The Bravest Knight
A Canadian animated series with an openly gay main character.
The Bravest Knight is a Canadian animated fantasy-adventure series from Big Bad Boo Studios. It was a Hulu original and the first kids' original program on that streaming service. The first episodes launched on June 21, 2019, with the remaining eight arriving on October 11, 2019. Daniel Errico created the show, and Shabnam Rezaei directed it. The story follows a young pumpkin farmer who becomes the "greatest knight" through wild journeys across various lands, recounting these tales to his adopted daughter. It is recognized as one of the first all-ages animated series to feature an openly gay main character.
The series consists of a single season of 13 episodes; no second season has been announced or released.
The premise centers on Sir Cedric, once a pumpkin farmer and now married to Prince Andrew, who tells his 10-year-old adopted daughter, Nia, how he became the "greatest knight." Hoping Nia, who is not yet a knight, will learn from his example, he recounts the challenges he faced alongside his friend Grunt. Through these stories, Nia learns to be her "best self" and that knighthood involves more than slaying dragons.
Main characters include Sir Cedric (voiced by T. R. Knight as older, Chance Hurstfield as younger), a knight and husband to Prince Andrew, father to Nia, and friend to Grunt and a raven named Saylor. Grunt (voiced by Bobby Moynihan) is a troll and Cedric's traveling companion. Nia (voiced by Storm Reid) is their adopted 10-year-old daughter.
Supporting characters are Prince Andrew (voiced by Wilson Cruz), Cedric's husband and Nia's father; the Head Knight (voiced by Steven Weber), who dismisses help from others; Saylor (voiced by Teri Polo), a messenger raven; Daisy (voiced by Shannon Chan-Kent), a magical talking flute; and Cho (voiced by Margaret Cho), a gnome.
- Field
- Animated television series
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Known for
- First kids original on Hulu; one of the first all-ages animations with an openly gay main character
- Creator
- Daniel Errico
- Director
- Shabnam Rezaei
- Production company
- Big Bad Boo Studios
- First release
- June 21, 2019
Lore & Background
The series follows Sir Cedric, formerly a pumpkin farmer and now married to Prince Andrew, as he tells his 10-year-old adopted daughter Nia the story of how he became the 'greatest knight.' Accompanied by his friend Grunt, Cedric recounts challenges he faced, while Nia learns that being a knight is more than just slaying dragons. The show features a large cast including T. R. Knight as older Cedric, Bobby Moynihan as Grunt, and Storm Reid as Nia, with supporting roles by Wilson Cruz, Steven Weber, and others.
Reader's Guide
The Bravest Knight is significant as one of the first all-ages animations to feature an openly gay main character, with a central interracial gay couple and their adopted daughter. The series was based on Daniel Errico's novel The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived and a 2015 short animation. It received positive reception from GLAAD and HuffPost for its LGBTQ-inclusive representation, though the Los Angeles Sentinel criticized the casting of a Black or Brown character by a White creator. The show was greenlit by Hulu in November 2017 and went into production in early 2018, with episodes released in two batches in 2019 and a second season released in 2024–25.
Production & Development
The Bravest Knight traces its roots to creator Daniel Errico's novel The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived and a short animation of the same name that premiered in 2015. The full series was greenlit by Hulu in November 2017, with production commencing in early 2018. Shabnam Rezaei, who co-founded Big Bad Boo Studios with her husband Aly Jetha, served as producer and director. Rezaei described the project as an adventure about how to be a great knight and a vehicle for teaching life lessons, expressing confidence that the show would find audiences in Canada, Western Europe, the UK, and Australia. Approximately 120 people contributed to the production. The series holds a notable distinction as Hulu's first original kids' program, marking a milestone for the streaming platform's family-oriented content. Rezaei later reflected that working alongside Hulu had been a pleasure, underscoring the collaborative spirit behind the project's development from script to screen.
Story & Themes
At its core, The Bravest Knight is a bedtime-story framework in which Sir Cedric, a former pumpkin farmer turned knight, recounts his wild adventures to his ten-year-old adopted daughter Nia. His husband, Prince Andrew, is Nia's father, and the family unit forms the emotional anchor of the narrative. Cedric's tales are not merely action-packed quests; they serve as a teaching tool, helping Nia understand that being a knight means more than slaying dragons. It means striving to be your best self. The series is recognized as one of the first all-ages animated shows to feature an openly gay main character, with Cedric's marriage to Prince Andrew presented as a natural, unremarkable part of his life. The not-yet-knight concept, applied to both Cedric in his youth and to Nia as she grows, frames heroism as a journey rather than a destination, inviting young viewers to see bravery as something cultivated through experience and compassion.
Cast & Character Ensemble
The Bravest Knight assembles a remarkably diverse voice cast spanning comedy, drama, and entertainment icons. Bobby Moynihan brings warmth to Grunt, the loyal troll companion, while Teri Polo voices Saylor, the messenger raven who travels alongside Cedric. The ensemble includes Christine Baranski as the menacing Dragon, RuPaul as Stanley the Big Bad Wolf, a misunderstood character who crossdresses in women's clothing, and Wanda Sykes as Mona the Mayor of Quiet Town. Storm Reid voices Nia in season one, with Millie Davis taking over in season two. Wilson Cruz lends his voice to Prince Andrew, and Shannon Chan-Kent brings life to Daisy, a magical talking flute. The supporting world also features Margaret Cho as a helpful gnome, Donna Murphy as the evil witch Trulla, and Asia Kate Dillon as Admiral Akers, who uses they/them pronouns. This breadth of talent and character variety, from yetis and giants to fairies and potion makers, gives the show a rich, ever-expanding fantasy landscape.
Release & Season Two
Season one rolled out in two waves on Hulu: the first batch of episodes arrived on June 21, 2019, followed by the remaining eight on October 11, 2019. The show's longevity was confirmed on February 20, 2024, when a second season was officially announced as being in production. Season two adopted a split-release strategy, with the first six episodes landing on December 13, 2024, and the final seven following on April 18, 2025, via CBC Gem. In Canada, CBC Kids aired the episodes one per Sunday morning, beginning with Cedric and the Prince of Frogs on December 15, 2024, and concluding with Cedric and Snow Mountain on June 1, 2025. The season-two episode titles draw heavily on classic fairy tales, including Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, and the Genie, while also introducing original settings like Pirate Cove and Mill Town. This staggered rollout kept audiences engaged over several months and signaled the show's continued growth as a family streaming staple.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Bravest Knight about?
The series follows a young pumpkin farmer who, through a series of wild adventures across multiple lands, earns the title of the greatest knight. He later shares these epic tales with his adopted daughter in a framing narrative that ties the whole story together.
Who created and directed The Bravest Knight?
Daniel Errico is the creator of the show, while Shabnam Rezaei served as its director. The production was handled by Big Bad Boo Studios, a Canadian animation company.
When did The Bravest Knight premiere and how many episodes are there?
The first batch of episodes dropped on Hulu on June 21, 2019, with the remaining eight episodes arriving on October 11, 2019, completing a ten-episode season.
Why is The Bravest Knight considered a milestone for animated children's programming?
It was the very first kids' original series produced for Hulu, marking the streaming platform's entry into children's content. Additionally, it stands out as one of the earliest all-ages animated shows to center an openly gay main character.
What is the main character's role in The Bravest Knight?
The protagonist starts as a humble pumpkin farmer and rises to become the greatest knight through his travels and deeds. His defining trait is bravery, which he demonstrates repeatedly while protecting others across the various lands he explores.
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