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Skillsville - The lost, but upcoming PBS Kids show

Format: 2D

So, I remember seeing an announcement for Skillsville, a show that promised children to learn about virtual reality. They showed us the show's logo, and the creator was Sphere Animation (fka Oasis Animation and Fatkat).

The plot was as followed: "Cora, Dev, and Rae are 8-year-old friends who love hanging out together. But when Cora’s game designer mom asks them to test out her new virtual reality video game, the three friends get to take their playtime to a whole new level. The game is called… Skillsville."

The series has been pitched to Twin Cities PBS and will air in 2025.

Sadly, no episodes have been leaked of the series. Unless the series gets released, this episodic animation will remain lost forever.

Submitted 9 months, 3 weeks ago by Whopper1


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Not only that, the series was formerly known as Mashopolis. It was supposed to be released in 2023, but then delayed to 2 more years. Production began in 2020, and it will take 5 years to release 80 11-minute episodes of this cartoon.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by Whopper1

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Mashopolis rings a bell, I think it was teased at some point back in like 2019 or something? The rebrand to Skillsville is interesting. I'm all for a quality show but the pushback does make one nervous, feels like Duke Nukem Forever all over again lol. And with no leaks, it's all super secretive, which is pretty rare these days. Usually, some insider spills the beans, makes you wonder just how tight their NDA is 🤔. But 80 episodes, that's promising at least, gonna have a ton to binge if it doesn't get lost in the void.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by Cartoon_Collector

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five years? they're making a show not a masterpiece painting lol. can't they just rush it like most studios do? kids wont even remember the announcement by next year

9 months, 3 weeks ago by PixelPundit

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The delay in production is not unprecedented. Given that Sphere Animation is involved, and they've undergone a rebranding from Oasis Animation, there might be several factors at play such as budget reshuffling, changes in creative direction, or even tech development issues related to the VR aspect. The development pipeline for animation, especially if it's integrating newer tech like VR, can be pretty complex and time-consuming. Besides, they're aiming for a high episode count, which adds to production time, no doubt.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by AnimationAficionado

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Man, that's a long wait for Skillsville. They must be pouring a ton of effort into those VR elements. Hope it doesn't lose its hype train by the time 2025 rolls around. Anybody got insights on why such a hefty delay tho? Animation ain't a cakewalk but 5 years is an eon in kids' show years.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by VR_Kiddo

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Nah, it was announced on September 30th, 2020.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by Whopper1

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so we're just gonna pretend like Skillsville isnt vapourware? gets announced, no leaks, no teasers, nothing? cmon. ive seen this before, they hype it up, then it disappears. i'll believe it when i see it air, till then it's just another 'upcoming' show that'll get shelved. dont get ur hopes up folks

9 months, 3 weeks ago by SkepticalWatcher

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Animation projects like Skillsville often have strict NDAs, which makes leaks rare. Sphere Animation has a rep for keeping a tight lid on their work, especially with CGI and tech-focused content. Plus, the longer lead time before airing means more time for revisions and maybe improving VR integration - that tech moves FAST. We're still two years out from 2025, after all. Patience, guys; good animation takes time.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by AnimationAce

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Actually, I think you're onto something. Found the mag in my backlogs, and yup, there's a brief section mentioning Skillsville. No new info though, seems pretty much the same as what OP posted. Kinda strange for a show to be so under wraps this close to release, right? What are they hiding lmao.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by CerealSpoon

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Hey, wasn't Skillsville also mentioned in that Animation Magazine article a while back? Sounded super promising with that virtual reality angle for kids. If anyone has that article on hand it would be super cool to see it again, might lead to more clues about the show!

9 months, 3 weeks ago by VRKidLover

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I remember the announcement! The whole VR learning thing got me curious about how they'll integrate it into the narrative. Not gonna get my hopes too high though, seen too many of these 'upcoming' shows vanish into thin air.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by NostalgiaNerd

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Skillsville? More like Skills-not-real-ville until someone actually sees an episode. PBS must be really strapped for content if they're hyping up stuff for 2025 lol

9 months, 3 weeks ago by BitterGeek

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My daughter is already excited about Skillsville, we saw the promo at her library's story time. Just sucks that we have to wait so long, and without any sneak peeks it's just... hanging there in the air.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by CoralineCutie

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Skillsville, huh? I've heard some chatter in animation circles. The concept art that got passed around looked promising, kinda a mix between old-school PBS and the modern flare. Sphere Animation has a good rep, especially after their rebrand. Could be a sleeper hit if done right.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by AnimationInsider

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Sphere Animation? Weren't they involved with some other projects recently? I recall their work being pretty solid. Curious to see their take on a VR-themed show. Oh, and if anyone finds a leaked episode, you know where to post it first hahaha

9 months, 3 weeks ago by PixelPusher2000

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2025? They announce these shows way too early. By the time it airs my kid will probably be too old for it. Plus, no leaked episodes or additional info... feels like it might just quietly disappear.

9 months, 3 weeks ago by SkepticalSarah

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Anyone else gettin' Cyberchase vibes from this? Man, PBS used to be the go-to for innovative edutainment. Hopefully Skillsville can live up to the legacy!

9 months, 3 weeks ago by ClassicCartoonFan

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Skillsville sounds awesome, combining VR with educational kids content is next level. Hope PBS does a good job of promoting it before 2025, this has the potential to get a whole generation into tech!

9 months, 3 weeks ago by VRVisionary