Rich Knox is a long-time member of the Canadian rock trio Danko Jones, but these days, his creativity has him drumming to a different beat.
With little-to-no writing experience Knox is breaking new creative ground with an animated television show, Pa’tato & the Tot, now streaming on Bell Fibe. Fueled by a lifelong love of potatoes and a family heritage steeped in potato farming, Knox is thrilled to share a slice of P.E.I culture through a heartwarming series that is both wholesome and educational.
“I can’t pinpoint exactly when the idea came to me,” he says. But he remembers casually pitching the idea to the show’s now producer over dinner, his friend, Jeana MacIsaac (She Has The Tools Productions.) “I’d just thrown the idea out there, and then she challenged me to write a treatment for it. I was like, sure, why not?”
Except Knox didn’t know how to write a TV show — he wasn’t even sure what a “treatment” was. Some might view this as a stumbling block. Not Knox. He powered on with an impressive “trial by fire” spirit, and to his surprise, continued to get “yeses” along the journey — eventually being greenlit by Bell Fibe for an initial three episodes.
Working closely with his producer and an editor, Knox set out to create a show that would capture the essence of P.E.I. Growing up in the province, he’d witnessed first-hand the significance of potato farming in the region, making it a natural choice for the series’ focal theme.
“P.E.I. is known as the ‘potato province,’” he says. “We live and breathe potatoes here. It just felt so obvious to create characters based on potatoes, especially since potatoes have been a staple at family gatherings for as long as I can remember.”
This connection to the land and its produce is palpable throughout the show. The backdrop is rich with the island’s stunning landscapes, from the iconic red soil to the vibrant green fields.
“We wanted it to look and sound like P.E.I.,” Rich says, referencing collaborations with local musicians to incorporate the sounds of the Island. “The music is very Celtic, very traditional P.E.I. We wanted to create something that felt rooted in our culture.”
Pa’tato & the Tot is a family-friendly animated series that follows the adventures of a father potato and his energetic little tot as they navigate the charming quirks of Island life.
With three episodes already streaming and three more written, Knox is excited about the possibilities ahead. “We have stories that resonate with local experiences — the kind of tales that remind us of community spirit and the shared joys of potato farming.”
He emphasizes the importance of keeping the content relatable and engaging for both children and parents. His own experiences as a new father have informed this approach, pushing him to create something he’d feel comfortable showing to his own son.
Local support has been overwhelming, particularly from the PEI Potato Board, who see the value in promoting potato culture through the show. “They were among the first to back us financially,” Knox says, noting the natural alignment between the program and the industry’s goals. “It’s a way for them to promote potatoes positively while connecting to the community.”
Adding to the richness of storytelling, the characters in Pa’tato & the Tot draw inspiration from various facets of life in P.E.I. From the affable “Honorable Yukon,” a nod to local politics, to a host of vegetable friends, each character embodying the spirit of the province. “We wanted to be wholesome,” he says. “No hidden agendas — just good stories about being kind and supportive of one another.”
Although Knox acknowledges the challenges of navigating the animation world, he remains enthusiastic about the prospects for expansion. “I think we could do so much more. I’d love this show to become something like Anne of Green Gables, something that resonates with Canadians everywhere,” he says. The idea of incorporating local festivals, live shows, and merchandise is certainly on the table — and some of this expansion is already underway.
“It’s not just about potatoes; it’s about who we are as Islanders and how we connect to the land and each other,” he says. By weaving these values into the animation, he hopes to create a show that celebrates the experiences of Islanders while promoting positive messages about community and support.
“If this show can inspire even one new generation of potato lovers,” he says, “then I’ll consider it a success.”
