The Lasting Power of the Hit Children’s Show

Educational animated series Gracie’s Corner does numbers that many children’s shows would envy. His YouTube channel has four million subscribers, with over 100 million monthly views and over 2.1 billion lifetime views. But to judge its success simply by its ratings is missing the point, say husband-and-wife creators Javoris “Jay” Hollingsworth and Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth (new additions to this year’s Kids Entertainment Power List). After all, even those impressive figures pale in comparison Cocomelon-Rhymes for children, which leads all kids-themed YouTube channels with 172 million subscribers worldwide, according to Statista.com. But where? Gracie’s Corner it stands out for the need it fills, as the Hollingworths and their three children discovered.

As the Houston couple turned to children’s programming to fill the pandemic shutdown, the lack of diversity alarmed them. The landscape, they found, had relatively few shows led by black or other children of color. With rare exceptions like Netflix Motown magic and the Tanzanian show Akili and me, There simply weren’t enough programs that taught kids to count, spell, or just be kind, with characters with diverse faces, and they rarely incorporated the beats of black music or relied on those unique cultural cues.

“I didn’t know it was that bad, especially with the learning content for children under six, toddlers and preschoolers,” recalls Arlene, who is a licensed clinical psychologist. When Jay, then a college chemistry teacher, proposed launching his own YouTube channel of diverse educational content, Arlene was all over the place.

Four years later, Gracie’s Cornerwith its main character modeled on – and voiced by – their eldest daughter, Graceyn, is thriving. Earlier this year, the show won the NAACP Image Award for outstanding children’s program, surpassing such stalwarts as Netflix Ada Twist, scientist and The Alma Path from PBS Kids. This recognition, says Jay, “is such an invaluable award because it affirms that we are doing work that has a positive impact and resonates with our community.”

As with most children’s programming, music is a huge component of GracieHis corner. Jay, who grew up playing music in church and creates Gracie’s Cornerhis songs, feels there is a notable difference between their approach and other music-centric children’s shows.

“A lot of times when people think of children’s music, they think of traditional music,” he says. “The kids that we’re really targeting, when they hear it, they can actually vibrate to it because it’s along the lines of things they might hear in the car while they’re driving with mom or dad.”

The familiarity of different styles of music like the go-go music of the “Mary Had a Little Lamb” remix, the Afrobeat remix of “Twinkle Little Star” and the reggae-infused “Colors” captivated more than just the kids. “When parents hear it, they really like it,” he says. “When they like it, they now dance and sing along with their children.”

Or with their grandchildren, as rapper Snoop Dogg did before he and his own kid-friendly YouTube channel Doggyland teamed up with GracieHis corner last year for the catchy and empowering track “Girl Power,” which generated 13 million views. That intergenerational touch isn’t unique to Snoop and his family. It’s a theme that runs throughout GracieHis corner. Parents and grandparents alike take center stage on Bounce queen Big Freedia’s energizing remix of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (37 million views). And many of the videos also feature an adorable baby sister who mirrors Graceyn’s.

GracieHis corner aims to address key childhood issues and inculcate basic values ​​and habits. “There are a lot of skills that are really important to introduce to kids very early (like) how to face your fears, positive self-talk (and) affirmations,” says Arlene.

One of the GracieHis cornerHis first hit, the powerful and affirming “I Love My Hair”, was inspired by a painful memory. “I was bullied at school because of the way my hair looked,” says Graceyn, now 11, “and my parents thought it would be good to make a song about loving your hair the way it is “.

Making I Love My Hair, Graceyn says, was also a personal turning point. “It gave me the courage to make more songs and be me while making those songs.”

GracieHis corner depicts Gracie as a radiant brown girl with afro puffs, big eyes, a button nose, and a bright white smile. She also changes her outfits frequently, donning everything from an ancient Egyptian sheath dress in “Phonics Song” (164 million views) to a full HBCU marching band uniform in “Count to 100.”

The animation is usually as full of character as the music. In last year’s “Happy Dance Song,” Gracie leads her friend in various moves, from doing the cha-cha-cha to waving her hands over her head or dancing with Philly rapper 2Rare in the recent “Veggie Dance Remix” .

The man responsible for that distinctive style is Victor Emerenini, a Nigerian animator found on a freelance website. GracieHis cornerHis success helped him expand from a one-man shop to a full studio in Abuja with a dedicated team Gracie’s Corner.

Like Jay, Emerenini believes in Graciehis cornerS global call. “Having a black lead character in an animated song is a feature most celebrated by Nigerians,” he says. “The sound is definitely relatable and the messages in each song are also the same as encouraged in Nigeria.”

During the summer, the family tries to keep the same pace as they do throughout the school year, recording only once a week. That’s not to say they don’t have any surprises in store, including “multiple collaborative projects with iconic music artists.” The themed birthday favors, backpacks, hoodies, t-shirts, pillows, blankets and more are currently available for purchase through Walmart and Amazon, as well as on their GraciesCornerTV.com website.

While Gracie’s Corner’s target audience is children, perhaps the most important lesson is for fellow creators: “You don’t have to be a big, billion-dollar production company to have a lasting impact,” says Jay.