Facts: The new “Bolibompa” programs
“Drakens dansskola” is a program where the “Bolibompa” dragon and various children dance to this year’s hits in Melodifestivalen. The ambition is to inspire children to dance and movement.
“The Dragon’s Craft Workshop”. In the dragon’s colorful workshop, people tinker with things that can be found at home or out in nature. The dragon and the children transform them into colorful art and toys.
“The Dragon and the Emotions”. A series where four children and the dragon explore different emotions and how to deal with them.
In the “Bolibutiken” we meet the dragon and the cranky manager Mr. Snurrkeps, played by Markus Granseth. Which ball is the biggest, which fruit starts with B and how long is a scarf?
“Bolibompisarna” is a new educational series for the very youngest at a leisurely pace where the dragon explores the children’s own play together with the viewers.
Source: SVT
Inside SVT’s studio 1 in Stockholm, the background decor glows bright yellow. Eleven-year-old Harriet Lindgren gets ready to instruct the “Bolibompa” dragon in the dance to Crazy Frog’s “Axel F”.
— First we drive. Then we step on the gas pedal eight times, she says, demonstrating the dance steps.
In “Drakens dansskola” this year’s Melodifestival songs are mixed with children’s evergreens such as “Axel F”. A few dance steps are taught in each episode and the aim is to encourage the viewers to move. The dragon, played by Cecilia Olin, exhales after filming the short – but physically intense – episode.
— The suit and above all the head gets so hot. I have both battery and monitor in there, so it’s quite cramped and sweaty, she says.
Harriet Lindgren and Cecilia Olin record “Drakens danskola” in a studio at SVT. Many reacted
When the changes and SVT’s plans for “Bolibompa” were presented, many parents kicked back, not least in social media.
Since the turn of the year, there is no longer the framing of the half-hour-long potpourri of various children’s programs that has been part of SVT’s offering for many years. The “Bolibompaklubben”, where the dragon introduced the various programs, has been shut down and instead they invest in more own productions – with the dragon in different roles.
— I understand the criticism, there are many people who hang up their everyday routine around “Bolibompa” and see it as their way of being able to get half an hour of curated content. The change sounded like a shutdown, which is not the case at all. We can make a larger and wider selection when you are not locked into a half-hour format, says producer Erik Norwald.
The editors behind “Bolibompa” did a solid research job before making the decision. Erik Norwald tells us that you are continuously out at preschools and meeting children in the target group while also seeing what works on SVT Play and in the “Bolibompa” app.
— “The dragon comes along” and “Bolibompa family” are streamed a lot and then we make more seasons. In terms of content, there won’t be that much of a difference, we’ve had dance school and crafts before as well. Now we package it in a slightly different way, because we see that viewership in linear TV is falling while it is increasing online, says Erik Norwald.
Erik Norwald says that the demand for programs with the “Bolibompa” dragon is great.
Among the new series are “Bolibutiken”, “Bolibompisarna” and “Dragon and feelings” – most of them are five to seven minutes long. The goal is to be able to make more series when you no longer have to spend time framing the daily half hour intended for television.
— We have been told for several years that everyone wants more of the “Bolibompa” dragon. With the resources we have, we couldn’t do more dragon, so the obvious decision was to do more with the dragon adapted for the Play service.
“Safe place”
The dance school and craft workshop make use of children aged 9–12, who come up with activities together with the dragon. Harriet Lindgren has previously been in the “Bolibompa” club and is now used to interacting with the actor in the costume.
The shoot, which involves a change of clothes and several retakes, is finally over and she exhales with a foam candy from the small snack buffet in the studio.
“It felt good,” she answers when asked how it went.
Erik Norwald points out that the change work around the children’s offer is ongoing. And that the criticism is seen as proof that public service television is still important.
— When we make changes, even if we are founded in the fact that it is going in the right direction, the commitment shows that we have a large part in the everyday life of families with young children. In an age of YouTube, SVT Barn is a very safe place. Almost all parents in these surveys say so.