We already know what's going to work and that's teamwork! If you're looking for a new show to introduce to your loved ones this December, check out Apple TV+'s Wonder Pets: In the City. The 13-episode animated preschool original series premieres globally on Friday, Dec. 13.
Wonder Pets: In The City is bringing a fresh twist to the beloved children’s series, Wonder Pets!. The show blends timeless themes of teamwork, compassion, and creativity with a modern urban setting. The series follows a trio of classroom pets who live in a New York City kindergarten and go on adventures to rescue animals around the world! The series' voice cast includes Vanessa Huszar as Zuri, Christopher Sean Cooper Jr. as Tate, and Victoria Scola-Giampapa as Izzy. Wonder Pets: In The City is executive produced by Jennifer Oxley, Steve Altiere, and co-EP Jeffrey Lesser.
We spoke with Jennifer Oxley, the developer and executive producer of the series. Oxley has played a pivotal role in reimagining the world of The Wonder Pets for a new generation of viewers. Read on as we explore how this exciting new iteration comes to life!
The Parent Watch: I grew up watching The Wonder Pets, so this is really exciting to see the show come into this new iteration on a streaming service. Since you were a part of the original, what was the best part about producing this new version and writing and directing on the original ? What are some of the differences you’ve noticed?
Jennifer Oxley: That's a great question. There have been so many great parts. I have to say that working on the original show, which is so near and dear to my heart, was truly special. Everyone who worked on it had a real passion for what we were doing—the storytelling, the music, the live orchestration. And then, to bring it to a new audience was something I never expected. I was shocked when I got the call from Nickelodeon asking to revisit it. What stood out to me was that they didn’t want to modernize the show by making the characters CGI or stripping out the music. Instead, they were fully committed to keeping the live orchestra, the mini-animatronic approach, the photo-puppetry, and everything that made the original so unique. Having their support for this new version meant everything to me. It was amazing to get the chance to reimagine what a fresh take could look like—not just picking up where we left off, but exploring what new possibilities this version could bring: What is the new concept? Why are we telling it now? Why not? Why do it? Answering all those questions was really a lot of fun in the development process.
Fans of The Wonder Pets will be excited to see that there’s a new trio. That’s definitely something worth discussing: Izzy the guinea pig, Tate the snake, and Zuri the bunny. I’m curious about the process of developing these new characters. I know there are likely some similarities to the original trio, but what makes them unique and special for this version of the show?
JO: As I started to brainstorm and riff on the new concept, I thought, What if Linny, Tuck, and Ming-Ming, the original trio, weren’t the only animal-saving pets in the world? What if there was a vast network of animals working together all over the place? In this new series, we get a chance to meet this whole new group. I liked the idea that maybe there’s a guinea pig in every pod, and each guinea pig has its own unique personality.
In the original, we had Linny, who was the leader—very level-headed, rarely made mistakes, and often acted as the voice of reason between Tuck and Ming-Ming. But what if, in this new series, our guinea pig was more of a ‘leap before you look’ type—an irreverent rocker who makes mistakes? She’s still the leader, but she’s a very different kind of leader. That’s where the idea for Izzy came from. And then, for Zuri, I loved the idea of a Black bunny who’s just this bundle of joy and energy. Unlike Ming-Ming, Zuri is fully on board with teamwork, but she’s that silly kid who just says whatever comes to mind. She’ll blurt things out and say exactly what she’s thinking. It’s usually funny—sometimes not quite right—but it always adds a great source of comedy.
As for the bigger question of 'Why now?' In addition to our core themes of teamwork and collaboration, we wanted to bring these three classroom pets together—not as superheroes, but as regular animals with no real superpowers. Yet, when they combine their unique gifts, they become a powerful force capable of accomplishing anything. We wanted to add to that by layering in storytelling themes like compassion, empathy, inclusivity, kindness, and the joy of working together.
That’s where Tate, the snake, comes in. He’s an unusual addition to the cast because snakes aren’t typically seen as cute or cuddly like our bunny and guinea pig. Many people are afraid of snakes or have preconceived notions about them. So, we thought, What if we created a character that defies those expectations? Tate challenges stereotypes and adds a unique dynamic to the group. He’s sweet, lovable, soft, and loves to hug. I think that really speaks to the heart of what this new series is all about. In addition, he doesn’t move or get around the same way the other characters do—he slithers and bobs. He doesn’t have legs or hands; he does things in his own unique way. This has also opened up opportunities for a lot of new stories to tell.
You’re also an author and have experience adapting stories. What was it like to actually write the episodes or oversee the writing process for this series? Was there a specific episode you wanted to focus on or highlight in this new show?
JO: I feel like we gave ourselves the challenge of adding an extra layer of storytelling to every episode. In terms of storytelling, the format is still quite similar to the original Wonder Pets. We start in the classroom, where they seem like ordinary pets. Then, when the kids go home, the phone call comes in, and they spring into action, singing as they go. From that point onward, it’s nonstop excitement. For the writing and storytelling, we brought back many of the original writers from the series, but we also introduced some new writers and fresh voices. It was such a treat to see their unique takes on the Wonder Pets format.
As someone who was a fan of the original, it’s great to see how this new version stays true to the original while making sense for a new generation of viewers. I really enjoy that. Lastly, I wanted to ask about the jet car. Given that you touched on the animation style and the decision to keep the photo-puppetry look, was that something you knew you wanted to preserve ? I loved that style growing up—especially with the jet car and everything!
JO: The jet car is their vehicle for getting around. In the original series, it was the Flyboat. We definitely thought about whether this new team would have the same tools or their own unique ones. I liked the idea of them having their own stuff. The jet car is still a vehicle made out of toys and found objects that, when assembled just right, can fly anywhere. Instead of the Flyboat, it’s the jet car. Here’s a fun fact: the jet car is inspired by our music director and producer, Jeffrey Lesser, who goes by the nickname Jet Laser. I thought, 'Oh, Jet has to be a part of this! ' It’s definitely a nod to Jeffrey, who was a key part of the original series and a huge reason why the mini-opera format worked so well. Bringing him back for this project was essential. As for other little devices, they’ve also evolved. In the original series, they used the tin-can phone to get their calls. In this version, their way of communicating with the animals in need is through a little walking phone. It’s essentially a grafted juice box that the kids created, which has the ability to receive video calls from animals all around the world.
Hopefully, when kids and parents and caregivers watch this, they'll think, ‘We can create stuff, too.’
Check out a exclusive clip from the series below on Apple TV+'s official YouTube channel:
You can watch all 13 episodes of Wonder Pets: In the City now on Apple TV+!