Children’s program is a fundamental element of the lives of modern niños. Shows like “Sesame Street,” “Handy Manny,” and “Dora the Explorer” become quick parts of the cultural lexicon. Within that scope, Sonia Manzano has been able to establish a career that is nothing short of iconic.
That’s why her latest project “Alma’s Way” is another slam dunk.
With two seasons under its belt, the animated PBS series is a beacon for representation. Its shines brightly in a landscape that doesn’t get a lot of Latino or Latine programming.
For Manzano, creating “Alma’s Way” proves to be yet another achievement in her prolific 53-year career.
Manzano chats with Latinidad Collective about how she hopes to be remembered within children’s programming. She also discusses why audiences have responded to her show so strongly.
What inspired you to create “Alma’s Way,” and how do your personal experiences influence the characters and stories in the show?
I was asked by Linda Simensky at PBS kids to create the show. My personal experiences inform everything I do — even when I was writing for Ernie and Bert on “Sesame Street!”
How important was it for you to authentically portray the Bronx and Puerto Rican culture in “Alma’s Way,” and how have audiences responded to this representation?
People respond to specific places. I responded to [the] television series “Reservation Dogs” and “Atlanta” though those Native and African American experiences were far from my own because they were very specific.
“Alma’s Way” is both entertaining and educational. How do you strike a balance between storytelling and teaching important life lessons to children especially in a landscape that sees kids steering towards more first-person generated content (i.e. things on YouTube, etc.)?
In my mind, storytelling leads and it’s important to know the craft of telling stories on television.
Reflecting on your time as Maria on “Sesame Street,” how did your experiences there shape your approach to creating children’s content today?
I remembered feeling left out of the world when I watched television as a kid in the South Bronx. I used my time on “Sesame Street” to remedy that for others.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers and producers, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, who want to create content for children?
They should start with what they wished they had seen in the industry for children when they were kids, and what they liked to see on TV when they were coming up.
How do you hope to be remembered in the world of children’s entertainment and beyond?
I hope people say I inspired or helped launch a slew of children’s programming but that inspires children to create the world they want to live in.
