Portrayed in the series by a real Jack Russell terrier, Wishbone the dog represents an articulate, clever and funny character. Everything that Wishbone says is heard by us, the audience.
Wishbone the dog's "real-life" adventures in the same episode, with a regular cast that includes his 12-year-old owner and two other children in the neighborhood, reinforce the primary literary themes explored in "Oliver Twist." The parallel storylines in these modern-day sequences are designed to emphasize the timeless and universal topics that are prevalent throughout all classic literature.
"Wishbone the dog represents the imaginative, playful child inside all of us," Duffield said. "Through his wild adventures and heroic stunts, kids will be introduced to some of the greatest masterpieces of world literature."
"We've selected the most adventurous moments, as well as the moments of decision or discovery," he said. "Children will be exposed to the primary ideas from each story, and they will come away prepared to explore these stories more fully later in life."
WISHBONE was created by Duffield. He remembers receiving his own introduction to classic literature by reading a series of illustrated comic books as a child. The WISHBONE series as a way for him to introduce kids to the great masterpieces of classical literature..
In 1993, Duffield invited writer Stephanie Simpson to help him develop a script for the show. In October of that year, they produced a short promotional trailer to test the concept of the program among children and television industry executives. Based on the initial positive reaction he received, he formed a production company for the WISHBONE television series.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEXT PAGE
|
