Entertainment: Children all over the country eagerly watched the much awaited animation series, Shelldon, dubbed in Dzongkha, on the BBS2 channel yesterday.

The animation series is a gift from His Royal Highness The Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck to the children of Bhutan.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay launched the animation series on HRH The Gyalsey’s first birthday, which was celebrated nationwide yesterday.

The animation series comprises of 78 episodes. The Dzongkha Development Commission helped with the translation of the script while members of the Bhutan Film Association contributed voice-overs of the characters from the animation series.

The animation series revolves around the protagonist Shelldon, a young shell. The animation series will showcase the numerous challenges Shelldon and his friends face and how they learn to overcome these challenges.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay expressed happiness that the children in the country will be able to watch the animation series.

It is a special gift by HRH The Gyalsey to the children of Bhutan, which is being screened on the important day of HRH The Gyalsey’s first birthday, Lyonchoen said.

“Children will be able to learn not only our national language but also learn about life’s lessons through Shelldon’s adventures. We hope all the children will enjoy watching the animation series,” Lyonchoen said. “As a small landlocked country, our national language is our identity and children must learn and understand our national language.”

Lyonchoen also expressed his interest to bring in more such international animation series in the future. “Our local animators have immense talent and we hope that they will also be inspired to make such animation series in the future.”

Shelldon is a personal initiative of the Prime Minister. The series was provided free of cost by a friend of the Prime Minister’s, who owns Shellhut Entertainment in Thailand.

The animation series will be screened from Monday to Friday at 8pm and on the weekends at 4:30pm. Rebroadcasts will be screened from Monday to Friday at 7am and at 9am on weekends.

Thinley Zangmo