“It’s Time to Get Dressed!”

Watch Sneak Peek Clip HERE

May 23, 2022—Burbank, CA—Calling all rock stars, fashion icons and naked mole rat lovers! Mo Willems’ fan-favorite Naked Mole Rat, Wilbur J. Mole Rat, Jr., will emerge from his underground tunnel for a stunning CGI-animated hour of “underground” music and comedy, Thursday, June 30, on Cartoonito on HBO Max for Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience! The special will also debut later on Cartoonito on Cartoon Network to knock your socks ON as it reminds us that authenticity is the best accessory.  

Based on Willems’ New York Times best-selling picture book, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (Hyperion) and sold-out theatrical rock experience (Seattle Children’s Theater, The Alliance Theater, and venues across the nation), this animated rock opera strikes a power chord about accepting others. The musical event is accessorized by a fun and funny tale about a sensitive, curious and rockin’ Naked Mole Rat named Wilbur (voiced by Jordan Fisher) who “scandalously” decides to (gasp!) get dressed! The message of authenticity and accepting others are in perfect harmony with Cartoonito’s Humancentric Learning Framework. Find out what happens when Wilbur’s newfound love of rocking outfits rocks Naked Mole Rat society to its core.

Additional voice cast members include Yvette Nicole Brown as Grande, a member of Mole Rat society’s popular crowd and front mole of the Tunnel’s Rock Band “The Mole-ing Stones”; Kate Micucci as Tall, a rule-follower with a heart of gold; Kevin Michael Richardson as Venti, a big lug that needs just two things in life: rocking out with his bandmates and being stark raving naked!; Carol Kane as Grand-Mah, the larger-than-life-but-smaller-than-expected matriarch of the Mole Rat society; Ron Funches as Les Pants, the Weather Mole; Thomas Lennon as Stark Naked, the Newscaster; and Jenna Ushkowitz as a jammin’ Secret Service Mole.

Willems and Mr. Warburton co-wrote the script with original tunes by Willems (lyrics) and Deborah Wicks La Puma (music). Willems and Mr. Warburton executive produce alongside Stampede Ventures’ Greg Silverman and Jay Judah, with OddBot Animation Studios serving as animation house. Megan Alrutz is producer on behalf of the Mo Willems Workshop. Songs are produced by Dan Petty, Doug Petty, and Michelle Lewis.

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About Warner Bros. Discovery  
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than  220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com. 

About Cartoonito 
Cartoonito is the Warner Bros. Discovery preschool programming block on HBO Max and Cartoon Network. Inspired by Positive Psychology and 21st Century Learning, Cartoonito is based on the proprietary preschool educational framework of Humancentric Learning, which aims to support every child’s humanness by celebrating their unique selves and encouraging them to treat others with compassion, respect and fairness. With a roster of originals actively in development, Cartoonito will offer modern programming that leans into Warner Bros. Discovery’s iconic IP that stems from Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. Mush-Mush & the Mushables, Little Ellen and Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go are among a slate of 20 new series now available. In addition, a portfolio of originals including Batwheels, Bugs Bunny Builders, Tom and Jerry Time, new series and specials from Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, and a collection of projects from bestselling children’s book author Mo Willems will add to thousands of hours of content from Warner Bros. Discovery’s legacy library and global acquisitions.

About The Mo Willems Workshop
The Mo Willems Workshop is focused on collaborating with great artists and pigeons to create meaningful media that excites, expands, and encourages creativity in children and former children alike. 

About Stampede Ventures
STAMPEDE VENTURES is a global media company that creates and owns IP across film, television (unscripted and scripted), and digital (Web3 and more) with an eye toward franchise-first content to launch the next generation of blockbusters. The company has more than 150+ projects in development or set up with producing partners at Warner Bros., Netflix, Apple, FOX, Lionsgate, Peacock, MTV, HBO Max, Disney+, and Paramount+. Stampede Ventures introduced its first new franchise with world-renowned children’s author, Mo Willems, that encompasses multiple content formats and media ancillaries. The company also has strategic partnerships with CBS Studios International, HappyNest (a joint venture with UTA), Australia’s KOJO, and others across brand partnerships, publishing, music and NFTs including Contravene (a joint venture with Zelus). Stampede Ventures is led by media veterans including Greg Silverman (CEO), Chris Bosco (President), and Jon Berg (President of Production). The company was founded in 2018 by Silverman, former President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production at Warner Bros. Pictures, Gideon Yu, former CFO of Facebook and YouTube, and co-owner of the San Francisco 49ers, as well as Jaeson Ma, co-founder of East West Ventures and 88Rising.