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

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

New episodes of the series will debut in 2025.

The series, which is said to be inspired by the “funny, quirky side of Fred Rogers,” premiered in 2021 and features reimagined characters from Mr. Rogers’ Estate. The third season will feature 15 new episodes, including two half-hour specials and additional digital content, that will continue the adventures of Donkey Hodie and her friends Purple Panda, Duck Duck and Bob Dog in the fantastical land of Someplace Else.

The news concerns the premiere of the seventh season of the series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhoodwhich was also inspired Mr. Rogers’ Estate and also comes from Fred Rogers Productions. In the third season Donkie Hodie, The two shows will meet for the first time in a special half-hour crossover episode. Daniel Tiger and Dad Tiger will be transformed into puppets — taking them from animated to live-action — as they board the Trolley from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe to visit Donkey Hodie and her friends in Someplace Else.

“Both Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood AND Hodie the Donkey are inspired by the creativity and imagination of Fred Rogers and the world Mr. Rogers’ Estatewhere the characters of Daniel Striped Tiger and Donkey Hodie were first introduced,” said Ellen Doherty, creative director at Fred Rogers Productions. “There is a natural connection between the series through the educational goals that drive them, as well as the legacy that led to them, and we are excited to continue telling stories of empathy, resilience and friendship.”

Added by David Rudman, co-creator and executive producer Hodie the Donkey and co-founder of Spiffy Pictures: “We can’t wait for kids and families to see what we have in store for Season 3, including our crossover episode. It’s been a fun and exciting process designing these beloved characters as puppets that stylistically fit into the world Hodie the Donkey staying true to the animated versions we all know and love Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”

The show, aimed at children aged 3-5, explores themes of resilience, perseverance and problem-solving, and also focuses on emotional well-being, building girls’ confidence and belonging. It aims to empower children to dream big and overcome obstacles in their own lives, work hard and persevere in the face of failure, be resourceful and discover that they can solve problems on their own.

“Fred Rogers’ timeless lessons are at the core of what we do at PBS Kids,” said Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager of PBS Kids. “We are thrilled about the new season Hodie the Donkeyand for the unique pleasure of seeing Daniel Tiger and Donkey Hodie together.”

Hodie the Donkey was created by Adam Rudman and David Rudman of Spiffy Pictures and developed by Doherty. All 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.