Watch: ‘Carl the Collector’s New Halloween Special Makes PBS KIDS Premiere

PBS KIDS audiences are in for spooky delights as the new seasonal special Carl the Collector: A Fuzzyton Halloween makes its broadcast premiere! Following its streaming launch, the half-hour episode makes its TV debut today (October 16); see local listings for air times. To celebrate, Animation Magazine is unwrapping a first-look treat from our fuzzy friends at PBS KIDS, which you can watch below!

In A Fuzzytown Halloween, Carl and his pals are excited to trick-or-treat, until Forrest shares a spooky rumor — Mr. Price is a wizard who turns kids into chicken noodle soup! Sheldon is determined to find the truth and end the rumor once and for all.

As previously announced, the Halloween special is part of a week of new Carl the Collector episodes that kicked off Oct. 13 with a trailblazing story where viewers met Paolo, a new friend who loves outer space and is a collector, just like Carl! Paulo is autistic and largely non-speaking/preverbal, communicating with the help of a special speech tablet, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device.

Paolo is voiced by Odin Frost, who is autistic and non-speaking, and uses an AAC device. The episode, “A New Friend,” marks the first time an AAC is represented in a PBS KIDS show, continuing to building on the representation the series showcases — Lotta the fox, another friend of Carl’s, is also autistic — helping viewers to see how autism can represent with different people.

The first PBS KIDS series to feature central characters on the autism spectrum, Carl the Collector is created by New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Zachariah OHora (My Cousin Momo), directed by Lisa Whittick and produced by Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures. The 2D animated show’s production team includes neurodiverse writers, production staff, animators, advisors and voice talent.

Expert Dr. Stephen Shore, an autistic professor of special education at Adelphi University, advised on the series and Paolo’s character, as well as the use of his AAC device to ensure an accurate depiction.