Television: Practical magic

Those who believe that books and television are mortal enemies should consider the tale of Minneapolis native Bruce Johnson. Back in the 1960s, long before his hometown was officially stamped the most literate city in America, Johnson would pedal his bike to the neighborhood library and stuff his saddlebag with Hardy Boys mysteries, cowboy novels and Mark Twain classics.

The kid adventurer never stopped exploring.

Johnson, who spent 10 years at Hanna-Barbera productions and helped launch the Cartoon Network, is the cofounder and president of PorchLight Entertainment, a family-friendly production company that's behind "Animalia," a new show aimed at 6- to 9-year-olds that launched last week on PBS.

The title is taken from a 1986 Graeme Base book with glorious illustrations of animals engaging in alphabetically appropriate activities ("Richly robed rhinoceroses riding in rickety red rickshaws"). Great for kids' bedtime, but not exactly rip-roaring television.

That's where Johnson's imagination stepped in. With the help of an Australian team, he's created an alternative kingdom called Animalia, where Life Savers-colored creatures who speak like they've just stepped off the set of "Masterpiece Theatre" live in peaceful harmony. They're visited by two young people who stumble into this world via a hidden doorway in, of all places, their local library. At first, they're treated like primitive monsters, but their human skills come in handy when mythical powers threaten the animals' cozy existence.

The show, which has already premiered in Australia, England and Canada, has two goals: teach children about the values of communication while giving them a thrill-seeking crusade that's as exciting as anything they can slide into their Xbox.

"We've tried to be nonviolent and empowering to kids," said Johnson, who attended Minnehaha Academy and the University of Minnesota at Morris. "You can't be condescending. You have to have stories that move along, have action, but also have serious themes and witty dialogue."

"He's always thinking about what the audience wants and how to make the show communicate to them," he said.

If that's the goal, then Johnson has scored a bull's-eye. "Animalia" might not be as rich in character and culture as, say, Narnia or the Land of Oz, but it's an ideal weekly destination for 8-year-old kids who don't live anywhere near a zoo.

It's also got the advantage of being presented in CGI, which makes the zeppelin zebras and media mice pop off the screen. The innovative, and expensive, animation does have its limits.

"When I was working on 'Scooby Doo,' we wouldn't think twice about dressing up a character in funny hats or putting him on a wild new contraption," Ruegger said. "But doing that to these characters might require building whole new models, and our budget isn't limitless."

That may change if the show connects with American audiences. PBS will roll out 13 episodes this winter with 27 more to come.