Colorful Brain Friends improves incorrect stereotypes and perceptions about friends with neurodiversity, such as autism, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, ADHD, epilepsy, tics, and Tourette syndrome, which are caused by various connections among cranial nerves. The company creates content that can help your friends establish a positive neurodivergent identity. Colorful Brain Friend's unique contents, has value through episodes of cute squirrels in school and characteristics linked to neurodiversity. The story helps understanding not only neurodivergent kids and parent but also friends in school and society.
The prevalence rate of neurodiverse people is 20%, meaning that 1 in 5 people think and think differently from the majority. is a digital content in the form of a cartoon that explains the ‘difference’ of neurodiversity within a single species, suggesting the meaning of inclusion at the same time. It is the world's only content that does not treat the characteristics of neurodiversity as a negative thing that must be overcome, eliminated, or negative obstacles. Ten different squirrels faces difficulties in their everyday school life caused by their own neurodivergent characteristics. Each squirrel's actual traits are linked to the neurodivergent characteristics. The squirrels represent different and duplicated neurodivergent aspects that varies in one diagnosis. For example, there are 5 autism squirrels, and they shine in their own ways.
1) The main character of the first episode is Dodo, a ‘flying squirrel’. Dodo has ‘autism spectrum disorder’, ‘differences in gustatory sensory processing’, ‘differences in tactile sensory processing’, and ‘dyspraxia’. shows that multiple neurodivergent characteristics can be duplicated or more.
2) The main character of the second episode is Bora, a ‘Prevost's squirrel (Asian tri-colored squirrel)’ from Malaysia. Bora has ‘inattentive ADHD’, which is more prevalent in girls. In addition, she has ‘Benign Rolandic Epilepsy’ and these symptoms appear at school, showing the reactions of her friends and teachers and the epilepsy-journey that Bora goes through.
3) The main character of the third episode is Harry, an ‘Eastern Gray Squirrel’ from New York, USA. Harry has ‘autism spectrum disorder’ and his speaking accent is monotonous, making it sound like a A.I. is speaking. Harry, who has ‘differences in tactile sensory processing,’ happens to embarrass his partner. In the other hand, Harry has an excellent visual memory and there is an event that makes every squirrel happy.
4) The main character of the fourth episode is Willie, a ‘woodchuck’ from Canada. Willie, one of the largest ground squirrels, has autism spectrum disorder and is a non-speaking squirrel. Willy communicates on a sketchbook and has a ‘pursuit of the sense of smell.’ Although Willy does not speak, he is a good-hearted and a kind squirrel, and an incident occurs where his friends become grateful to him.
5) The main character of the fifth episode is Danny, a ‘red squirrel’ from Denmark. Danny is a squirrel who is constantly moving and talking all day, and has trouble concentrating in class and sitting still. Danny, who not only has ‘hyperactivity and impulse-dominant ADHD’ but also ‘dyslexia’, has difficulty reading letters and ends up calling his friend’s name incorrectly. Danny, who took first place in Denmark's national animal poll, is sociable and popular with his friends. Danny's wonderful event that demonstrates ADHD's strengths of creativity and concentration is introduced to every squirrel.
6) The main character of the sixth episode is Ari, a ‘Rio Grande ground squirrel’ from Mexico. Ari is a squirrel who has hypersomnia due to Kleine-Levin syndrome and hibernates for up to 7 months a year. Ari, who also has dyscalculia, has difficulty abstracting numbers. The episode shows how these characteristics affect members when performing the role of scoring tennis matches at school. Despite many difficulties, Ari has a talent for improvising compositions and playing musical instruments, and she performs perfectly.
7) The main character of the seventh episode is Bao, a ‘red and white giant flying squirrel’ from China. Bao, who has poor hand coordination and dysgraphia, experiences various difficulties in writing, which is the basics of school life. Bao, who also has ‘autism spectrum disorder,’ also helps him understand how his stereotyped behavior is viewed by his friends. Bao's new perspective on the world gives a spirit to his friends.
8) The main character of the eighth episode is Toto, a ‘black-tailed prairie dog’ from Texas, USA. Toto, who possesses several types of ‘synesthesia’ at the same time, has the strength to express himself verbally. The actual characteristics of prairie dogs, which have the most developed language system among mammals. However, Toto, who has ‘motor and spatial dysgraphia’, has difficulty recording his thoughts with his pencil. How can Toto overcome his difficulties?
9) The main character of the ninth episode is Haru, a ‘Fire footed rope squirrel’ from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Haru has both ‘tics’ and ‘Tourette Syndrome’. The main content of the episode is the empathy of friends to understand Haru, who is embarrassed by both vocal and motor tics that he cannot control.
10) The main character of the tenth and final episode is Chichi, the most common squirrel in Korea, the Korean squirrel and the ‘Siberian squirrel’. Chi-Chi, who always wore a mask from episodes 1 to 9, reveals why he was wearing a mask. Chi-Chi, who has autism spectrum disorder, has an excellent artistic visual sense.