PINY: Institute of New York
Spanish animated series about a teen fashion designer at a prestigious college.
PINY: Institute of New York is a Spanish animated television series produced in English. It first aired on Disney Channel in Spain on 17 September 2016. The show was created by Victor M. Lopez and Rubén Zarauza and draws from the Pinypon toy line. The story centers on Michelle Fairchild, a 14-year-old fashion designer who wins a fully funded interview to the elite PINY college. There, she becomes part of a trio called the Indie Girls, alongside her roommates Tasha Robinson, a confident singer, and Lilith Henderson, a graceful scientist. Their main rival is Julia Cooper, the spoiled leader of the Beautiful People, who schemes to humiliate and eliminate Michelle and her friends.
The main character, Michelle Fairchild, is an impulsive and creative girl from a humble background who dreams of launching her own clothing brand. She is kind but can be stubborn, and she occasionally acts clumsily, especially around Julia. In one episode, she joins a TV show only to realize it was a mistake; in another, she fails to take responsibility for publishing a photo of Julia out of fear of losing her scholarship. She has crushes on Will and later on Sam. When she learns she is adopted, she becomes distant from her friends but eventually apologizes. Tasha, one of the Indie Girls, has vermilion hair and amber eyes, and is usually seen in one of two outfits: a vivid amber dress with a green-and-white jacket, or a light amber jacket with a sea-green skirt. Her hairstyle alternates between an afro with bangs and dreadlocks, and she wears a distinctive headband.
Recurring characters include Madame Rania Forbes, the strict headmistress; Sam Ryan, Will’s best friend who has a crush on Michelle; Stella Marie, a cowgirl who befriends the Indie Girls in the episode "Locked In"; James Fairchild, Michelle’s widowed father; Mr. Grasso, a professor; and Austin Zimmer, Lilith’s cousin and a famous singer.
The series premiered on Disney Channel in Spain on 17 September 2016. It later aired on Pop in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting 4 September 2017, and on Duronto TV in Bangladesh from 26 January 2025.
- Premiere date
- 17 September 2016
Lore & Background
The series centers on Michelle Fairchild, a humble 14-year-old designer who dreams of making it big in the fashion world. She receives a fully funded interview at PINY and, after a rocky first impression with headmistress Madame Forbes, is accepted. At PINY, Michelle meets her roommates Tasha Robinson, a self-confident singer, and Lilith Henderson, an elegant scientist; together they form the Indie Girls team. Across the hall lives Julia Cooper, the spoiled leader of the Beautiful People, with her assistants Dory and Rita, who plot to humiliate Michelle and her friends.
Reader's Guide
PINY: Institute of New York represents a cross-media adaptation of the Pinypon toy line into an animated series, targeting a young audience interested in fashion, friendship, and rivalry. The show's significance lies in its Spanish origin and its broadcast on Disney Channel in Spain, later expanding to Pop in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 4 September 2017, and to Duronto TV in Bangladesh on 26 January 2025. Its legacy is tied to the enduring popularity of the toy franchise and its portrayal of a determined young protagonist navigating social dynamics and creative ambition. The series explores themes of self-discovery, as seen in episodes like 'Who is Michelle,' where Michelle confronts her adoption, and 'Hire Me,' where she learns from a mistaken job choice.
Did You Know?
- The series is based on the Pinypon toy franchise.
- The main character Michelle Fairchild is a 14-year-old designer who dreams of creating her own clothing brand.
More in Teen animated television series 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced