Karma's World
Karma's World is a computer-animated musical comedy streaming television series created by Chris "Ludacris" Bridges which premiered on Netflix on October 15, 2021. Produced by 9 Story Productions and the Bali studio subsidiary of Brown Bag Films, the series is based on an educational website of the same name created in 2009 by "Karma’s World Entertainment", a consortium created by Ludacris specifically for his eldest daughter, Karma Bridges, whose name and inspiration he cited in interviews as the core reason behind his creation of the series. Netflix renewed "Karma's World" for a second  season, which premiered on March 10, 2022. Premise. The series follows the story of Karma Grant, a young girl who begins middle school and learns that through her music she can stay "true to herself" instead of letting challenges push her down. Production. The series is produced by the Bali studio subsidiary of Brown Bag Films and Creative Affairs Group, both subsidiaries of 9 Story Media Group, and Karma’s World Entertainment, Ludacris' consortium/production company. Apart from Ludacris, Vince Commisso, Cathal Gaffney, Wendy Harris, Darragh O'Connell, Angela C. Santomero, Jennie Stacey are also executive producers for the series, while  Danielle Gillis, Lorraine Morgan, and Lisa O'Connor are producers. They are joined by Bronagh O'Hanlon as the show director and Elaine A. Lugo Herrera as art director. Additionally, the show's head writer is Halcyon Person. On October 13, 2020, Netflix announced the green-lighting of the series with a 40-episode order, each of which would be 11 minutes long. The series was targeted at children who are 6-9 years old. Ludacris also claimed that the show would "move hip hop culture forward" by showing young girls they can change the world with the tools at their disposal . On June 14, 2021, a sneak peek of the series was shown at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. At the festival, Ludacris said he hoped that the show would be something that has a "a long-lasting impression" on children. Person, on the same panel, argued that the show, set in a fictional neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, said that the series includes a diversity of "hair texture and diversity of skin tones" in order to make sure all kinds of characters are celebrated, and argued that the series "models great behavior" for children. The official trailer for the  series was released on September 23, 2021. The show's first episode premiered on YouTube on October 4, 2021. The show's first season premiered on 15 October 2021. All 15 episodes of the season premiered on the same day. Before the show's premiere, Ludacris said that the show was inspired by his eldest daughter, Karma. He also said that he tried to "make every single character unique" and hoped that his daughter would be able to guest star on the show in the future. He additionally said that having positive roles and "different ethnicities" he tool from the  Fast & Furious franchise. In November 5, 2021, Ludacris told Billboard that the show had been "close to 14 years in the making" and hoped that would be a show for everyone, kids and adults. He said the he believed the series would change "young people’s lives for the better." On November 8, 2021, Person told Essence about how with Karma they tried to celebrate her hairstyle and everyone's, working "really hard to try and get right" in order to have "authentic storytelling." She also noted that she and writers she worked with collaborated to address microaggressions, working with  an organzation named the Perception Institute, which analyzes people's perceptions as they’re watching media. She also praised Netflix for giving them the opportunity to tell these stories about Black culture. On March 10, 2022, the show's second season premiered on Netflix. All eight episodes premiered the same day. Music. The show's original music and sound design are supervised and created by Ludacris and James Bennett Jr., while Gerald Keys is a producer. Songs tackle issues such as discrimination, body positivity, self-esteem, friendship, family, and differences. The show's theme song, "Welcome to Karma’s World , is sung by Asiahn, the voice actress for Karma. On September 14, 2021, Ludacris unveiled the show's soundtrack, which was released by Universal Music Group through its Def Jam label on the same date as the show's Netflix premiere. Merchandise. Books. In March 2021, 9 Story Media Group and Karma’s World Entertainment started a deal with Scholastic Corporation, with the books planned to be released between January and March 2022 to accompany the Netflix series. All three books were co-written by Person. In an October 2021 interview, Ludacris noted that a Karma's World entitled Daddy  and Me and the Rhyme to Be" was coming out. Apart from the aforementioned book, currently the juvenile fiction books "The Great Shine-A-Thon Showcase", and "Viral Video Showdown", and journal "Karma's World Creativity Journal: Freestyling With Friends" are listed on the Scholastic website. Toys. In April 2021, 9 Story and Karma’s World Entertainment signed a deal with Mattel to develop a toy line for the franchise, including dolls, "doll accessories," and other elements. In March 2022, it was announced that the dolls would be released in the summer of 2022. Clothing. In February 2022, FIT's  Design and Technology Lab (DTech) announced a deal with Karma's World Entertainment and 9 Story to create a 50-piece fashion set for children which was inspired by the series, including dresses, jackets, and footwear. 9 Story called it a "unique partnership." Essence called it a "fashion-forward" collection, while one of the designers, Hawwaa Ibrahim, said they were grateful for the opportunity to apply their skills. Other merchandise. 9 Story and Karma's World Entertainment have announced planned expansions of the franchise beyond books, toys, and clothing. In November 2021, 9 Story noted that the franchise would be  expanded to bags, backpacks, consumer electronics, skateboards, and other materials. Reception. The series has been received positively. Joly Herman of Common Sense Media described the series as "top-shelf", saying that it has "creative, fully fleshed-out characters" and has the characters artfully face "heartfelt, complex issues." Herman also argued that the series is "full of empowering moments" and said that it uses art to "inspire, empower, and elevate through storytelling," calling it an excellent series for "young tweens." Claretta Bellamy of NBC News stated that the show's second season tackles challenges such as personal space and body shaming  in a way that "both entertains and allows for kids to comprehend."