We got a new show for you and we're giving you the inside scoop on how the show and its music was made, brick by brick! Apple TV+'s BE@RBRICK is set to premiere on the platform on Friday, March 21.
The series is based on the brand of collectible designer toys of the same name by MediaCom Toy. Within the show, is a world where everyone's role is chosen of their painted look upon graduating high school. Jasmine Finch wants to keep pursuing her dream of being a music star with her friends and we get to see how these characters can make others follow their dreams and share themes of self-expression and individuality. The series was given a 13-episode order by Apple TV+ in April 2023.
The cast is led by Brianna Bryan (Craig of the Creek) as Jasmine Finch, Noah Bentley (Dragons: Rescue Riders) as Klaus Nightshade, Isaiah Crews (Side Hustle) as Nick Hazard, Skyla I’Lece (The Crossover) as Holly Honeywell, Alison Jaye as Ada Goodall, Nick Wolfhard (The Last Kids On Earth) as Todd, Tim Meadows (Bob's Burgers) as Mr. Hitmaker, Katy Mixon (Big Hero Six: The Series) as Ms. Goldenshorts, Ego Nwodim as Charlene the Baker, Emily Hampshire ( as Janet, and four-time Grammy Award-winning rapper, songwriter, and record producer Timbaland as BRBX Media DJ.
Meghan McCarthy (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Centaurworld) serves as the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of BE@RBRICK. She executive produces alongside Narutaka Sato and Tempei Shikama via Dentsyu. The music team includes Shirley Song (Exploding Kittens), and Jina Hyojin An (XO, Kitty), with Timbaland on board as the show's executive music producer!
We asked the two music mavens about their work on this show as it has a unique blend of culture, and of course, homage to the iconic BE@RBRICK figurines. McCarthy, who is known for her extensive producing credits in animation was able to share some insights into bringing these beloved collectible toys to life on-screen. We also spoke with Timbaland who revealed how he approached making music for BE@RBRICK and became a part of creating original songs that complement the show’s incredibly dynamic world! If you want a behind-the-scenes look at how the show fuses together fun, creativity, and some soon-to-be iconic hits, read on to find out more!
The Parent Watch: I'm familiar with the BE@RBRICK toys! What is your relationship, and potentially even, connection with the toys prior to it becoming adapted into a show!
Meghan McCarthy: I knew of them! I wasn't deep in the BE@RBRICK world. Now I see them everywhere. I was familiar, but it was once they approached me and said, 'Hey, we have this opportunity'. I really started to dig into it and learn more about how amazing it is and all of the cool collaborations that they do and all the [figurines] that I want!
With a background in music and Timbaland not only attached to this as an executive music producer but also voicing a character, what was the collaboration process like when ideating with him as well as the greater music department?
MM: The music team at DreamWorks had already had a relationship with Timbaland. When I was developing the show, they came and said, 'Hey, what about Timbaland?' Of course, Timbaland! I said yes! As we were building the show, what was so great about having him is that it's so important that you root for this group of musicians that are characters in the show to succeed. You want them to succeed and you have to really think that they're talented and that their music is really great.
We wanted that music to feel really 'of the now'. We wanted it to feel like something that you would hear outside of the show and continue to listen to. You'd put it on a playlist because you wanted to continue to hear it over and over again. That was really key. Then, we also were able to support the themes of the show within individual episodes and within the overarching theme of the show as a whole.
The goal there was to do that without it feeling too 'on the nose' or making it feel like, 'Oh, now you've turned it into an after-school special song' versus something that you really want to listen to. That was really key; Balancing those two aspects where we did want it to have something to say, but we wanted to say it in a really cool way.
How was it working with the animation team on these very specific type of character designs?
MM: It was really amazing. Just building this from the ground up. Visually, obviously, we knew we were going to keep the total form of the bear brick, and then we spent a lot of time on their outfits because they were like, This is iconic. We have to really nail this and have this work. The world itself was really interesting to build because if you look closely, you'll notice that the buildings are parts of the BE@RBRICK. It's like the legs of the BE@RBRICKs and things like that.
This painted-on aspect of the world was so important. We have a lot of runners; Where things will be painted on that should be functional but aren't. In the school, there are lockers, but they're actually painted on. In the background, you'll see a kid trying to open their locker, but they can't, because it's not dimensional. There was so much fun to be had when building this world and having the elements that we took from the original BE@RBRICK.
With the medium of animation, it's so multifaceted. There are animated shows that can be more on the somber side. This is very humorous. What is the response that you get from those who have watched it?
MM: People are initially surprised at how funny it is because you start with a character. These characters are pretty cute in the world. We really go there with a lot of really big comedy that's not mean-spirited either. That's really nice. People are excited about how funny it is. People have really responded to the music [as well]. They're like, 'I want to hear that one again!'
The catchier the song, the better!
MM: That's our dream. We want somebody to make up a dance to this!
I'll start that trend!
Timbaland, given your extensive experience in shaping the sound of modern music, how does working on a TV show like BE@RBRICK compare to producing for albums or live performances?
Timbaland: It’s a whole different game. With albums, I’m building tracks around an artist’s vision. With live shows, it’s about energy. But with BE@RBRICK, I had to think cinematically. Every sound had to tell a story, match the movement, and bring the characters to life. It’s like painting with sound but in a whole new way.
As the executive music producer for BE@RBRICK, what was the workflow like as you blended your iconic production style with the show's unique vibe and storyline?
T: Man, it was all about balance. I wanted to bring my sound—the bounce, the groove—but still make it fit into this world. We played with a lot of textures, and a lot of different styles, just to make sure it felt fresh but also authentic to the show.
What is it about BE@RBRICK that made you want to not only be a part of the production but also lend your voice to a character in the show? What was your reaction to seeing your character on-screen?
T: It was crazy, man. I’ve always been about pushing boundaries and trying new things. When they asked me to be in the show? I was like, ‘Let’s do it!’ Seeing myself as a character was wild—it’s like stepping into a whole new world, but still bringing my energy to it.
Do you see BE@RBRICK as an opportunity to experiment with new styles or sounds that you might not typically explore in your traditional music projects?
T: Oh, for sure. This was a chance to really play with sound—go beyond what people expect from me. I brought in elements I wouldn’t normally use in a club track or a rap beat. It’s about storytelling through music in a different way!
Here's the trailer for the series on Apple TV+'s official YouTube channel:
All episodes of BE@RBRICK is available to stream all episodes of season 1 on Friday, March 21.