New Australian children’s live-action drama series Thalu (Weerianna Street Media) has premiered on NITV.

Set against the backdrop of the majestic Pilbara, Thalu is a kids’ show with all the energy of live-action and all the colour of a cartoon. Half-hour episodes air daily from April 20 at 6.30pm, with catch-up available on SBS on Demand.

The series focuses on a group of Indigenous kids who undertake a journey to save their Country from the threat of a mysterious dust cloud and its inhabitants, the Takers. Fusing elements of traditional Aboriginal stories and characters with a touch of the heroes’ journey and lots of energetic physical and visual comedy, Thalu is funny, exciting, relatable, and offers young viewers an eye-opening glimpse at people and places they could never have imagined.

Thalu’s seven lead cast members, Ella Togo (Samara), Jakeile Coffin (Keile), Sharliya Mowarin (Lali), Wade Walker (Hudson), Cherry Rose Hubert (Em), Logan Adams (Noodles) and Penny Wally (Vinka) made their television debut upon the launch of the series. The cast was selected from the local community of Roebourne, W.A., and the characters were created with input from each young cast member in order to reflect their unique personalities.

The series has had a great deal of support from established Indigenous actors who appear in guest roles across the series, including Trisha Morton-Thomas, Gabriel Willie, Elaine Crombie, Trevor Jamison and Aaron McGrath, who mentored the child cast in their first acting roles.

Episodes from Thalu are available to stream for free on SBS on Demand.

Thalu is a Weerianna Street Media production for NITV and ABC Children’s, with investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest and the Western Australian Regional Film Fund. Financed with support from NITV, the ABC and the ACTF.

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