Paramount+ Announces Stellar Cast for Mo Willems’ Animated Series

Paramount+ has announced that Emmy-nominated actors Tituss Burgess and Ellie Kemper will reunite to voice the beloved characters Elephant Gerald and Piggie in the upcoming animated series “The Elephant & Piggie Show!”, while four-time Emmy winner Neil Patrick Harris will voice The Bus Driver in “The Pigeon Show! Starring The Pigeon.”

The casting was revealed in an official press release dated April 16, 2026, confirming the actors’ roles in the two animated adaptations of Mo Willems’ best-selling children’s book series. Burgess and Kemper, known for their performances in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” will bring to life the dynamic duo of the cautious Elephant Gerald and the energetic Piggie, whose friendship forms the heart of the series set in the whimsical neighborhood of Willemsburg.

Harris will take on the role of The Bus Driver in “The Pigeon Show! Starring The Pigeon,” a series centered on a determined pigeon eager to be heard and to drive a bus, featuring familiar characters like the Duckling and new additions such as the 150-million-year-old pterodactyl grandmother, Nana-Dactyl, and the pigeon’s wing-pals, Ima Pigeon and Doug Pigeon.

Both series are produced in collaboration with Willems’ multiplatform entertainment company, Hidden Pigeon Company, and were initially greenlit by Paramount+ in December 2025. The announcements highlight the streaming service’s continued investment in high-quality, educational children’s programming based on established literary franchises.

“The Elephant & Piggie Show!” is described as a warm, comedic pre-K series that explores the joys and challenges of friendship, emphasizing emotional intelligence and social learning through humor and relatable scenarios. Meanwhile, “The Pigeon Show! Starring The Pigeon” focuses on themes of persistence, communication, and mutual respect, encouraging young audiences to listen and engage with others’ perspectives.

Mo Willems, a #1 New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, has seen his works translated into multiple animated formats, with these new series aiming to bring his signature wit and heart to a new generation of viewers. The projects underscore Paramount+’s strategy of leveraging acclaimed intellectual property to strengthen its offerings in the competitive children’s streaming landscape.