‘Doc McStuffins’: The Secret Life of Lambie
The Doc is in and she’ll fix you up.
If you’re a toy – or a kid – then you’re in luck.
Why?
Because Doc McStuffins is blazing some serious trails.
No really.
The ground-breaking animated series about a little six-year-old girl named Doc who heals stuffed animals and toys out of her backyard playhouse clinic (she was inspired by her physician mom) is all about kindness. The just-because kind.
Whether it’s a case of loose stitching, low batteries or a blow-up toy that’s sprung a leak, Doc and her pals lend a helping hand, while teaching young viewers the importance of taking care of yourself and others.
Then there’s Lambie.
All kids know the sweet stuffed lamb is Doc’s best friend, but aside from her penchant for cuddling, crush on Stuffy, and fashion-forward tutu wearing, what else is there to the warm wooly sidekick?
Figuring little minds might like to know more about Lambie’s secret (G-rated of course) life led me to tap Lara Jill Miller, the talented voice over actress – think Curious George‘s Allie and Wow Wow Wubbzy!’s Widget – best known for her role as Samantha opposite Nell Carter in the hit 1980s sitcom Gimme A Break!, and the voice of Lambie, for info.
“The writing, having Disney’s storytelling behind it, [creator] Chris Nee’s premise – her idea is brilliant,” Miller says. “I think it teaches kids a lot of lessons they need to know, and Brown Bag productions in Ireland that does the animation, it’s magic what they do. The colors, the sense of where the characters are really draws kids in.”
“She learned ballet when she was very very little,” Miller says. “She tap dances too. And, although you don’t hear her sing a lot, she likes opera. Because of the costumes.”
Clearly, Miller enjoys playing her, and is amazed to be part of an animated series that’s influencing an entire generation of kids to be doctors.
Nice ones.
“It’s a real honor to be in this show,” Miller says. “It’s changing people’s lives and it’s magical.
Boys, girls, black, white – it’s just amazing,” she adds. “Twenty or thirty years from now, I’m going to have stickers made up and put them all over my medical records and have them say, ‘I was Lambie. I need a cuddle,’ since all these little kids that are watching now will be my doctors.”
So one could say that though Lambie’s small, she’s big enough to do something. And that something is changing the way kids see themselves.
Pretty sure that deserves a cuddle.
Photo credits (all): Disney Junior
Photo edits: All me.
Read Pilar’s writing from around the blogosphere here, social creatures. And if you’re in the mood for more magic, join her on Twitter, Facebook (here and here) and Instagram.
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