#Mira the royal detective series#

Diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of a harmonious society. What are your thoughts on that?Īs technology shrinks the world and blurs borders, it’s crucial for children (and adults, for that matter) of every race and ethnicity-and all walks of life-to feel represented in the world, including in entertainment. How important to you that this show just exists for South Asian children and adults? Not only that, but that it is a show that has and is going to educate so many people both young and old here in the US but also all over the world. Owing to the diversity of characters even within the series, I reach out to other regional organizations and community resources for their input and recommendations in terms of character depictions, names, and other factors, as needed. The team sends me words and phrases for pronunciation review, and production moves through various stages of animation, which I review throughout the process. In terms of the process, I receive the storyline first, followed later by the script. We discuss broad themes and detailed nuances of each upcoming episode during the writing phase and work through design elements with the art and design team, such as details of how events and interactions are portrayed. I collaborate with the Disney Junior team routinely. How do you work with the team on the series? In terms of design, I look at the personalities and attire of the characters, the architecture and colors of set designs, and the realistic depiction of Indian culture, festivals and other social occasions. With dialogue, I hone pronunciations, incorporation of simple yet familiar Hindi phrases, and accurate representation of family and social dynamics in Indian society. If I were to choose a couple, I’d say that my primary areas of focus are reviewing dialogue and design, both of which are key to ensuring cultural accuracy within the framework of Disney’s fantasy world. There are several aspects that I look at, from the broad arc of the storyline to the minute details of animation. (Disney)Īs the cultural consultant, what do you see as your main focus? It brought tears to my eyes-to all of our eyes -tears of joy, seeing Mira on screen, our combined labor of love. I remember I cried… I had the opportunity to view the first episode at one of the screening rooms at Disney studios, with a few other members of the team. When you first saw the renderings and then the first episode what were your feelings? As it slowly dawned on me during the discussion that this was really going to happen, I was absolutely thrilled! So, I went into the meeting cautiously optimistic. I wasn’t sure if it was just an exploratory discussion or whether it would really come to fruition because a project like this, on Disney, was beyond my wildest dreams.

#Mira the royal detective series#

I did not know much about the project and had heard only broad brushstrokes about Disney Junior exploring a new series that incorporated Indian themes and culture.

When the idea of a children’s show with a lead South Asian character, what were your first thoughts? In this fascinating interview, Shagorika Ghosh Perkins gave us insight into the behind the scenes work that goes into creating the world of Mira, her thoughts on how important this show is as a representation of South Asian culture and what we can expect in season 2. She is the person that makes sure that Mira, Royal Detective is authentic in every aspect of the show from the stories, depiction of Indian culture, the characters’ lines, pronunciation, costumes, architecture and so much more.

One of the people responsible for the accuracy and realness of the stories is the cultural consultant for the show Shagorika Ghosh Perkins. One of the coolest things about Mira, Royal Detective is that it celebrates authentic Indian music, dance, food, fashion, language and art by incorporating the diversity of the culture into the mystery-filled storylines. Each episode features the brave and resourceful Mira, a young girl who travels throughout Jalpur solving mysteries for her friends, family and extended community. Season 2 has just started airing and it promises to have even more exciting filled episodes rooted in India’s vibrant heritage.įor preschool-age children, the series weaves authentic Indian culture and customs into two 11-minutes stories set in the magical Indian-inspired land of Jalpur. MIRA, ROYAL DETECTIVE (Disney Junior/Valerie Durant)ĭisney Junior’s animated series Mira, Royal Detective first season was a huge success with fans of all ages and all over the world. SHAGORIKA GHOSH PERKINS (CULTURAL CONSULTANT/ CONSULTING PRODUCER)