at FableVision and get to know a few members of the Zebrafish production team.

Gary Goldberger, VP of FableVision, oversees and nurtures the creative team for both the Zebrafish 'toons and our adventure game, Caduceus.

From the very start, Gary and his team insisted that Zebrafish had to be hip, engaging, and fun to watch - even though the story deals with serious issues. Most important, kids had to be able to connect with the characters.

"The Zebrafish kids had to be typical teenagers, quirky, egocentric, caught up in their crushes, dramas, and dreams - just like our audience. When children can identify with characters, it's easier for them to imagine themselves in the same situation, and play it out in their heads."

The FableVision team also made a conscious decision to give characters different levels of social awareness - another way to create connections with real kids. Perky, purple-haired Vita grows from self-centered "star-wannabe" to philanthropic leader. Funny man Plinko leaves his jokes behind for the sake of the team. And Tanya, the community activist, for once, accepts the help of others.

As Producer Kate Cotter says, "The story and the characters in Zebrafish are from the hearts of FableVision - we all fell in love with project! The magic really happens when we're all together in the same room."

Kate's Zebrafish responsibilities include keeping the project running smoothly, down to the most minute details - meeting with the client, managing inside and outside talent, keeping the production schedule running on schedule, and making sure everyone has what they need at any time. Sound like a busy day? It is!

When asked about her favorite parts of the job, Kate immediately piped up, "Recording sessions are the best - watching real kids record the voices, changing things on the fly, and bringing animated characters to life!"

No doubt, Creative Director and scriptwriter Sharon Emerson would agree. Thanks to her dynamic scripts, the Zebrafish characters are never at a loss for words!

For Sharon, the strength of the Zebrafish stories and characters comes in part from the fact that everyone on the team has shared the same vision from the start. Of course, that means being true to the message of Generation Cures. But equally important, it means being true to kids' lives. Early on, for example, the team considered a scenario where the kids in the Zebrafish band became famous. They rejected this concept in favor of one that they felt was more realistic.

Says Sharon, "In real life, when kids come together, they often don't share much in common. Everyone's not going to be an instant hero - each kid develops at his or her own pace. We wanted our story to be about five kids who didn't fit together, finding the good, finding the super talents in everyone."

Speaking of super talents, let's introduce another very important member of the FablevVision team - lead artist Renee Kurilla. Without her creative skills, the Zebrafish characters would never have made the leap from written concepts to images on the screen!

With a background in character design, websites, and online games, Renee came up with the look and feel of each character and created storyboards for every episode. We have her to thank for Vita's purple hair, Plinko's bashful blush, and Chimp's irresistible canine charm!

Of course, true to FableVision's quest for excellence, character designs went through multiple revisions before both Renee and the other team members felt they were spot-on. But that's why they, like all the elements of Zebrafish, seem so right.

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