86:
25:
138:. His mother and father divorced when he was eight years old. His father remarried and had another son, while his mother had a boyfriend who had a daughter of his own. Having a family that was not “together” made Gerber feel uneasy, but after he discovered that these types of families were more common than he thought, he was inspired to create
240:, he wanted to emulate how normal this type of situation is. In the program, he provides the young princess with a stepsister, stepbrother, and stepdad. Gerber's then three-year-old son, Miles, was also an influence, constantly making believe, sometimes even as a princess, leading Gerber to write a character his son could relate to.
290:
roots. Gerber was careful not to state what country she is exactly from, but rather incorporate the “influence” of the location. He stated, “What Disney really does well is create fairytale kingdoms,” he explained. “It makes it very inclusive—you don’t have to pick just one nationality. No one really
251:
He also wanted to demonstrate the character's flaws, showing that she could make mistakes when dealing with issues of sibling rivalry, sharing, or trying a new thing. This was an important message Gerber wanted to send young viewers. “Sofia’s biggest flaw is that she is too trusting. It will take her
247:
Gerber wanted to make
Princess Sofia a positive character. In an interview, he explained, “Sofia is very adventurous, and bold, and courageous, and curious. She has a big heart, and she’s always ready to try new things, and she’s always ready to stand up for what she believes in or what she thinks is
243:
The character Gerber created, Princess Sofia, was designed to be a role model for both boys and girls. Gerber stated in an article, “In a world where many young girls want to dress up as princesses, Sofia could serve as a positive role model, displaying traits and learning lessons that young girls
248:
right. By the way, I think these are good qualities for both girls and boys to follow. And so there’s a feminist message. There’s also a message for both boys and girls, saying you can do anything you set your mind to if you keep trying and don’t give up because life is an adventure.”
578:
160:. His career began when he entered a school screenwriting showcase, which led to a major Hollywood studio displaying his first screenplay. Gerber has won awards for directing his comedic short “Hang Time”. He also won Best Narrative Short at the
347:, stating “A child of divorce himself, Gerber knew the blended family life and the adaptation to new surroundings and routines was relatable to a vast majority of the population, and the lessons that come from adaptation were bountiful.”
125:
which began airing on
September 21, 2022. Gerber has been praised for creating shows that deal with blended families, breaking gender stereotypes, difficulty fitting into society, and representation of Latin culture.
226:, who asked him for an idea for a children's show revolving around a princess during her childhood. He was determined to give a modern spin of the classic fairy-tale element of the pitch. In November 2012,
340:
Gerber has been noted for his representation of many different relatable situations children and individuals can go through. Marjorie Galas of
Variety 411 praises his view on Princess Sofia's home life in
579:"Let's Roll! Disney Junior Greenlights 'Firebuds,' From Creator and Executive Producer Craig Gerber, About a Team of Young First Responders and Their Talking Vehicles, Set to Premiere In 2022"
280:
With a heavy focus on exploring Latin and
Hispanic culture, magic, mythology, folklore, music, food, and customs, following his success with Sofia the First, Gerber went on to create
157:
35:
451:
429:
50:
554:
309:
is the first series to debut under Gerber's development deal with Disney
Branded Television, which premiered on September 21, 2022.
236:, he looked at his own childhood and was inspired to create a show with a family many children could identify with. Growing up in a
637:
632:
161:
506:
72:
603:
555:"Disney Junior Greenlights Series About First Responders From 'Sofia the First' Creator Craig Gerber (Exclusive)"
54:
255:
Along with creating the show, Gerber has also co-authored many of the program's storybooks. These books include
328:
at one point. With an emphasis on the spirit of community service and mindfulness of others, the characters in
192:- 2012–2018 - creator, writer, lyricist, composer: main title theme, executive producer, and voice actor
102:
is an
American executive producer and creator of children's television programming, best known for
480:
286:
in June 2016. He was aware that there had been many Disney princesses of color, but not one of
42:
627:
452:"Craig Gerber talks about creating Disney Junior's "Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess""
404:
165:
8:
169:
376:
332:
aspire to follow their parent's "tire treads" to help others within this community.
295:
country. The idea for us was that we wanted Avalor to be more broadly accessible.”
195:
135:
343:
314:
282:
265:
228:
201:
189:
140:
114:
108:
91:
244:(or boys) will retain long after they trade in their gowns for other costumes.”
85:
177:
173:
46:
168:
in 2003. Before branching into children's television, Craig Gerber worked on
621:
223:
103:
16:
American executive producer and creator of children's television programming
325:
360:
292:
233:
204:- 2016–2020 - creator, director, writer, lyricist, and executive producer
372:
237:
321:
533:"Disney Readies Debut of Its New Latina Princess, "Elena of Avalor""
317:
287:
207:
120:
430:"Jews in the News: Lizzy Caplan, Tiffany Haddish and Craig Gerber"
210:- 2022–present - creator, writer, lyricist, and executive producer
291:
asked if
Arendelle was Norway or Sweden, it’s just inspired by a
145:
481:"'Sofia the First' creator on kids' TV from dad's perspective"
356:
263:. He has also co-authored a book based on his new program
158:
University of
Southern California School of Cinematic Arts
604:"Sofia The First: A New Addition To Disney's Royal Reign"
532:
53:, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a
222:Gerber was approached by Nancy Kanter, a writer at
320:live in parallel, centering around a boy and this
252:a long time to learn this lesson,” stated Gerber.
232:was created. When Gerber was stuck in traffic in
619:
313:is set in a fantastical world where people and
272:
214:
151:
507:"The Creator of "Sofia the First" Responds!"
259:, Sofia the First: The Floating Palace, and
449:
257:Sofia the First: The Curse of Princess Ivy
73:Learn how and when to remove this message
504:
479:Busis, Hillary Updated (June 16, 2013).
405:"Why I Created Disney's Newest Princess"
84:
552:
474:
472:
445:
443:
298:
269:called Elena and the Secret of Avalor.
620:
450:Gencarelli, Mike (November 16, 2012).
402:
34:contains content that is written like
530:
505:Pierznik, Christopher (May 9, 2016).
478:
398:
396:
394:
392:
335:
183:
469:
440:
261:Sofia the First: The Enchanted Feast
134:Gerber was raised in outer suburban
18:
511:The Passion of Christopher Pierznik
403:Gerber, Craig (November 16, 2012).
324:that aspire to become full-fledged
118:, which ran from 2016 to 2020, and
13:
389:
14:
649:
366:
553:Nordyke, Kimberly (2021-10-28).
350:
23:
112:, which ran from 2012 to 2018,
596:
571:
546:
524:
498:
422:
363:with his wife and three sons.
359:, Gerber currently resides in
164:and Best Digital Short at the
1:
638:American television producers
382:
129:
89:Gerber discusses his program
7:
633:American television writers
162:Sonoma Valley Film Festival
10:
654:
172:and wrote screenplays for
152:Education and early career
434:Tampa JCCS and Federation
559:The Hollywood Reporter
180:, and Intrepid Films.
156:Gerber graduated from
96:
88:
55:neutral point of view
485:Entertainment Weekly
166:Sedona Film Festival
610:. October 31, 2022.
47:promotional content
531:Steinberg, Brian.
336:Critical reception
184:Filmmaking credits
170:Pixie Hollow Games
97:
49:and inappropriate
83:
82:
75:
645:
612:
611:
600:
594:
593:
591:
590:
575:
569:
568:
566:
565:
550:
544:
543:
541:
539:
528:
522:
521:
519:
517:
502:
496:
495:
493:
491:
476:
467:
466:
464:
462:
447:
438:
437:
426:
420:
419:
417:
415:
400:
196:The Pirate Fairy
78:
71:
67:
64:
58:
36:an advertisement
27:
26:
19:
653:
652:
648:
647:
646:
644:
643:
642:
618:
617:
616:
615:
602:
601:
597:
588:
586:
577:
576:
572:
563:
561:
551:
547:
537:
535:
529:
525:
515:
513:
503:
499:
489:
487:
477:
470:
460:
458:
448:
441:
428:
427:
423:
413:
411:
401:
390:
385:
369:
353:
344:Sofia the First
338:
315:anthropomorphic
304:
283:Elena of Avalor
278:
275:Elena of Avalor
266:Elena of Avalor
229:Sofia the First
220:
217:Sofia the First
202:Elena of Avalor
190:Sofia the First
186:
154:
144:. Gerber is of
141:Sofia the First
132:
115:Elena of Avalor
109:Sofia the First
92:Elena of Avalor
79:
68:
62:
59:
40:
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
651:
641:
640:
635:
630:
614:
613:
595:
570:
545:
523:
497:
468:
439:
421:
387:
386:
384:
381:
380:
379:
368:
367:External links
365:
352:
349:
337:
334:
303:
297:
277:
271:
219:
213:
212:
211:
205:
199:
198:- 2014 - story
193:
185:
182:
178:Radar Pictures
174:Rogue Pictures
153:
150:
131:
128:
81:
80:
51:external links
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
650:
639:
636:
634:
631:
629:
628:Living people
626:
625:
623:
609:
605:
599:
584:
580:
574:
560:
556:
549:
534:
527:
512:
508:
501:
486:
482:
475:
473:
457:
453:
446:
444:
435:
431:
425:
410:
406:
399:
397:
395:
393:
388:
378:
374:
371:
370:
364:
362:
358:
351:Personal life
348:
346:
345:
333:
331:
327:
323:
319:
316:
312:
308:
302:
296:
294:
289:
285:
284:
276:
270:
268:
267:
262:
258:
253:
249:
245:
241:
239:
235:
231:
230:
225:
224:Disney Junior
218:
209:
206:
203:
200:
197:
194:
191:
188:
187:
181:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
149:
147:
143:
142:
137:
127:
124:
122:
117:
116:
111:
110:
105:
104:Disney Junior
101:
94:
93:
87:
77:
74:
66:
56:
52:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
21:
20:
607:
598:
587:. Retrieved
585:. 2021-10-28
583:BusinessWire
582:
573:
562:. Retrieved
558:
548:
536:. Retrieved
526:
514:. Retrieved
510:
500:
488:. Retrieved
484:
459:. Retrieved
455:
433:
424:
412:. Retrieved
408:
373:Craig Gerber
355:A native of
354:
342:
339:
329:
326:firefighters
310:
306:
305:
300:
299:Creation of
293:Scandinavian
281:
279:
274:
273:Creation of
264:
260:
256:
254:
250:
246:
242:
227:
221:
216:
215:Creation of
155:
148:background.
139:
133:
119:
113:
107:
100:Craig Gerber
99:
98:
90:
69:
60:
45:by removing
41:Please help
33:
538:18 December
361:Los Angeles
234:Los Angeles
622:Categories
589:2022-06-09
564:2022-06-09
456:MediaMikes
383:References
238:Stepfamily
130:Early life
43:improve it
322:firetruck
63:June 2022
516:June 20,
490:June 20,
461:June 20,
414:June 20,
409:HuffPost
330:Firebuds
318:vehicles
311:Firebuds
307:Firebuds
301:Firebuds
288:Hispanic
208:Firebuds
136:New York
121:Firebuds
95:in 2016
608:LA 411
146:Jewish
357:Miami
540:2016
518:2022
492:2022
463:2022
416:2022
377:IMDb
375:at
106:'s
624::
606:.
581:.
557:.
509:.
483:.
471:^
454:.
442:^
432:.
407:.
391:^
176:,
592:.
567:.
542:.
520:.
494:.
465:.
436:.
418:.
123:,
76:)
70:(
65:)
61:(
57:.
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
