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Once upon a time during a freezing cold winter in Ohio, Deborah Manchester’s toes got very, very cold…
And so begins the story of the conception of The Zula Patrol. Our q&a with Deborah (Zula’s creator) fills in the details.
How did you come up with the idea for The Zula Patrol?
For 18 years, I was an audiologist specializing in newborn hearing assessment. Then, one very cold winter in Ohio, I had foot surgery. In a cast, my toes were left exposed and there was nothing to cover them. So, I started making and selling cast covers. To render them more appealing and child-like, I created Zula… an imaginary planet. Next, I created characters from Zula and I put the characters on the cast covers. I also included a fun pamphlet for kids that walked them through the casting of their broken limb, which helped them through their trauma.
The characters became so popular that I decided to make them as plush toys and I wrote a storybook to introduce the characters. Several Hollywood producers saw the book and toys, fell in love with them, and approached me about doing an animated series for kids.
In creating the show, I decided I wanted a series with good values. So I created The Zula Patrol…a fun, educational series about a group of aliens who travel the galaxies helping others and saving the universe from intergalactic danger. The series teaches kids about space science in a fun way. The underlying themes of the show are non-violence and tolerance. To make the series more relevant for classroom use, I created The Zula Patrol Reading Incentive Program, which is in use in schools in several states and spreading quickly.
I made two important discoveries as I went from school to school installing…the program and showing tapes of The Zula Patrol to teachers, parents, and students. First, I learned that kids and adults both love the Zula characters. Second, and most importantly, I learned that violence is not necessary in order for kids to enjoy entertainment. I received overwhelming praise and support from parents for creating the videos because they are desperate for such non-violent entertainment.
Do you have a favorite character?
I actually like all of them and feel there is a part of me in each of their personalities. Running a company like Zula requires being a seat-of-my pants CEO, much like Zeeter is a seat-of-her pants pilot, a planner and researcher like Multo, and having an inquisitive nature like Wizzy or Wigg.
How hands-on are you with the production of each episode?
I am EXTREMELY hands on. I read every word of every script. I directed the type of music I wanted for the show’s main title theme, I review every piece of music and sound effect in the show, etc.
What’s the most challenging part of putting together each show?
The most challenging is the unknown. For example, since The Zula Patrol is a science show, it is extremely important to be accurate. So the stuff that comes up that you weren’t planning on – the one word in the script that might not be the perfect or most accurate one to use may turn out to ultimately be the wrong choice and can be difficult to fix at the later stages of production. This has happened a few times. We fix them, of course, but it’s very time-consuming and costly.
What kinds of feedback have you gotten from kids and parents?
We get parents telling us that The Zula Patrol has inspired their child to become an astronaut or has sparked their child’s interest in science. I got an email from one father who told me his boy had not even opened his Christmas gift of a microscope until after he saw The Zula Patrol episode on microscopes……now, he said his son takes his microscope to bed with him!
What comment has meant the most to you?
We did testing with a very credible third-party research group and they found that kids – PreK thru 2nd grade – are actually gaining significant science information by watching our shows. Knowing that we are making a difference in kids’ lives that may contribute to their lifelong successes is really a driving force for me!
What’s the best way for parents to support a child’s science learning?
Don’t be afraid of science. Children are natural investigators and they love exploring and discovering how the world works. They also will easily pick up on a parent’s uneasiness or fear of science….and that may turn them off! So, engage your children as much as possible and if you don’t know much about the topic your child is interested in, that’s okay — just reach out and get help. There are a lot of resources available.
Use everyday experiences to talk with your children about the world around them. Call Zula and ask for help with topics – we’re here and happy to help. Reach out to libraries and educators for information on topics your kids present and find interesting. ALWAYS listen to what your child is interested in….let that guide you to finding resources for help in discussing with your child. Make exploring fun.
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