Paw Patrol as a Dystopian Future
My kids watch a lot of TV which means I watch a lot of kids TV. I often get caught in my own explorations of what meanings or lessons sit beyond the pretty pictures.
Paw Patrol is a favourite of our youngest. One of the first toys he asked for by name was a Sky toy. During the day he will start singing the theme song. All of our kids have watched bits of Paw Patrol but for the youngest, it’s really his thing.
I’ve now watched directly or absently while doing something else many tens of hours of this show. And it’s weird.
All children’s programs are weird but there is something particularly strange about Paw Patrol. It feels as if the show is trying to mimic aspects of the real world yet clearly it’s a fictional world. This leads me to wonder more about the “back story” to the show. More so than I would for My Little Pony which is so completely abstracted from reality that I don’t really wonder “how did the world end up like this?”.
I’ve toyed around with different explanations and have found the idea that the world of Paw Patrol is a somewhat dystopian future where humans have become largely incompetent and android or hybrid genetically engineer animals help us get through our days.
After toying around with the idea for a while I worked with GPT to draft a story. I’ve edited it and expanded on it here.
The Fictional Background Story to the Fictional Paw Patrol
In the wake of the 21st century, humanity had reached the zenith of technological advancement. Artificial intelligence was not just a companion to the human race; it was an architect of a new era. Among its myriad creations were the Canis Sapiens - a generation of android dogs designed to aid, protect, and serve.
These marvels of engineering were the pinnacle of AI's benevolence, gifted with the power of speech, empathy, and an intellect that bridged the gap between man and machine. They walked alongside their creators, a testament to a world thriving on the symbiosis of organic and synthetic life. These animals were able to develop a wide range of technology to support and augment their abilities. And many humans worked along side helping coordinate, strategise and support.
But then came the Event.
No one recalls the precise nature of the Event – a cataclysmic occurrence that left much of the human population with a vastly reduced mental capacity. Technology regressed in the aftermath, as humanity's ability to comprehend and maintain the advanced systems they once created diminished. The world, once a bustling network of hyperconnectivity and digital landscapes, reverted to a simpler, more fragmented state.
Amidst this new world, a small, idyllic town known as Adventure Bay seemed almost untouched by the cataclysm. However, the people within were a mirror of the greater change. The once capable and self-sufficient citizens now exhibited a child-like dependence on external aid for even the most mundane of tasks.
It was here that the Canis Sapiens, led by a young human untouched by the Event called Ryder, found their purpose. Ryder, unlike his human companions, retained the full scope of his knowledge and abilities. He remembered the world that once was and recognized the need for guidance and assistance in this new one.
With the help of his android dogs, each equipped with specialized abilities and gear, Ryder formed the Paw Patrol. This group was a beacon of hope, a reminder of the heights from which humanity had fallen, and a guidepost for a potential return. The dogs, with their advanced technology, served not just as rescuers but as custodians of the past, preserving the remnants of human ingenuity within their own designs.
As Ryder looked out from his high-tech lookout tower, he mused over the path that lay ahead. His team was ready, a motley crew of mechanical canines eager to lend a paw. They were the guardians of Adventure Bay, the torchbearers of humanity's lost brilliance, and the humble servants of a society that had once dreamed of stars but now gazed in wonder at the simple flicker of a candle.
"The Paw Patrol is on a roll," Ryder declared, as the first call for help crackled through the radio. And so, the story began.