Wishbone began with a deceptively simple question:
What if a dog could be the hero of the story?
From that idea emerged one of the most beloved and ambitious children’s television series of the 1990s—a show that trusted kids with great literature and invited them into the world’s most enduring stories through imagination, humor, and heart. Set in an ordinary neighborhood, Wishbone followed a small Jack Russell Terrier with a very big imagination as he stepped into the roles of Shakespearean heroes, literary outlaws, tragic figures, and legendary adventurers—bridging classic novels with modern life in a way no series had done before.
Produced entirely in North Texas, Wishbone was shot on film with a cinematic style rarely afforded to children’s television. Every episode created a new world—from medieval courtyards to Victorian streets—built from scratch at a relentless pace by a young, passionate creative team. Classically trained actors, handcrafted period costumes, original visual effects, and a meticulously trained dog performer combined to bring literature to life without condescension or simplification.
At the center was Soccer, the dog actor, whose expressive performances—paired with the playful, heartfelt voice of Wishbone—made audiences forget they were watching an animal at all. He wasn’t a gimmick. He was a character. A hero. A guide.
This documentary tells the behind-the-scenes story of how an unlikely group of creators—many early in their careers—came together to build something truly original, and how that “crazy idea” resonated far beyond what anyone imagined. Through firsthand interviews, archival footage, and personal reflection, the film explores the creative risk, collaboration, exhaustion, joy, and heart that went into making Wishbone—and why its impact continues to endure.
More than nostalgia, the film reveals how Wishbone sparked a genuine love of reading, inspired generations of viewers, and proved that children’s television could be smart, cinematic, and emotionally honest.