Red Sox to debut Wally animated show special on eve of Opening Day

As part of the club's "Calling All Kids" initiative, an ongoing effort to connect baseball to the next generation of fans, the Red Sox today announced the creation of a special 30-minute animated show, Wally's Opening Day, featuring the loveable mascot and a star-studded cast set to premiere on April 2, the eve of Red Sox Opening Day. April also marks the 20th anniversary of Wally's introduction to Red Sox fans.   
 
Wally the Green Monster springs to life in this animated special geared towards 4-8-year-old baseball fans, with humor the whole family can enjoy. It's Wally's job to get Fenway Park ready for Opening Day, but when he misses his ride back home from Spring Training and a freak spring snowstorm rolls in, Boston's annual April tradition is almost cancelled. Wally realizes that relying on his team is what he needs to save the day.
 
The project is the first time a Major League Baseball club has produced an animated television show in their market. The show is presented by '47 Brand with support from Red Sox partners XFINITY On Demand and New England Ford Dealers. 
 
"Using animation to capture the attention of younger fans was particularly appealing, and the idea to tell the story of the club and the ballpark through the eyes of Wally the Green Monster gave us a relatable way for children to connect," said Linda Henry, Executive Producer of Wally's Opening Day and wife to Principal Owner John W. Henry. "The young fans who fell in love with Wally when he was introduced 20 years ago are now grown, and we are excited to share this next chapter in his story with a new generation. By using a medium they're drawn to, and a beloved character they can identify with, we hope young fans will come away with a sense of history and connection to Boston, the Red Sox, and Fenway Park." 
 
The animated show is the first time that the Red Sox mascot will have a voice. The typically silent Green Monster is played by Tom Kenny, most well known as the voice of the popular kids cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.
 
Wally's Opening Day features a number of well-known stars, many with ties to the Boston area, including Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), H Jon Benjamin (Bob's Burger, Archer), Lenny Clarke (Rescue Me), Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie, Two Broke Girls), John Michael Higgins (The Break-Up), Arif Kinchen (House Party, Christmas in Compton), Kate Micucci (The Lego Batman Movie, The Big Bang Theory), Shelby Rabara (17 Again), and Sedale Threatt, Jr. (Roots).
 
The animated special, which features a special cameo by a Red Sox star, was created by Take The Cake Productions in association with Hero4Hire Creative.
 
"I was thrilled to collaborate with Linda Henry and the Red Sox to give Wally a voice and tell a story that represents everything the Red Sox value: teamwork, resilience, and the joy of baseball," said Danielle Gillis, Founder and Producer, Take The Cake Productions. "We worked with an amazing team of Boston artists and animators to give fans an evergreen special that celebrates the spirit of this great city."  
 
Wally's Opening Day is the second children's program produced by Linda Henry. She is also Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-winning NESN Clubhouse, a commercial-free baseball show for 7-12-years-old kids that airs on Sundays, now entering its third season.
 
A "green carpet" premiere for Wally's Opening Day is scheduled for Sunday, April 2, at the Regal 13 Fenway Theater. The animated show will make its broadcast debut on NESN at 5 p.m. that same afternoon, and made available on XFINITY On Demand, redsox.com, and the MLB.com Ballpark app starting April 3, Red Sox Opening Day.
 
A link to the trailer for Wally's Opening Day can be found here.