Anyone who has children (or has looked after kids) is probably aware of Paw Patrol. The animated children’s television series has been on the air since 2013 and it has become a global phenomenon, thanks to the fact that it airs on Nickelodeon every single day. The show has made stars of its characters, such as Ryder and his collection of pups, who operate as a team of search and rescue dogs.
Considering that Paw Patrol is perceived by most as just another kid’s cartoon, the vast majority of viewers aren't aware that the show has a lot of history, not to mention some BTS secrets.
You might be surprised to learn more about the Paw Patrol media franchise - there's so much more to know than what's normally shown in the cartoon series.
13 The Show Is Based On A Transforming Toy
The company behind Paw Patrol is Spin Master, and this company manufactures toys. The idea for the television series actually came from the company’s wish to produce a cartoon series to base a new line of figures on. The basic idea came from co-founder, Ronnen Harary, and a transforming truck that he had designed.
12 Paw Patrol’s Creator, Keith Chapman, Also Created Bob The Builder
When Spin Master decided to press ahead with the idea for Paw Patrol, the company approached Keith Chapman. The British-born animator/writer has tons of experience in the animated series industry. He had even worked on the very successful cartoon, Bob the Builder.
11 Toys And Other Merchandise Based On The Property Were Developed Almost Immediately
The entire idea behind Paw Patrol was that it would help Spin Master to sell additional toys. So, it is no wonder that the company quickly launched a wide range of merchandise and other content based on the show. These products were available when the show starting airing. Now, the Paw Patrol empire includes spin-offs, apps, games, and many different toys.
10 The Main Character Had A Number Of Different Names Before The Team Settled On Ryder
Although it is undoubtedly the dogs themselves that steal the show in Paw Patrol, Ryder also plays a very important role. However, finalizing the design and concept for this character was not an easy task. The team producing the show debated several different names for the character before they eventually settled on Ryder.
9 New Characters Are Introduced To Sell More Toys
In practically every season of Paw Patrol, new characters are introduced. Many of these are additional animals, although there are also extra human characters added. These extra characters are not brought into the series just to add excitement to storylines. The primary reason they're brought in is to help sell more toys, as children will have to add to their collections to make them complete.
8 The Paw Patrol Toys Earn Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars Every Year
Paw Patrol has become one of the most successful cartoons in the world. It is regularly watched by millions of youngsters every day and the line of merchandise based on the series is just as popular. In fact, the show's toys, figures, and other merchandise help Spin Master to earn hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
7 Most Of The Voice Actors Are Actually Children
Characters in children’s cartoons are usually voiced by adult voiceover artists. This is true even for younger characters. Grown-up actors just use younger-sounding voices. This isn’t the case for Paw Patrol. The show actually uses child actors to record lines for the various characters.
6 The Dogs Were Originally Meant To Be Rescued Dogs
The various dogs in Paw Patrol have a diverse set of backgrounds. However, when the idea for the show was first being developed, the pups were going to be introduced as abandoned animals that were rescued by Ryder (and then helped with Ryder's efforts). This idea was dropped before the series went into production.
5 The Animation Studio Had Concerns About The Toy-Based Nature Of The Show
The animation for Paw Patrol is handled by a Canadian company called Guru Studio. Guru Studio president, Frank Falcone, explained in a 2016 interview that he was initially reluctant to work on the series' he and others at Guru Studio were concerned about the focus of the show being on the toys, rather than the action onscreen.
4 Everything About The Dogs Was Closely Evaluated
Hoping to make the dogs as appealing as possible, the designers went through many different concepts for each of the pups. Meanwhile, the writers and producers debated everything about the animals, from their names and roles to the breeds of each individual member of the rescue team.
