Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, April 25: In a move to preserve and promote the Tibetan language and culture among younger generations, the New York-based non-profit organisation, the Tibet Fund, launched the Tibetan-dubbed version of the popular British animated children’s series, Peppa Pig, on Wednesday. The initiative saw the release of 104 episodes, encompassing the first two seasons of the beloved cartoon.
The launch coincided with Lhakar (White Wednesday), a day of cultural significance for Tibetans dedicated to honoring their language, culture, and identity. This year’s Lhakar holds added importance as it marks the 90th birthday of exiled spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Tibet Fund stated that these animated videos serve as “an offering to honour His Holiness’ visionary leadership of the Tibetan people and his commitment to preserving Tibetan language and culture.”
Speaking with Phayul, Tenzin Chodon, the Small Grants Officer at the Tibet Fund, highlighted that Peppa Pig was specifically chosen due to its immense popularity among young children and its simple animation coupled with relatable family narratives. “Recognizing its appeal to children, the Tibet Fund initiated this project with the belief that this production will strengthen mother-tongue literacy by making age-appropriate Tibetan language content more accessible for young Tibetan children, which has been a top priority of our organisation,” Chodon explained.
She further revealed that the project had been under discussion for years, with active work commencing in June of the previous year. The initiative involved a dedicated team of over 15 members, including four script translators, two script editors, one dubbing director, six voice actors, a project officer, and an advisor. Additionally, a team from a Mumbai-based dubbing studio, comprising video editors, mixers, and sound engineers, contributed their expertise.
“This is another milestone in our efforts to expand access to excellent quality Tibetan language content for young learners. I hope these videos make learning Tibetan a playful, joyful experience for Tibetan children,” said Bob Ankerson, President of The Tibet Fund. “We are grateful to be able to contribute to His Holiness’ vision in a small way, and this Tibetan-language production of Peppa Pig is a heartfelt offering toward that vision. We hope Tibetan children and families will enjoy watching this as much as we enjoyed producing it,” he further added.
