Bull Airs, Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures have teamed up for a limited edition apparel drop that is inspired by the PBS Kids’ preschool series, Carl The Collector. Carl the Collector x Bull Airs collection will debut on September 18th at BullAirs.com with an eight-piece drop that includes high-top and low-top sneakers, slip-ons, graphic tees, premium snapback baseball caps and more, as well as with-purchase collectibles inspired by Carl’s love of collecting things.
This is only the start as additional products including sneakers, bags, apparel and action figures featuring more of Carl’s world and his friends are in development for a 2027 release.
FUZZYTOWN PRODUCTIONS, SPIFFY PICTURES AND BULL AIRS PARTNER FOR LIMITED EDITION APPAREL LINE INSPIRED BY PBS KIDS’ EMMY AWARD-WINNING PRESCHOOL SERIES CARL THE COLLECTOR
Carl the Collector x Bull Airs Collection Launches Friday, September 18, Exclusively at BullAirs.com
Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures, the creative team behind PBS KIDS’ Carl the Collector, and nostalgia lifestyle brand Bull Airs have partnered to launch an exclusive line of apparel, shoes and collectibles inspired by the hit Emmy Award-winning preschool series about the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted autistic racoon who loves collecting things and spending time with his friends and family in Fuzzytown. The deal marks the first brand extension partnership for the series.
Carl the Collector x Bull Airs, an eight-piece footwear and apparel collection, will drop Friday, September 18 at 12:00 p.m. ET exclusively at BullAirs.com in a limited run. The line will bring Carl and the colorful world of Carl the Collector to life with a debut line that includes whimsical high-top and low-top sneakers, slip-ons, graphic tees, premium snapback baseball caps and more, as well as with-purchase collectibles inspired by Carl’s love of collecting things.
Known for a nostalgia-focused catalog that unlocks memories its customers already have, the Carl the Collector collaboration is an exception for Bull Airs, marking the company’s first foray into the world of preschool properties and a collection built for young kids and their parents who are still forming memories around this beloved show and character.
“Carl the Collector x Bull Airs is a match made in collector heaven – a line created by collectors and sold directly to collectors, from a company that truly understands what collectors want,” said Zachariah OHora, Creator and Executive Producer of Carl the Collector. “Bull Airs’ attention to detail and obvious love for the show is reflected in every design choice, from sensory friendly fabrics and pockets to collect things in, to the deep cut references from the show that will appeal to all fans. As a lifelong collector myself, from comic books and cards to lunch boxes, figurines and records, I instantly saw Bull Airs as the perfect partner for our show. I know Carl would be first in line camping out to get his paws on this collection.”
“’Carl the Collector’ is Bull Airs first-ever line for a preschool property and one that is personally important to me as a dad of a child on the spectrum,” said Bull Airs Co-Founder, Thom Bulman. “Carl was the first character my son saw on television who noticed things the way he does. We built this unique collection with special attention to detail and customizable elements for every kid who collects something nobody else thinks is worth collecting.”
Defining design elements of the collection that capture the essence of Carl and the series include:
• Checkerboard pattern featured in the line isn’t skate checkerboard – it’s argyle, rotated forty-five degrees — pulled from Carl’s sweaters, one of the things he collects. It reads as streetwear from across the room and as Carl up close.
• The grey isn’t a colorway. It’s fur. The dash texture running across the Italian suede of the sneakers, the baseball cap side panels and the embroidered tail is Carl’s fur, taken at 1:1 from the series’ own line work rather than redrawn.
• Nothing matches, on purpose. The cardigan’s five buttons are five different colors and the baseball caps’ six eyelets are six different colors. Real collections aren’t bought as a set — they’re gathered one piece at a time, and they look like it.
• The mini backpack works. The 3D backpack featured on the high-top sneakers isn’t an applique. It opens.
• The tails come off. The raccoon tails are clip-on rather than sew-on, which makes them a collectible in a collection about collecting — and means anyone who’d rather not wear one doesn’t have to.Additional sneakers, bags, apparel and action figures featuring more of Carl’s world and his friends are in development for a 2027 release. The licensing deal for “Carl the Collector” was brokered by Melissa Segal founder of The M Zone Agency.
About CARL THE COLLECTOR
Designed for children ages 4-8, PBS KIDS’ Emmy Award-winning animated series CARL THE COLLECTOR follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted autistic racoon who loves collecting things and spending time with his friends and family in Fuzzytown. The series is PBS KIDS’ first to feature central characters on the autism spectrum. Through its relatable stories, CARL THE COLLECTOR showcases and celebrates our differences and commonalities, and that we all have something unique to offer. The show has had over 136 million cross-platform streams, 7.7 million YouTube views, and 53 million game plays on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Games App since its November 2024 premiere.* CARL THE COLLECTOR is available now on PBS KIDS.
About Bull AirsBull Airs is a lifestyle brand that brings key childhood moments and memories to life through wearable pieces — sneakers, apparel and collectibles designed to unlock the core memories that bring people joy. Based in Cortland, New York, Bull Airs works under license with Universal, Jim Henson Company, Inspector Gadget, Strawberry Shortcake, Pee-wee Herman and Elvira, among others, and is a regular presence at major comic book and collector conventions. Every piece is built material-first because a memory worth keeping deserves to be made well. Learn more at bullairs.com and @bull_airs_cult.
About Fuzzytown Productions
Fuzzytown Productions produces film and TV projects that are a natural and fuzzy outgrowth from the creative mind of New York Times bestselling illustrator and author Zachariah OHora. OHora’s award-winning books including The Today Show-featured parent trap for cats epic Niblet & Ralph; My Cousin Momo!; The Not So Quiet Library; and Fuzzy (Inside & Out). His illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic and NPR, as well as campaigns for public libraries, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the National Park Service. OHora also created the Rivian Gear Guard™ character seen in Rivian electric vehicles all over the world over. For more information, visit www.fuzzy.town.About Spiffy Pictures
Founded by brothers David Rudman and Adam Rudman, Spiffy Pictures is an Emmy Award-winning creative studio that develops and produces children’s media built around joyful learning, memorable characters, music, humor, and heart. Based in Chicago, Spiffy has produced animated and puppet-based series, shorts, and specials for PBS KIDS, Nickelodeon, Disney, Sesame Street, Warner Bros., Duolingo, and other leading media partners. In addition to Carl the Collector, the studio’s current series also include the Emmy® Award-nominated Donkey Hodie, a co-production with Fred Rogers Productions, and the Emmy® Award-nominated and Environmental Media Award-winning Nature Cat. Past series include Jack’s Big Music Show, Bunnytown, Curious Buddies, Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map and Frankie and Frank. For more information, visit www.spiffypictures.com.About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS believes the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child. With PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, children ages 2-8 learn lessons that last a lifetime. Across media and community-based programs, PBS KIDS sparks children’s curiosity, helping them succeed in school and life. Families can stream PBS KIDS for free anytime on the PBS KIDS Video app, connected TV devices, pbskids.org and more (no subscription required). For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Facebook and Instagram.