Why Pablo: Next Level Could Change The Way Children See Autism At School

Starting school can be a huge moment in any child’s life. There are new classrooms, unfamiliar routines, new friendships and plenty of rules to learn. For autistic children, however, those changes can sometimes bring additional challenges that other children may not immediately understand.

A new animated series from Northern Ireland is hoping to change that.

Pablo: Next Level, a spin-off from the pre-school series Pablo, follows eight-year-old Pablo as he makes the move into primary school. Rather than simply telling children about autism, the series aims to let audiences experience school through an autistic child’s eyes.

Seeing school from Pablo’s perspective

Produced by Belfast-based Paper Owl Films and Crayola Studios, the 40-episode series explores the everyday experiences of an autistic child navigating mainstream education.

Pablo uses his sketch pad and his imaginary book-animal friends to make sense of situations that can sometimes feel confusing or overwhelming. Everyday experiences — from changing rules and busy corridors to friendships and sensory difficulties — become opportunities to explore how differently people can experience the same world.

That perspective is at the heart of the show.

Pablo is voiced by 11-year-old Alexander Myles from Ballycastle, County Antrim, who is autistic himself. His involvement gives the character an especially personal dimension.

Alexander has spoken about some of the difficulties represented in the series, including sensitivity to textures, difficulty when routines or rules unexpectedly change, and the challenges of making and maintaining friendships.

But the message isn’t simply about difficulties.

The series also aims to highlight autistic strengths, experiences and joys, while encouraging children to understand that everyone sees the world in their own way.

Inclusion starts with understanding

One of the most powerful ideas behind Pablo: Next Level is that inclusion isn’t necessarily about making enormous changes.

Sometimes, small adjustments can make a significant difference.

A classroom that feels perfectly ordinary to one child can be noisy, confusing or overwhelming to another. A rule that seems obvious to one pupil might not make sense to someone else. Even something as simple as food touching on a plate can be a source of genuine distress for some autistic children.

Understanding these differences can help teachers, parents and classmates respond with empathy rather than frustration.

That matters because autistic children can face higher levels of exclusion and bullying than their peers. Giving young children an opportunity to encounter different perspectives early in life could therefore be an important part of building more accepting classrooms.

Representation that feels authentic

Another notable aspect of the series is its commitment to authentic representation.

The episodes draw on real experiences and involve young autistic talent in both writing and acting. Alexander’s own participation is particularly significant because autistic children watching the programme can see someone like themselves represented on screen.

And autism isn’t presented as the only form of difference.

Characters in the series include children with other experiences and disabilities, including wheelchair user Mylo and Eoin, who has dyslexia. That broader approach reinforces an important lesson: classrooms aren’t made up of identical minds and abilities.

They are communities of individuals.

Why children’s television can make a difference

Television cannot solve every problem faced by autistic children. But stories can influence how children understand people who are different from themselves.

A young viewer may never have thought about why a classmate finds noise difficult. They may not understand why someone becomes upset when plans suddenly change. A character like Pablo can provide a simple starting point for those conversations.

Importantly, Pablo: Next Level is designed to do this through comedy and adventure rather than through a traditional educational lecture.

That may be one of its greatest strengths.

Children are more likely to engage with a story when they’re having fun. If they laugh with Pablo, follow his adventures and begin to understand his perspective along the way, the lessons about empathy and inclusion can become part of the experience rather than something being imposed on them.

A timely message as children return to school

The timing of the series is particularly appropriate.

As children across the UK and Ireland prepare to return to school, many will be excited about seeing friends and beginning a new year. Others may be anxious about unfamiliar surroundings, new teachers, changing routines or the expectations of a new classroom.

For autistic children and their families, those concerns can be particularly significant.

Pablo: Next Level offers a reminder that inclusion isn’t just about providing support when difficulties arise. It’s also about creating environments where different ways of thinking are understood and valued from the beginning.

The series’ creators hope that seeing school through Pablo’s eyes will encourage children to become more curious about one another — and more willing to accept that there isn’t just one “right” way to experience the world.

The bigger lesson

Perhaps the most important message behind Pablo: Next Level is a simple one: difference doesn’t have to divide us.

When children learn that their classmates may experience sound, food, friendships, rules or change differently, they have an opportunity to become more understanding.

And that understanding can benefit everyone.

A more inclusive classroom isn’t only better for autistic children. It can encourage patience, creativity, communication and empathy across the entire school community.

As Pablo takes his next step into school, his adventures could therefore offer young viewers something more valuable than entertainment. They could provide a different way of looking at the people around them.

And sometimes, seeing the world through somebody else’s eyes is the first step towards making that world a little easier for everyone.

Pablo: Next Level is due to launch on 7 September 2026 on CBBC, BBC iPlayer and RTÉ Kids.