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."PBS Kids orders animated series from Atomic Cartoons". Playback, May 9, 2018."Upfronts '18: CBC debuts 17 new series". Playback, May 24, 2018. 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, and ended on July 10, 2023, after 13 episodes. The fourth season premiered on March 25, 2024, and ended on June 15, 2026, after 20 episodes.
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."NATAS Announces Nominations for First Annual Children's & Family Emmys as of November 23, 2022" https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAFE-Nominations-with-Credits-11.23-at-1000.pdf Retrieved September 9, 2023. The animated series has received acclaim for its representation of Indigenous Alaskan culture.
At the 3rd Children's and Family Emmy Awards for programming in 2023 and 2024, the series won in the Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program category for the episode "Not a Mascot".
On May 9, 2025, it was announced that production of the series will end after the 15-episode fifth and final season due to the termination of the Ready-to-Learn grant by President Donald Trump.
Plot and overview The series follows Molly Shahnyaa Mabray, an Alaska Native girl 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.
Cast 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 49 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 Teekkone "Tooey" Ookami, Molly's best friend (besides Trini). He is of Yupik, Koyukon, and Japanese descent. His last name means "wolf" in Japanese. In "Porcupine Slippers," Atsaq refers to Tooey as "Little Wolf." Vienna Leacock as Trini Mumford, Molly's African American best friend. (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 (first, second & third series) and Lauren Jackson (The Jokulhlaup Is On Us-present) as Nina Rhonda Rees as Barb Pamela Jones as Sadie Albert Nyla Carpentier as Atsaq, Tooey's mother Taran Kootenhayoo as Randall, Molly's cousin Pawaken Koostachin-Chakasim (first series), Sigmund Couillard (second and third series) and Michael Podemski-Bedard (fourth series onwards) as Oscar Cynthia De Pando as Lucia Damon Sky Taylor as Ben Hyuma Frankowski as Kenji, Tooey's father 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 Merlief Maxine Miller as Betsy Higginbottom Veena Sood as Dr. Amara Batra Bethany Brown as Joy Mumford, Trini's mother 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
Episodes Episodes aired in a different order on CBC in Canada and PBS in the United States. Episodes in this section are listed as aired in Canada.
Series overview
Season 1 (2019–21)
Season 2 (2021–22)
Season 3 (2022–23)
Season 4 (2024–26)
Season 5 (2026)
Production 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.
Broadcast Molly of Denali premiered on CBC Kids in Canada on September 2, 2019 and premiered July 15 in the same year 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.
Reception Accolades Year Award Category Nominee Result 2020 Peabody Awards Children's and Youth Molly of Denali TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming 2021 Kidscreen Awards Best Inclusivity Youth Media Alliance Best Program, Animation, Ages 6–9 2023 TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming 2025 Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program X'unei Lance Twitchell and Raye Lankford (for "Not a Mascot")
Notes
References
External links