Hi, Boys and Girls, Have Some Banana Catsup
/The animated series “Jelly, Ben & Pogo” is the creation of Jalysa Leva, a director at Primal Screen in Atlanta. The short cartoon appears after every episode of “Alma’s Way” on PBS KIDS.
The trio make Ben’s Birthday super duper by leading with empathy and asking Ben what he needs.
Each time, sister and brother Jelly and Ben, and Pogo, their sea monster friend, affirm the values of family and friendship with touchstones of Filipino life, such as foodstuffs banana catsup, lechon, and lumpia and less obvious items like trumpo (spinning toy top) and Tumbang Preso (the game of throwing a slipper to knock down a can), and tradition such as remembering Lolo with a visit to the cemetery on Undas (Saints’ Day).
When first conceived in 2018, “Jelly, Ben & Pogo” was intended to be an interactive show. While the interactive concept wasn’t selected by PBS KIDS, Linda Simensky, then head of content, asked Primal Screen to develop it into a show. “The following year,” recalls Jalysa, “they (PBS KIDS) told us to find new voices, and they thought ‘Jelly, Ben & Pogo’ would be a good fit.”
Jalysa lauds PBS KIDS for its commitment to identifying and familiarizing itself with overlooked communities. “PBS KIDS was thinking about diversity. Part of diversity is authentic representation. You can only do this by being specific. Calling out a community’s culture is true representation. Seeing how well it works for ‘Jelly, Ben & Pogo’ will spark other creative projects to pursue authentic representation.”
Jalysa Leva is the show creator, director, and voice of Ben on Jelly, Ben & Pogo. (Photo by Alex Kelly)
A Three-Minute Lesson in Culture and Emotional Intelligence
In the tiny span of three minutes per episode, Jalysa pays tribute to Filipino culture but must also satisfy the network’s educational priorities for an audience of four- to six-year-olds.
“We have the two curricular goals of creative design thinking (CDT) and social emotional learning. Under CDT, in each episode we need to present a cooperative problem and solve it with empathy. This way, when children come across someone with a problem, they can model a response by asking the person with a problem what they need.”
By developing sensitivity to the plight of others, children know when to offer support. Jalysa explains, “Social emotional learning entails emotional intelligence. The fact that the show’s characters lead with empathy, they’re trying to understand the emotions of the other characters.”
“In the tiny span of three minutes per episode, Jalysa pays tribute to Filipino culture but must also satisfy the network’s educational priorities for an audience of four- to six-year-olds. ”
Nothing Is Too Filipino for PBS KIDS
The show wasn’t a dream Jalysa had been cultivating since 2011 when she moved to Atlanta to earn her degree at Savannah College of Art and Design, or during the freelance animation jobs she held before joining her team at Primal Screen.
“Diversity was supposed to be a key component in the different ideas our studio was pitching in response to the PBS KIDS request, but I didn’t see anything pitched with diversity,” Jalysa remembers. “I went home and doodled a lot and came up with Pogo first and added Jelly and Ben. As a Fil-Am, I saw myself in them.”
PBS KIDS gave Primal Screen latitude to explore aspects of Filipino culture another network might have considered taboo or too foreign. Heck, one episode is titled “Kamayan” (eating with hands).
Jalysa was impressed that PBS KIDS didn’t place limits on the distinct customs that would be open to expression. “They were actually the ones encouraging us to add more cultural elements. If anything, the hesitation came from me. I felt like Jelly in ‘Kamayan’ and was worried that people wouldn’t care, be interested, or want to see Filipino stories told.”
Her colleagues at Primal Screen were also supportive of a deep dive into all things Filipino. “Thankfully, my team and PBS KIDS were super supportive and helped me feel free to really dig into my experiences. Plus, having our other Fil-Am writer, Joy Reguallano, and our Filipino voice talent contribute their experiences was helpful in rounding out the voice of the show.”
(For a hint of what those quotes sound like coming from her vocal chords, Jalysa is the voice of Ben.)
Jalysa (right) and her family
From Alienation to Creation
The show was based on Jalysa’s experience of always being among the few Filipinos in the places she lived, starting with her birthplace of Guelph, Ontario, her upbringing in Upstate New York, and decade in Atlanta.
“Growing up in America you’re taught to assimilate. For so long, I was hiding that part of myself. Making this show has been healing for me. I learned that I can love my Filipino heritage again.”
From their home in South Carolina, Ronald and Glodeth Leva post about their daughter’s achievements on social media.
“Jelly and Ben’s parents are the split-image of my parents,” Jalysa says, but there’s one favor she can’t grant in return for use of their personalities. “They’re pretty insistent on including Peanut, our family dog, in the show, but it’s too late.”
Anthony Maddela has a BA in International Studies from University of Washington and Masters of Professional Writing from USC. He is on leave from his grant writing job at the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles as he regains his good health. He appreciates your prayers and thoughts. Follow him on Instagram @anthony_maddela.
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