THE WORLD IS A VILLAGE ON DECEMBER 11
Toronto, december 07, 2005

The television adaptation of the award-winning book that has made our world of 6.4 billion people more understandable for a generation of children will make the world a bit smaller on December 11.

In recognition of UNICEF’s International Children’s Day of Broadcasting, Toronto’s 9 Story Entertainment will celebrate the television debut of If the World Were a Village in seven countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany and Mexico. Based on the 2002 book by the same name by Cambridge, Mass. author David J. Smith, If the World Were a Village was adapted for TV by 9 Story, which in partnership with WSBHBoston is the Emmy award winning producer of the animated children’s series Peep and the Big Wide World. If the World Were a Village allows children to see the world as a village of just 100 people. (One person equals 64 million).

“We don’t become involved in shows at 9 Story unless we have passion for them,” said Vince Commisso, partner and executive producer of animation company 9 Story Entertainment. “If the World Were a Village delivers a one-time metaphor that sends a very important message to the future leaders of our world — seven to 11 year olds. It has as important a message as anything we have ever done.”

Delivered with a tone of tolerance, understanding and sharing, If the World Were a Village presents some stark realities through numbers that are difficult to comprehend: In this little village of 100, 20 people earn almost nothing, 17 will never learn to read or write and 60 are always hungry. “This is intended to be entertaining, with compelling visuals and an underlying story that shows children the world in a new light,” said Commisso.

The 30-minute educational children’s program is based on the best-selling 2002 children’s book by David Smith and illustrator Shelagh Armstrong, which has won numerous awards including a 2003 Independent Publisher book award. Other amazing facts about the village Earth depicted in If the World Were a Village special:

22 of the 100 people speak a Chinese dialect
24 have televisions in their home
39 are under 20 years of age
32 are Christian
61 are from Asia; only 5 from North America

If the World Were a Village is published by Kids Can Press of Toronto and distributed internationally by Nelvana Ltd. of Toronto into seven countries, including Germany, Spain, Brazil and the United States.

Founded in 2001, Toronto-based 9 Story has quickly become a leading Canadian digital animation producer, dedicated to delivering high-quality content. 9 Story is led by executive producers Vince Commisso and Steven Jarosz who bring more than 25 years of combined experience in all facets of animated series production. The 9 Story team includes the recent addition of Marilyn McAuley, Senior Producer of Skyland and Jacob 2-2, Rick Marshall, an Emmy-award winning Director of more than 200 animated television episodes and Jamie Whitney, a Gemini-award-winning Director, both of whom have been with 9 Story since 2002.

If the World Were a Village airs on Discovery Kids on Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 9:30 a.m.

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