Molly of Denali (stylized in all caps) is an animated children's television series produced by WGBH Kids and animated by Atomic Cartoons, created by Dorothea Gillim and Kathy Waugh for PBS Kids and CBC Kids. It premiered on July 15, 2019, and is the first American nationally distributed children's show to feature an Alaska Native as the lead character. 38 half-hour episodes were produced for season 1, with a 50-minute special as its season finale. A special live-action segment filmed in Alaska airs between the two 11-minute story segments.
On April 6, 2021, it was announced that the show had been renewed for season 2. The second season premiered on November 1, 2021, and ended on October 10, 2022, after 14 episodes. The third season premiered on November 7, 2022. The fourth season premiered on March 25, 2024.
The series won a Peabody Award in the Children's/Youth category in 2020.
At the Children's and Family Emmy Awards, the series was nominated in the Outstanding Preschool Animated Series and in the Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program categories.
The series follows 10-year-old Molly Shahnyaa Mabray, an Alaska Native from the fictional village of Qyah, and her family, friends Tooey Ookami and Trini Mumford, her Malamute Suki, and other residents. Her family runs the Denali Trading Post. The series also teaches children literacy skills by the informational texts and communication.
- Sovereign Bill as Molly Mabray, the series’ titular character. She is of Gwich'in, Koyukon, and Dena'ina Athabascan descent. She has a blog to share with viewers in the lower 48 states about life in Alaska. Her native name is Shahnyaa, which means "one who informs us". She also has a sled dog named Suki.
- Sequoia Janvier (season 1), Zane Jasper (seasons 2–3) and Nash Weekusk (season 4) as Tokone “Tooey” Ookami (Japanese: トコネ 「トゥーイ 」狼), Molly’s best friend. He is of Yupik, Koyukon, and Japanese American descent. His last name is "wolf" in Japanese. In "Porcupine Slippers", Atsaq refers to Tooey as "Little Wolf".
- Vienna Leacock as Trini Mumford, Molly’s best friend (besides Tooey). She moved from Texas to Qyah.
- Jules Arita Koostachin as Layla Mabray, Molly's mother
- Ronnie Dean Harris as Walter Mabray, Molly's father
- Lorne Cardinal as Grandpa Nat
- Adeline Potts as Auntie Midge
- Ellen Kennedy as Singing Moose, Video Voice, and Connie
- Luc Roderique as Daniel, Announcer, and Cowboy on TV
- Michelle Thrush as Shyahtsoo, Aunt Merna, and Grace
- Shawn Youngchief as William Patak, Maurice, Finnegan King, and Olin Benedict
- Katrina Salisbury (seasons 1-3) and Lauren Jackson (The Jokulhlaup Is On Us onwards) as Nina
- Rhonda Rees as Barb
- Pamela Jones as Sadie Albert
- Nyla Carpentier as Atsaq, Tooey's mother
- Taran Kootenhayoo as Randall
- Pawaken Koostachin-Chakasim (season 1) and Sigmund Couillard (second series onwards) as Oscar
- Cynthia De Pando as Lucia
- Damon Sky Taylor as Ben
- Hyuma Frankowski as Kenji
- Tai Grauman as Mrs. Marsh, the teacher
- Anna Dickey as Vera
- Brendan Sunderland as Jake
- Clay St. Thomas as Travis and Mr. Rowley
- Rebecca Shoichet as Dr. Antigone
- Rukiya Bernard as Violetta Lawrence
- Barbara Patrick as Tatiana
- Macie Juiles as Nadia
- Maxine Miller as Betsy Higginbottom
- Veena Sood as Dr. Amara Batra
- Bethany Brown as Joy Mumford
- Reneltta Arluk as Dr. Begaye, Willow's Mom, and Mary
- Cathy Weseluck as Charlotte (Sassy Ladies of Saskatoon)
- Laara Sadiq as Abigail (Sassy Ladies of Saskatoon)
- Mary Black as Olivia (Sassy Ladies of Saskatoon)
- Nanieezh Black as Marjie
- Marci T. House as Trini's grandmother
Voice direction by Nicole Oliver
The show's theme song is sung by Phillip Blanchett and Karina Moeller from the band Pamyua, with a fiddle and drum played by Brennan Firth. Portions of the show's dialogue are in the Gwichʼin language.
Molly of Denali is created with the help of at least 88 different indigenous contributors.
Molly of Denali premiered on CBC Kids in Canada on September 2, 2019 and premiered July 15 2019 on KM TV. A podcast was released shortly after its premiere date, this time as a prequel to the series, with season 2 of the podcast premiering in September 2020. Season 3 of the podcast premiered on March 3, 2021.
- ^ Credited as WGBH Kids for earlier season 1 episodes.
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