Animating crane safety with Cherry Picker Pete

The new animated crane and construction safety character Cherry Picker Pete. Image: Cherry Picker Pete

Cherry Picker Pete is a new animated series designed to bring the world of lifting to life for children, sparking their interest in the industry and the importance of safety.

CPP is presented as an exciting show for children 4 years old and up, focusing on safety and teamwork surrounding lifting equipment and the industry. The series is intended to introduce youngsters to construction safety via fun characters, real machinery and positive values.

Behind the new venture are Peter Hird Jr, a well-known industry figure, and his family. Its lead character is Pete, described as a friendly expert leading a team of animated people and construction machines. Together they work through practical challenges that might be encountered on jobsites.

The main target markets are North America, the UK and mainland Europe, plus other regions “where we see strong alignment between kids’ animation growth and the need for early, engaging safety education,” Hird commented.

Start early

“We aim to plant the seeds from a young age and attract the youth to the lifting industries. By capturing their imagination early, we hope to inspire the next generation of skilled, safety-conscious crane and cherry picker operators, riggers and engineers,” continued Hird.

Initial production will be two launch episodes to introduce Cherry Picker Pete in late 2025, followed by a series, of 26 episodes, starting in 2026. In addition to tower, wheeled and crawler mobile cranes, featured equipment will include lifting accessories, forklifts and aerial work platforms.

An entire programme of collaboration and activities is planned. There will be alignment with the education curriculum, school visits and participation in industry events.

Also, in the pipeline are children’s books, educational toys and a range of merchandise.

Wolffkran is part of Cherry Picker Pete with its character Wolffy the tower crane. Image: Cherry Picker Pete

A branding collaboration scheme is also underway where manufacturers of construction equipment can get their name in front of the audience. First to sign up was tower crane manufacturer Wolffkran. As part of CPP it has a red tower crane character named Wolffy which, in addition to lifting work is a mentor figure to the rest of the team of characters.

Capture the imagination

“Kids love big machines, and they love stories. Cherry Picker Pete and Wolffy the tower crane bring both together in a safe, smart, and inspiring way,” said Peter Hird. “With Wolffkran on board, we’re giving children access to the real world of lifting –

made fun, friendly, and unforgettable,” Hird continued.

For his part Duncan Salt, Wolffkran CEO, said, “Partnering with Cherry Picker Pete allows us to engage with future generations and promote the importance of lifting safety in a fun and inspiring way. We’re proud to see Wolffy carry the Wolffkran legacy into children’s hearts and homes.”