‘Doctor Who’ Goes Preschool: First Look at the Colorful New Animated Series ‘Tardis Crew’

For more than 60 years, ‘Doctor Who’ has been introducing new generations of fans to the wonders of time and space. Now the BBC is setting its sights on its youngest audience yet, with a brand-new animated spin-off designed especially for preschoolers.

The project has been in the works for more than a year. The BBC first announced an animated ‘Doctor Who’ series for its children’s channel CBeebies on June 12, 2025, with Director of Children’s and Education Patricia Hidalgo saying at the time that everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor.

Now fans are finally getting a look at what the TARDIS will look like through a CBeebies lens. BBC Children’s and Education has unveiled a first look at ‘Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew’, which follows the Doctor, a young Time Lord, and his friends Hannah, Beastie and Toast-IE as they embark on adventures through time and space.

The first-look image is bright, bold and deliberately cartoonish, a far cry from the live-action show’s usual tone. The Doctor sports spiky blue hair, red jeans and a green puffer jacket, holding up a glowing sonic screwdriver as he runs across an alien landscape.

Beside him is Hannah, who wears a pink baseball cap and chunky pink boots while carrying Beastie, a cute pink creature. Toast-IE, a little robot, gets dragged along for the ride, while the TARDIS spins through a purple sky overhead.

Of course, it wouldn’t be ‘Doctor Who’ without a familiar threat. Several Daleks lurk nearby in the artwork, confirming the iconic villains will appear in the series. The crew will travel aboard the TARDIS, encountering incredible creatures, discovering new worlds and coming face to face with legendary ‘Doctor Who’ foes. The stories are designed to be action-packed but preschool-friendly.

First look at a new ‘DOCTOR WHO’ animated series. The series – intended for pre-school children – follows the Doctor and his friends Hannah, Beastie and Toast-IE as they embark on adventures through time & space. https://t.co/XnCzigqeqS

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 6, 2026

At its heart, the show aims to celebrate curiosity, courage and kindness. It will encourage young viewers to explore new ideas, solve problems and embrace the unexpected, with friendship, teamwork and quick thinking saving the day.

“The TARDIS is ready for its youngest crew yet,” Kate Morton, Senior Head of Commissioning for CBeebies, said in a statement on the official Doctor Who website, adding that it reimagines everything families love about the franchise for CBeebies’ youngest explorers.

The series is produced by Blue Zoo Animation Studio and is currently in production. Dominic Minns serves as series director. It’s a sizable commitment from the BBC. ‘TARDIS Crew’ will consist of 52 episodes, each running 11 minutes, spread across 2 series.

The show will operate independently of the main live-action series. Its goal is to introduce a whole new generation to one of the world’s most iconic brands. The announcement comes during a period of change for the franchise. The animated venture has remained safely in production even as shifts rippled through the wider ‘Doctor Who’ universe, including Russell T Davies’ departure.

For longtime fans, ‘TARDIS Crew’ offers a reassuring sign that the Doctor’s adventures will continue in some form. For families, it provides a gentle entry point into a franchise that many parents grew up loving. ‘Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew’ is set to arrive on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer in late 2027 or early 2028. Until then, this colorful first look offers plenty for fans of all ages to get excited about.

The first-look image has already drawn plenty of attention online, with fans debating the bold new designs. Whether the show wins over longtime Whovians or not, it is clearly built to spark wonder in the youngest viewers.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!