A boy exploring magical secrets. A raccoon sheriff with a nose for puzzles. The two children’s shows just added to the Amazon Studios Series Development Slate both embrace the appeal of mysteries in their own special ways.

Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found and Rattatan: Junior Sheriff of the Petty Crime Unit are both aimed at girls and boys aged 6-12. They join previously optioned children’s series Buck Plaidsheep, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street and Javi and the Treehouse Club. Learn more about how to submit your own ideas via Amazon Studios’ open door process.

About the shows:

Kingston and the Magician’s Lost and Found

Names of creators:  Harold Hayes, Craig Phillips, Mike White (credits include R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour, Spooksville, Politicats)

Series Concept:  After watching his father disappear during a magic act, Kingston must develop and refine his magical talents to uncover the secrets of his past.

Why we like it:  This is a serialized live-action show for ages 6-12. We were excited by the characters, plot arcs and world of magic. 

From the creators: The inspiration for the show started with seeing beyond the mundane. We often get set in accepting the day-to-day routine of life and when we walk past somebody who doesn’t seem to belong, our senses are heightened, whether out of fear or curiosity. … We realized that there is a lot we can learn from someone who lives on the fringes of society, which inspired a lot of the characters that Kingston will meet. The deeper we looked, the more mystery was revealed and our practical world seemed less defined. For us, that’s what magic is, showing you something right in front of your face that your mind can’t always make sense of.   

Rattatan: Junior Sheriff of the Petty Crime Unit

Creator: Miguel Martinez-Joffre (credits include SuperNormal, The Venture Bros., Gotham Girls)

Concept: A comedy for 6-12 year olds about the adventures of a young raccoon sheriff, Raul Rattatan, and his lovable sidekick, Deputy Pancho the Warthog. They are two young lawmen with the knack for turning the smallest infraction into a full-force investigation.

Why we like it: We found the script to be really funny and smart. We enjoyed reading the pilot script as much as the bible. The artwork is well executed and fun. 

From the creator: Though Rattatan expects to find misdeeds and mayhem around every corner, he’s still a hopeless optimist above all else. … Common sense is just too ordinary a tool for this lawman (after all, that’s what the no-good-do-ers expect you to use).