HBO Original Documentary “Music Box: Happy and You Know It” Debuts December 25 [VIDEO]

The HBO Original documentary MUSIC BOX: HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT, part of the new installment of the “Music Box” series created by Bill Simmons, is directed by award-winning filmmaker Penny Lane (HBO’s “Listening to Kenny G“) and debuts Thursday, December 25 (9:00-10:20PM ET/PT) on HBO and HBO Max.

Children’s music is terminally uncool to adults and dismissed by music critics, yet adored by kids. MUSIC BOX: HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT explores the underestimated and wildly popular genre, delving behind the scenes to tell the origin stories of some of the top names in the field. It also traces the evolution of this prolific business and how advancements in technology and AI are reshaping and turbo-charging this genre.

Featuring a colorful and charming cast and their toe-tapping songs, the film reframes children’s music as a misunderstood yet vital cultural art form that influences how kids develop. It chronicles the unexpected paths artists take to embrace the creative freedom found in writing music that shapes childhoods. Anthony Field of “The Wiggles” turned his songs into a global phenomenon resulting in over four billion streams on Spotify; Chris Ballew of the rock band “The Presidents of the United States of America” walked away from mainstream fame, fulfilling his artistic drive by reinventing himself as the surrealistic Caspar Babypants; Divinity Roxx toured with Beyoncé as her bass player before releasing a GRAMMY®-nominated hip hop and R&B album for children; Laurie Berkner was a pre-school music teacher struggling to connect with her students; Johnny Only turned to kids’ music after years of chasing rock stardom, only to be crushed by the newer, shinier, mass-produced version of “Baby Shark” that he had originally posted on YouTube in 2011.

Subverting the notion that making music for children is easy and proving that love, imagination, and emotional truth are the foundations of songs that resonate, HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT reminds us of the magical way music connects us across generations and to the child inside us all.

The “Music Box” series, which debuted on HBO in 2021, is a collection of documentary films exploring pivotal moments in the music world.

Featured participants: Musicians Anthony Wiggle, Laurie Berkner, Chris Ballew (Caspar Babypants), Johnny Only, and Divinity Roxx; rock critic Rob Harvilla; and culture critic Willa Paskin.

Credits: HBO Documentary Films presents MUSIC BOX: HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT, a Ringer Films Production in association with Spinning Nancy. Directed by Penny Lane; producers, Gabriel Sedgwick and Julia Lewis; co-executive producers, Geoff Chow, Sean Fennessey, and Adam Gibbs; co-producers, Magdalena Munao, Nickolas Hasse; executive producers, Bill Simmons, Jody Gerson, and Marc Cimino. For HBO: executive producers, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Tina Nguyen.

Films in this “Music Box” installment include:

“It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” (December 4): Through rare archival footage and deeply personal accounts, this documentary explores the extraordinary life, singular talent, and untimely death of Jeff Buckley – the enigmatic artist whose haunting voice and only album, “Grace,” left an indelible mark on music history; directed by Amy Berg.

“Wizkid: Long Live Lagos” (December 11): An intimate and heart-thumping documentary following Wizkid’s rise to global stardom, and how he has reshaped the way Africa is seen – and heard – around the world. Blending revealing moments, explosive performances, and cultural commentary, the film captures how Wizkid is using his platform to change perceptions, reclaim post-colonial identity, and inspire a new generation; directed by Karam Gill.

“Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?” (December 18): A revealing portrait of Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz, and the emotional and creative toll a band’s meteoric rise can have on a musical artist. The documentary traces how he navigated early fame while crafting a raw, defiant follow-up to the band’s iconic debut album; directed by Amy Scott.