Planetary Kidz came into being in 2005. Project Creator/Director Terry Braverman birthed the idea while traveling through remote tribal villages in Southeast Asia, where he'd play a harmonica upon entering their communities. Children rushed out from their rustic straw/bamboo huts to surround him with intense curiosity, hearing expressive sounds both plaintive and exuberant, so enthralling yet so foreign to their ears. Terry amused them further by mimicking the animal sounds in the village, creating other sound effects, and miming. Their joyful eyes, smiles, and raucous laughter moved him to consider how he could connect these kids with other children around the world in a way that was entertaining, educational, inspiring, and ongoing. The name Planetary Kidz was trademarked in March, 2005.
Terry spent countless hours researching children's TV shows, educational programs, as well as the travel genre, to conceive his idea of a global television series with each episode connecting kids from two different locations on the planet. He returned to Southeast Asia and employed local camera people to videotape a classroom of kids in Bangkok, having them demonstrate traditional Thai games, dances, and other aspects of Thai culture. Back in L.A., Terry hired award-winning director and friend Chris Toussaint to videotape a classroom of kids who answered the questions their Thai peers asked, and shared school projects, games, and musical instruments. They reiterated the same questions Terry asked the Thai kids, so when the two tapings were edited into a finished demo, it appeared that the Q & A was happening in real time.
Terry invited producers, agents, and other colleagues to a public screening of the demo. The feedback was very enlivening and helpful-they loved the idea, and by consensus suggested he create a pilot show with a specific theme, and shoot it in real time from two places via satellite link-up; and, when the series starts to air, have a website where kids can enter into discussion forums about each week's episode theme. Also, include a global leadership forum for kids. Some offered to participate as consultants and production personnel.
Planetary Kidz affiliated as a program of International Humanities Center in June, 2006, and has since developed partnerships with Amazon.com and Parenthood Magazine. In October, 2006, the project partnered with the Emmy-winning video production firm Larssen-Bartley to plan the pilot show.