Pillars of Freedom
Pillars of Freedom is a multi-platform children's series created by Smiley Guy Studios Inc. and Nexus Media Inc. for TVO. It consists of animated TV episodes and a website with online games. The plot follows two young dragons called Spirit and Imm who are trying to restore freedom to their kingdom of Moltonia from the reign of the oppressive Mayor Crag. As Spirit and Imm stand up for their rights based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms they unlock the seven forgotten Pillars of Freedom and defeat the mayor in the coming election. The seven pillars of freedom are Freedom of conscience, Freedom of expression, Freedom of speech, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Freedom of the press, and the Freedom to protest. The online quest game explores the concepts introduced in the television shorts in greater detail regarding the Charter freedoms and topics of municipal civics and allows kids to vote on what they think the characters should do next and receive feedback on these choices. In season 2 the issues of municipal civics and civil planning are explored in greater detail as Hudley must learn how to balance passing laws to protect the dragons of Moltonia while not infringing on the fundamental freedoms she agreed to protect.
Season 1
Spirit and Imm are exploring the forbidden caves outside the city walls when they come across a glowing shard of crystal with ancient writing on it. When Spirit makes the choice to pick the shard up and take it into town to see what it is, she unknowingly unlocks the first pillar of freedom, Freedom of conscience, which rises from the ground in the city square. After being escorted back into town by the mayor's guards, Spirit goes to ask her Uncle Igneous about the pillar shard and Imm goes to work at Hudley's Salon. The mayor passes a law that forbids the possession of any Pillar of Freedom and takes the shard from spirit. In order to find out more about the Pillars of freedom, Spirit and Imm go to the library where they meet Abraxis, the librarian. Their desire to learn more about whatever they want unlocks the pillar of Freedom of Expression. The mayor makes it illegal to take books out of the library and Imm and Spirit are forced to flee. Abraxis tells them to stand on a soap box in the town square and announce that all dragons are created equal. Upon doing so Imm and Spirit unlock the pillar of Freedom of speech. The mayor makes it illegal to speak in public places, so Spirit and Imm convince their friend Hudley to run for mayor in the upcoming election. Hudley holds a successful campaign rally where she raps about her platform, unlocking the pillar of Freedom of Assembly before the party is broken up by another new law. Shortly after that the mayor makes it illegal for Imm and Spirit to associate with Hudley so the kids try various disguises and distractions to get past the guards, unlocking the pillar of Freedom of Association. Mayor Crag brings Imm and Spirit into his office and makes them agree to stop talking about the pillars or else he will have them arrested and put in prison. Imm and Spirit go to the local news and enlist them to spread the word about the pillars for them and the city is swept up in Pillarmania where everyone is talking about the pillars, unlocking the pillar of Freedom of The Press. Mayor Crag has Spirit and Imm arrested and they are found guilty. Spirit is locked up in Stalcatraz detention centre and Imm is exiled to live with the indigenous Orig dragons outside the city walls. The Orig explain to Imm that they have been allowed to live by their own rules and traditions and they teach Imm how to fly and breathe fire. As Imm reflects on the injustices that have been done to him he produces a large column of fire that glows high above the city, Hudley sees it and is inspired to start a campaign to free Imm and Spirit. A large crowd assembled by Hudley protests outside of the mayor's office at city hall and the mayor outlaws protests. More and more dragons join the campaign and protest in spite of the law and they unlock the final pillar, the Freedom to Protest. Spirit and Imm are freed and the citizens of Moltonia elect Hudley as their new mayor. She promptly overturns many of the previous mayor's laws that restricted the civil rights of the dragons of Moltonia and the pillars shine bright in the town square.