16 Hudson
Four friends celebrate diversity and adventure in a big city.
16 Hudson is a Canadian animated series produced by Big Bad Boo, created by Shabnam Rezaei, and based on the 2015 miniseries Lili & Lola. The series follows four friends—Lili, Sam, Amala, and Luc—living in a small apartment in a big city, and gained international recognition in October 2021 by winning the MIPCOM Diversify TV Award in Cannes, France, competing against Disney and the BBC.
- Total episodes
- 109 (including ER shorts)
- Seasons
- 4 (season 4 premiered in 2025)
Lore & Background
The series was announced on March 27, 2015, as a partnership between Big Bad Boo Studios and TVOKids, and was greenlit for one season on October 11, 2016. It began broadcasting on TVOKids on August 21, 2018, and on Knowledge Kids on September 3, 2018, later airing on French channels Ici Radio-Canada Première and TFO, and on Amazon Prime in the U.S. since July 2020. Seasons 1 and 2 each have 39 seven-minute episodes, while season 3 has 21 episodes. A series of ten ER shorts were released as PSAs in response to COVID-19, with the first five in April 2020 and five more in summer 2020.
Reader's Guide
16 Hudson is significant for its consistent focus on inclusive representation in children's programming, winning the MIPCOM Diversify TV Award in 2021 against major competitors like Disney and the BBC. The series was praised for its diverse cast and storylines, including a refugee family from Kurdistan and a character with two dads. Its legacy includes a spin-off series, ABC with Kenny G, and a workshop series for BIPOC people launched in December 2020 to create a diverse writers room. The series also produced ER shorts as public service announcements during the COVID-19 pandemic. With 124 total episodes across four seasons, the show has maintained a steady presence on Canadian and international platforms, and its third season featured the friends traveling to heritage countries like China and India, described by creator Shabnam Rezaei as 'a very Canadian story.' The fourth season premiered on October 26, 2025.
Did You Know?
- The series is based on the 2015 miniseries Lili & Lola.
- It won the MIPCOM Diversify TV Award in October 2021, competing against Disney and the BBC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 16 Hudson?
16 Hudson is a Canadian animated children's series produced by Big Bad Boo and created by Shabnam Rezaei. It centers on four young friends navigating life, friendship, and adventure together from a small apartment in a large city.
Who are the main characters in 16 Hudson?
The show follows four friends—Lili, Sam, Amala, and Luc—who share a small apartment in a big city. Together they explore themes of diversity, teamwork, and everyday adventures.
How many seasons and episodes does 16 Hudson have?
The series spans four seasons with a total of 109 episodes, including extra-short (ER) segments. Season 4 premiered in 2025.
What major award did 16 Hudson win?
In October 2021, the series took home the MIPCOM Diversify TV Award at the Cannes market in France. It beat out entries from major studios including Disney and the BBC to claim the prize.
What is 16 Hudson based on?
The series grew out of the 2015 miniseries Lili & Lola, expanding its core characters and setting into a full multi-season animated show. The original miniseries provided the foundation for the four-friend dynamic and the apartment-in-a-big-city premise.
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