Plot Synopsis

Created by Dave Peth, LYLA IN THE LOOP is a half-hour animated series that encourages problem-solving skills and showcases the benefits of collaboration for young viewers. The series follows Lyla, a dynamic 7-year-old girl, who lives in a big city with her close-knit family, fantastical blue sidekick Stu, and a host of quirky characters in her community, who use creative and strategic problem-solving and critical thinking skills to address a range of everyday problems together. LYLA IN THE LOOP centers on Lyla and her family: mom Lydia and dad Louis, who run Loops Lunch diner; older twin sisters Liana and Louisa; younger brother Luke; and sidekick Stu, who always does exactly, literally, what was asked. With her family and best friend Everett Phan, Lyla tackles all sorts of challenges, from building her own homemade carnival games using repurposed materials, to riding along and lending a hand on the neighborhood trash and recycling route, to making a puppet show that recreates the Jamaican folktale, Anansi and the Goat. Lyla even helps her sister navigate the ethics of creating an art project with the help of Stu, showcasing an age-appropriate example of current questions surrounding the use of real-world AI tools. In every adventure, Lyla and Stu introduce and explore foundational computational thinking concepts, leading to some comedic disasters and creative solutions, all while helping others in their community. The series will support a wide range of learners, modeling flexible approaches to finding and designing solutions, and creative self-expression. The series pulls inspiration for its setting from Philadelphia, creator Dave Peth's homebase, and includes vocals by students from the public School District of Philadelphia in the series theme song, which was composed and performed by Grammy-nominated musician, Divinity Roxx. LYLA IN THE LOOP premiered on Monday, February 5, 2024 on PBS Kids (check local listings).