‘Donkey Hodie’ Season 3 Renewed on PBS Kids, Crossover with ‘Daniel Tiger’

PBS Kids has renewed Donkey Hodie for a third season, continuing the puppetry series created by Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures.

New episodes are set to debut in 2025.

Inspired by “the funny, quirky side of Fred Rogers,” the series launched in 2021 and features reimagined characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Season three will include 15 new episodes, two half-hour specials, and additional digital content, following the adventures of Donkey Hodie and friends Purple Panda, Duck Duck, and Bob Dog in the whimsical land of Someplace Else.

The renewal announcement follows the season seven premiere of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, also inspired by Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and produced by Fred Rogers Productions. For the first time, the two series will come together in a special half-hour crossover episode. Daniel Tiger and Dad Tiger will be reimagined as puppets, transitioning from animation to live-action, as they board Trolley from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe to visit Donkey Hodie and her friends in Someplace Else.

Ellen Doherty, chief creative officer at Fred Rogers Productions, shared, “Both Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Donkey Hodie are inspired by the creativity and imagination of Fred Rogers and the world of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, where the characters of Daniel Striped Tiger and Donkey Hodie were first introduced. There is a natural connection between the series through both the learning goals that drive them and the legacy that led to them, and we are thrilled to continue to tell stories of empathy, resilience, and friendship.”

David Rudman, co-creator and executive producer of Donkey Hodie and co-founder of Spiffy Pictures, added, “We are eager for kids and families to see what we have coming up for Season 3, including our crossover episode. It’s been a fun and exciting process to design these beloved characters as puppets who stylistically fit into the world of Donkey Hodie while staying true to the animated versions we all know and love from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”

Targeted at kids ages 3-5, the show explores themes of resilience, perseverance, and problem-solving while also focusing on emotional well-being, building confidence in girls, and a sense of belonging. It aims to empower children to dream big, overcome obstacles, work hard, and persevere in the face of failure by being resourceful and solving problems on their own.

“Fred Rogers’ timeless lessons are core to what we do at PBS Kids,” said Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager of PBS Kids. “We’re excited for a new season of Donkey Hodie, and for the special treat of seeing Daniel Tiger and Donkey Hodie together.”

Donkey Hodie was created by Adam Rudman and David Rudman of Spiffy Pictures and developed by Ellen Doherty. The three serve as executive producers, with Kristin DiQuollo of Fred Rogers Productions as co-executive producer and Caroline Bandolik of Spiffy Pictures as supervising producer.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline