This summer, Joe Wicks has released a new animated physical activity series, Activate, which aims to get children moving and having fun.
Five years since Joe Wicks united the nation through his ‘PE With Joe’ workouts (which received over 100 million views and earned him an MBE for services to fitness), The Body Coach is once again on a renewed mission to get children moving – a journey he started over seven years ago.
Co-created by Joe Wicks and Studio AKA (the makers of ‘Hey Duggee’), Activate is backed by the government (Department of Health & Social Care, Department for Education and Department for Culture, Media and Sport) as part of a new partnership to reach families and schools across the country. Activate is made up of short, five-minute episodes, each offering a burst of movement, fun and energy which can be transformational for mental and physical health – getting children’s hearts pumping and minds engaged. Parents and teachers can easily integrate these short exercises into their day at home, school or summer activity clubs.
Physical activity is essential for growing bodies and minds. But over half (53%) of UK children are not meeting daily activity guidelines. Activate aims to make fitness fun and spark a love of movement in children, by bringing together bright and energetic new characters animated by Studio AKA, alongside well-known upbeat music from exclusive music partner Universal Music UK.
At a time when many parents are concerned about keeping their kids active over the holidays, Activate aims to turn screen time into active time and boost their physical and mental health – over the summer holidays and beyond.
Appearing alongside an animated Joe Wicks, will be six loveable new characters called The Activators. Each brings their own unique spark, like Blue, who reminds kids to stay hydrated, Green, who shows off football skills, and Turquoise, who gets the party started. Together, they make movement feel personal, playful, and inclusive – so every child can find a character to connect with.
But Activate isn’t just for the summer holidays. It’s perfect for ‘brain breaks’ at school, rainy days, feel-good kitchen dance-offs, or anytime kids need a boost – helping them to develop healthy habits for life.
The first episode is out now and can be found here on The Body Coach YouTube channel, with new free episodes out weekly over the summer.