Recess

“Recess” is an American animated TV show created by Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere, produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The show centers on six elementary school kids and their interactions with fellow students and teachers. The title refers to the break during the school day when children are outside in the schoolyard, a common practice in North American schools. A key aspect of the series is how the children create their own mini-society, complete with its own government and social hierarchy, all within the setting of a typical school environment.

The show originally aired on ABC from 1997 to 2001, with reruns later shown on the Disney Channel in the U.S. Its popularity led to international distribution, including in the United Kingdom, where it was broadcast on several channels like Toon Disney and Disney Channel UK. In 2001, Walt Disney Pictures released the first of two films based on the series, “Recess: School’s Out,” which was shown in theaters. This was followed by a direct-to-video sequel, “Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street,” released the same year. In 2003, two more direct-to-video films were released: “Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade” and “Recess: All Growed Down.” The characters also appeared in an episode of Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch: The Series.”