The animation and childrens television world is in mourning, with news that The Backyardigans creator Janice Burgess has passed away at 72.
While no cause of death has been immediately revealed, her passing was confirmed by fellow animation writer Fracaswell Hyman in social media posts.
He shared an image of Burgess enjoying her time in a beach setting while revealing how he first met her back in the early 1990s.
‘I met Janice Burgess early in my career when I was head writer on Gullah Gullah Island and she was assigned to be our Executive in Charge of Production,’ he said.
He explained that the Executive in Charge of Production was basically, ‘the person the network sends to the set to make sure the money is not going to waste.’
The animation and childrens television world is in mourning, with news that The Backyardigans creator Janice Burgess has passed away at 72
While no cause of death has been immediately revealed, her passing was confirmed by fellow animation writer Fracaswell Hyman in social media posts
‘Janice created The Backyardigans and guided countless other shows for Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, Disney and Apple TV,’ he continued.
‘Janice swept in with her acid-tongued wit, flowing Hermes scarves and omnipresent cigarettes. Instead of an overseer, she became a friend,’ he added.
‘She recognized my magic before I did and made sure I was in the room and under consideration for many of the shows that came my way including Little Bill and Tania,’ he added.
‘Janice created The Backyardigans and guided countless other shows for Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, Disney and Apple TV,’ he continued.
‘Her script/story critiques were astute, clear and constructive – and I really thank her for that,’ he added.
‘Janice, Maria Perez-Brown and I developed shows together, gossiped together and oh, how we laughed! I will miss my dear friend. RIP. Oh, how we laughed…’ he concluded.
Burgess was born in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh, and graduated from Brandeis University in 1973 with a degree in art history.
She told Investor’s Business Daily that she came to realize she did not enjoy traveling in ‘art circles’ so she decided to try a new career path into television.
She first worked craft services for WQED TV station in Pittsburgh and ultimately worked up to positions at Children’s Television Workshop, where she worked on shows such as 3-2-1 Contact and Ghostwriter.
‘Janice swept in with her acid-tongued wit, flowing Hermes scarves and omnipresent cigarettes. Instead of an overseer, she became a friend,’ he added
However, she was encouraged to re-tool the concept for animation, which ultimately became her hit series The Backyardigans
She also served as story editor on Winx Club before retiring from Nickelodeon
She also co-developed the series Bubble Guppies as well.
Burgess joined Nickelodeon as an executive in charge of production for Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. channel.
She oversaw hit shows such as Blue’s Clues, Allegra’s Window and Gullah Gullah Island, before she turned to the creative side of the business.
Burgess created a pilot for a live-action full body puppet show called Me and My Friends in 1998, though it did not move forward.
However, she was encouraged to re-tool the concept for animation, which ultimately became her hit series The Backyardigans.
She also served as story editor on Winx Club and co-developed the series Bubble Guppies as well.