Summary of the world premiere and panel discussion for the BBC Studios Kids and Family animated series "Rafi the Wishing Wizard" at Manchester Animation Festival 2025.
The show's creator and executive producer, Tom Cousins explains that the show has been in development for four years and is set to air on CBeebies the following year (2026). He introduces the screening of two "hot off the press" episodes, which are so new they don't yet have titles or credits.
Episode Screenings: Summary
The audience is shown two complete episodes each focusing on different wishes, including cherry trees, and transforming into mermaids at the swimming baths.
After the screening, host Emma Goswell, Radio Presenter, introduces the panel. She praises the show for its "good positive representation" (as an LGBTQ parent herself) and for "putting Manchester on the animation map."
The Panelists:
- Tom Cousins: Creator & Executive Producer (Tiger Aspect)
- Beth Gardiner: Commissioning Editor of Animation, (CBeebies)
- Muzz Khan: Voice of the dad, "'Dash' (Dad)"
- Seán McCormack: Director (Blue Zoo Animation)
- Show Inspiration (Tom Cousins):
- Tom wanted to capture the "spirit of a busy family."
- He was determined to set it in the "real world," specifically a "fictional suburb" of Manchester, where he has lived for 20 years. He described the core concept as "magical mayhem in Manchester."
- The show is inspired by "magical realism" shows he grew up with, like The Queen's Nose.
- Commissioning (Beth Gardiner):
- CBeebies "didn't have a show about magic."
- She was drawn to the show's core theme.
- Animation and Setting (Seán McCormack):
- The studio, Blue Zoo, wanted a "warm," "comfortable," and "friendly" visual style, using "round edges" and "soft colours."
- They used Google Maps extensively to ensure the Manchester locations (like the Aquatics Centre) felt authentic.
- Voice and Identity (Muzz Khan):
- Muzz, was thrilled to be cast, saying, "Oh my god, this is me!"
- He praised the show for its use of authentic Northern and "proper Manc" accents, calling it "brilliant" to hear in a major animation.
- LGBTQ Representation (Tom Cousins):
- This was a major topic. Tom, who is part of the LGBTQ community, stated that the two-dad family was in the concept "from the very beginning."
- He said, "There are hundreds of thousands of children in this country... who have two mums or two dads. And we just thought it was about time that those kids saw a family like theirs in a show like ours."
- He noted the focus is always through Rafi's eyes, where they are just "parents first.
Audience Q&A
- On Obstacles: Beth Gardiner mentioned an early challenge was defining the "rules of magic." Tom's solution was simple: "Everybody knows [about the magic]... because it's more fun." Seán McCormack noted a design obstacle was that the first art style "looked too old" for the preschool audience, requiring a redesign to be "cuter" and "chunkier."
- On Advice for Creators: The panel advised aspiring creators to:
- Get a job on a production (e.g., in the art department) to learn the ropes.
- Use talent-finding schemes like the BBC's "Ignite."
- "Find a champion" who believes in your idea.
- "Speak up," as studios are always looking for new stories.
"Rafi the Wishing Wizard" is scheduled to air on CBeebies sometime around March 2026.