Partner organizations have collaborated with us to create new content rooted in our research, messaging, and voter understanding. The animated series The Littletons is one such example. Explore additional partner content here.
The Littletons
Creator/Writer Melissa Samuels, Director/Editor Adam Parker, and producers Gutsy Media/Wake Up & Vote collaborated with Galvanize Action to develop the animated series The Littletons. Neuroscience teaches us that humor is a helpful strategy for sidestepping defense mechanisms and connecting with an audience. The Littletons uses humor and our research, messaging, and voter understanding to address culture war issues, abortion access, immigration, and democracy. All episodes are available to you at no cost to share on your social channels with your community—download the first four today!
This project was made possible through a generous grant from Pop Culture Collab.
Episode 1: “The Kids Are Alright”
Janice Littleton is a middle-class, middle-American mom trying to navigate one of the weirdest times of our lives while taking care of her family. When she attends a school board meeting she’s shocked to see the chaos. Suddenly, people in this tight-knit community are yelling and throwing chairs! Suddenly, Gabe’s teacher is fired for no reason! Suddenly, Janice is compelled to run for the school board! What will happen next? Stay tuned!
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Episode 2: “Campaign Race Theory”
Janice gets to know her neighbors better when she goes door to door, gathering campaign signatures for her petition. She also gets to know more about what the heck she’s gotten herself into after experiencing CRT brouhaha and a book burning! Looking for answers, Janice goes to Gabe’s former teacher, now working at a coffee shop, and ends up with more questions about why everyone is so worked up.
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Episode 3: “Documented”
Janice goes to submit her candidacy documents at the county registrar and bumps into her old childhood arch nemesis, Colleen. Long ago, they competed against each other at the school dance. Now, it seems it will be for the school board! To make matters worse, Colleen tells Janice her candidacy petition is invalid if any non-citizens signed and sends her into a panic before the deadline! When she goes back to Grandpa’s home health aide, Isabella Lopez, and Frank’s co-worker, Pablo Hernandez, Janice realizes what being a good citizen really is.
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Episode 4: “Choice”
Janice takes a break from stuffing campaign envelopes and baking cookies with her face on them to help her cousin Grace with a big decision. Janice offers to take care of her kids while Grace goes to take care of herself only it’s for longer than expected. Unfortunately, like many women, Grace has to travel far and wide to do what’s best for her and her family. After the chaos in the Littleton home subsides, all is good except for Frank, who wishes Janice didn’t “choose” to babysit!
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Episode 5: “Gimme a K-I-D-S!”
Janice is nervous about her upcoming appearance on a local cable access show and drives her family bananas by constantly practicing her speech. Morgan is nervous about her upcoming cheer meet because her friend and teammate Georgia could get kicked off the team for being trans. After hearing about Georgia’s struggles and Morgan’s concern and frustration, Janice throws her speech out the window and speaks from the heart.
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Episode 6: “American Dream”
Election day is around the corner and things have gotten wild! Colleen launches a smear campaign and Janice starts getting hate mail and pressure from Frank to drop out of the race. Janice is conflicted. After all, her family didn’t sign up for this harassment. When she decides to sleep on it Janice has a dream that causes an awakening. With encouragement from Morgan, she decides to soldier on but will she win or lose? Tune into the finale of The Littletons to find out!
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