{ "id": "epp22zgkz6", "slug": "stillwater", "title": "Stillwater", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv", "label": "Scripted television and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv.animated-series", 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Stillwater\n\n**Stillwater** is an animated children's television series produced by Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment for Apple TV+, based on the Scholastic \"Zen\" picture book series by Jon J Muth, which began in 2005 with *Zen Shorts* (Scholastic Press)[1](https://www.gaumont.com/en/series/stillwater-season-1) • [2](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85086-now-streaming-stillwater.html). It premiered on December 4, 2020 and follows three siblings, Karl, Addy, and Michael, whose next-door neighbor is a wise [giant panda](https://www.edgepedia.org/giant-panda) named Stillwater, who guides them through everyday emotional challenges with stories, gentle humor, and mindfulness practices[1](https://www.gaumont.com/en/series/stillwater-season-1) • [2](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85086-now-streaming-stillwater.html). The series has won a Peabody Award and a Daytime Emmy Award and ran for five seasons through 2026[3](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/apple-tv-plus/new-on-apple-tv-plus-in-august-2025-all-the-shows-and-movies-to-watch) • [4](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2026/07/apple-tvs-beloved-mindfulness-series-stillwater-set-to-premiere-all-new-fifth-season-on-friday-august-21-2026/).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Premiere | December 4, 2020, on Apple TV+[2](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85086-now-streaming-stillwater.html) |\n| Source material | Jon J Muth's Zen picture book series, begun with *Zen Shorts* (2005)[2](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85086-now-streaming-stillwater.html) |\n| Producers | Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment[1](https://www.gaumont.com/en/series/stillwater-season-1) |\n| Main cast | James Sie as Stillwater; Judah Mackey (Karl), Eva Ariel Binder (Addy), Tucker Chandler (Michael)[5](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/stillwater/) |\n| Seasons | Five seasons; season 4 released August 1, 2025, season 5 on August 21, 2026[6](https://www.ppi.co.jp/works/stillwater/) • [4](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2026/07/apple-tvs-beloved-mindfulness-series-stillwater-set-to-premiere-all-new-fifth-season-on-friday-august-21-2026/) |\n| Awards | Peabody Award; Daytime Emmy Award; Children's & Family Emmy for Outstanding Voice Directing for an Animated Series[3](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/apple-tv-plus/new-on-apple-tv-plus-in-august-2025-all-the-shows-and-movies-to-watch) • [7](https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CAFE-Winners-creative-december-10.pdf) |\n| Rating | TV-Y7[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/stillwater) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and format\n\nEach episode centers on one of the three siblings, who are described as typical kids with typical kid challenges, meaning that even small things can feel insurmountable. When a child experiences something that stirs an emotional response, Stillwater uses parables to calmly guide the child toward a better understanding of how to cope[1](https://www.gaumont.com/en/series/stillwater-season-1) • [9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/stillwater). Through his example, stories, and gentle humor, he gives the children a deeper understanding of their feelings and tools for facing day-to-day challenges, while opening their eyes to the quiet wonders of the world around them[1](https://www.gaumont.com/en/series/stillwater-season-1).\n\nThe series teaches mindfulness explicitly. Episodes blend everyday childhood problems with breathing exercises, mindful moments, and calm storytelling[3](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/apple-tv-plus/new-on-apple-tv-plus-in-august-2025-all-the-shows-and-movies-to-watch). Stillwater's teachings incorporate Buddhist ideas such as mindfulness, awareness of the present moment, and calm within, while his way of life shows Chinese cultural touches, seen in everything from how his house is designed to the gardens and koi pond it contains[10](https://www.threshold.family/title/stillwater-2020) • [9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/stillwater).\n\n**Visual approach.** The Guardian's review noted that the series forges an aesthetic of its own by including animation-within-the-animation segments that illustrate Stillwater's fables[11](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/dec/04/stillwater-review-appletv). Common Sense Media's reviewer, Emily Ashby, described the show as gorgeously animated, set to calming music, and praised its intentional pace, saying it teaches lessons without hitting audiences over the head with them[9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/stillwater).\n\n### Cast and characters\n\nJames Sie, a voice actor whose credits include the *Kung Fu Panda* and *Avatar: The Last Airbender* television series, voices Stillwater[2](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85086-now-streaming-stillwater.html). The siblings are voiced by Judah Mackey (Karl), Eva Ariel Binder (Addy), and Tucker Chandler (Michael)[5](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/stillwater/). Stillwater's niece Koo, also a giant panda, is voiced by Nara Thompson[9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/stillwater).\n\nCommon Sense Media notes a representational asymmetry in the adaptation: the three central siblings are White and human, while the Chinese characters Stillwater and Koo are giant pandas, and the show is filtered through a White American lens with some cultural clichés. Supporting characters include Addy's best friend Maya, a Black character voiced by Black actress Sydney Thomas, and voice actors generally reflect their on-screen ethnicities; [Chinese people](https://www.edgepedia.org/chinese-people) were involved in the production in direction, music, and art direction[9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/stillwater).\n\n### Seasons\n\nSeason 1 premiered December 4, 2020[2](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85086-now-streaming-stillwater.html). Season 2 followed in March 2022 and season 3 in May 2023[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/stillwater). Season 4 became available on Apple TV+ on August 1, 2025[6](https://www.ppi.co.jp/works/stillwater/). Apple announced the fifth season in July 2026, premiering with five new episodes on Friday, August 21, 2026[4](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2026/07/apple-tvs-beloved-mindfulness-series-stillwater-set-to-premiere-all-new-fifth-season-on-friday-august-21-2026/). Each episode pairs two segments, so Apple's episode guide lists five season 5 episodes with titles such as \"Addy's Break/Puzzled\" and \"The New Friend/Panda Scouts\", while databases that index individual segments count ten[17](https://images.apple.com/uk/tv-pr/originals/stillwater/episodes-images/) • [18](https://thetvdb.com/series/stillwater/seasons/official/5).\n\n**Season 5 content.** Executive producer Rob Hoegee described the fifth season as tackling the hardest subjects the show has attempted: it introduces Marcus, a new neighbor on the autism spectrum, includes an episode in which the group finds a bird that has died and discusses loss, and hands the comforting role over to the kids themselves. The three young voice actors have aged six years on screen over the course of the series[15](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/stillwater-season-5-explores-death-autism-and-growing). The season finale, \"The New Friend/Panda Scouts,\" aired August 21, 2026[17](https://images.apple.com/uk/tv-pr/originals/stillwater/episodes-images/).\n\n## Production and adaptation\n\nThe series adapts Muth's Zen picture books, and Muth said he was \"really happy\" with the adaptation, explaining that the series had been reframed from the books with the emphasis more specifically for younger children[2](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85086-now-streaming-stillwater.html). Muth created the character after rediscovering an ink drawing of a giant panda wearing a large pair of shorts[2](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85086-now-streaming-stillwater.html).\n\nExecutive producers include Sidonie Dumas, Nicolas Atlan, Terry Kalagian, Iole Lucchese, Caitlin Friedman, Jef Kaminsky, Jun Falkenstein, and Rob Hoegee[4](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2026/07/apple-tvs-beloved-mindfulness-series-stillwater-set-to-premiere-all-new-fifth-season-on-friday-august-21-2026/) • [8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/stillwater). Season 1 was directed by Roy Burdine, Jun Falkenstein, Gary Hartle, and Amber Tornquist Hollinger[1](https://www.gaumont.com/en/series/stillwater-season-1). The series was produced through Apple TV's changemakers initiative in collaboration with awareness and intention expert Mallika Chopra, author of *Buddha and the Rose* and the \"Just Be\" series for kids[4](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2026/07/apple-tvs-beloved-mindfulness-series-stillwater-set-to-premiere-all-new-fifth-season-on-friday-august-21-2026/). The 3DCG animation involved studios including Polygon Pictures and Xentrix Studios[6](https://www.ppi.co.jp/works/stillwater/) • [12](https://www.xentrixstudios.com/portfolio/still-water).\n\n## Reception and awards\n\nThe series was nominated for a Peabody Award in 2021, when Apple TV+ announced nominations for both \"Stillwater\" and \"Ted Lasso\"[13](https://www.apple.com/uk/tv-pr/originals/stillwater/news/), and it was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Series[14](https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Childrens-and-Lifestyle-Nominees-with-credits-ao-7.7.pdf). Publications covering later seasons describe it as a Peabody and Daytime Emmy Award-winning series[3](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/apple-tv-plus/new-on-apple-tv-plus-in-august-2025-all-the-shows-and-movies-to-watch) • [15](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/stillwater-season-5-explores-death-autism-and-growing). At the first annual Children's & Family Creative Arts Emmy Awards in December 2022, it won Outstanding Voice Directing for an Animated Series[7](https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CAFE-Winners-creative-december-10.pdf). Common Sense Media rated it for ages 5 and up, found no violence, questionable language, or other content concerns, and named it a Common Sense Selection[9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/stillwater). Parent reviewers on the site describe it as focusing on emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and empathy, though some express a desire for more episodes[16](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/stillwater/user-reviews/adult).\n\n## References\n\n1. [Stillwater - Season 1, Gaumont](https://www.gaumont.com/en/series/stillwater-season-1)\n2. [Now Streaming: 'Stillwater', Publishers Weekly (December 8, 2020)](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85086-now-streaming-stillwater.html)\n3. [New on Apple TV Plus in August 2025, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/apple-tv-plus/new-on-apple-tv-plus-in-august-2025-all-the-shows-and-movies-to-watch)\n4. [Apple TV's beloved mindfulness series \"Stillwater\" set to premiere all-new fifth season on Friday, August 21, 2026, Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2026/07/apple-tvs-beloved-mindfulness-series-stillwater-set-to-premiere-all-new-fifth-season-on-friday-august-21-2026/)\n5. [Stillwater, Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/stillwater/)\n6. [Works / Stillwater, Polygon Pictures Inc.](https://www.ppi.co.jp/works/stillwater/)\n7. [The 1st Annual Children's & Family Creative Arts Emmy Award Winners, Children's & Family Emmy Awards](https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CAFE-Winners-creative-december-10.pdf)\n8. [Stillwater, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/stillwater)\n9. [Stillwater - Parents' Guide & TV Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/stillwater)\n10. [Stillwater (2020), Threshold](https://www.threshold.family/title/stillwater-2020)\n11. [Stillwater review - panda pleasures, with a side order of mindfulness, The Guardian (December 4, 2020)](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/dec/04/stillwater-review-appletv)\n12. [Still Water, Xentrix Studios](https://www.xentrixstudios.com/portfolio/still-water)\n13. [Stillwater - News, Apple TV Press (UK)](https://www.apple.com/uk/tv-pr/originals/stillwater/news/)\n14. [Stillwater - Apple TV+, Children's and Lifestyle Nominees (2021)](https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Childrens-and-Lifestyle-Nominees-with-credits-ao-7.7.pdf)\n15. ['Stillwater' Season 5 Explores Death, Autism and Growing Up, Animation World Network (August 21, 2026)](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/stillwater-season-5-explores-death-autism-and-growing)\n16. [Parent Reviews of Stillwater, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/stillwater/user-reviews/adult)\n17. [Stillwater - Episodes & Images, Apple TV Press (UK)](https://images.apple.com/uk/tv-pr/originals/stillwater/episodes-images/)\n18. [Stillwater - Season 5, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/series/stillwater/seasons/official/5)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Animated television series (individual series) › Children's animated adventure and fantasy series › Preschool and educational series › Premiered 2019 to 2025*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/stillwater", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/stillwater.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Stillwater\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/stillwater. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Stillwater](https://www.edgepedia.org/stillwater)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/stillwater](https://www.edgepedia.org/stillwater). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Stillwater\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/stillwater. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Stillwater is an Apple TV+ animated children's series from Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment, based on Jon J Muth's Zen Shorts books, following a wise panda who teaches siblings Karl, Addy, and Michael mindfulness; premiered December 4, 2020, five seasons, Peabody and Emmy winner." }