Carl loves to collect things. He has several different collections and is always concerned about his possessions. His group of friends is made up of animals of all kinds. They all help each other, and when Carl needs assistance they never fail to jump in. Literally. For instance, when his bouncy ball collection gets out of the jar, they all look around the neighborhood to retrieve the missing balls so Carl’s collection will be complete. And once complete, Carl shows them how to jump and bounce like his little balls.

And when Carl is overwhelmed with his plushie collection, he learns that sharing is a trait that will help him clear up his overcrowded room. He loves his plushies, but there are a few he has yet to really take to his heart. So when his friends express interest in them, Carl is more than happy to give away some of his plushies, knowing they will have a good home with people who will love them as he would.

Besides Carl, a sweet autistic raccoon who has an extensive collection of all kinds of things, there is Sheldon, an empathetic beaver; Lotta, an autistic but self-assured fox; Nico and Arugula, identical twin bunnies who are complete opposites; and Forrest, an impulsive squirrel. Living in Fuzzytown is enjoyable for all of them, and their tight little group helps each other figure out how to do things together. They are fun to watch and enjoyable to see how they work together.

“‘Carl the Collector’ values inclusion and empathy while modeling relationship-building and social skill development, wrapped up in humor, heart and incredible visual design,” said Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager of PBS Kids. “We are excited for children to get to know Carl and his group of friends, who believe that the best experiences occur when we honor the things that make each of us unique.”

“My hope for Carl and his diverse group of Fuzzytown friends is that they will inspire neurodiverse and neurotypical kids alike to foster a world in which neurodiversity is not only recognized as a benefit to society but is celebrated as exemplifying the full spectrum of what it means to be human,” said creator and Executive Producer Zachariah OHora.

This series is not only entertaining and interesting to those with autism or know someone on the spectrum, it is also entertaining to all kids as they see how to work together and help each other even if someone is a little different.

“As an autistic person, I continue to be amazed at the level of detail and effort the team expends to assure that Carl and Lotta are authentic to the autistic experience,” said Stephen Shore, a professor of special education at Adelphi University. “In addition to being an interesting series, ‘Carl the Collector’ will become a great tool for both autistic and non-autistic people to gain insight on autism. Although designed for young kids, I plan on using relevant excerpts to supplement my university teaching and presentations around the world.”

Geraldine Oades-Sese, a licensed psychologist and children’s book author, said, “Carl and his Fuzzytown friends take viewers on fun and humorous adventures that will help them understand and empathize with the characters and, ultimately, extend that understanding and compassion for others.”

“Carl the Collector” is a fun and educational addition to the PBS Kids lineup of animated shows. It premiered Thursday.