About Surf Soup TV
Surf Soup TV: A Whimsical Adventure in Every Episode
Surf Soup TV is more than just a cartoon—it's a vibrant, imaginative world where young viewers are invited to dive into the adventures of Koa and his friends on Surf Soup Island. Created by Emmy-honored animator Donna Kay Lau, the series blends captivating storytelling with colorful animation to inspire creativity, teamwork, and the joy of discovery. Each episode of Surf Soup TV is a journey filled with magical surfboards, talking animals, and unforgettable characters that teach important life lessons through fun and adventure. Designed for children ages 6-12, Surf Soup TV encourages viewers to embrace their imagination, celebrate diversity, and explore the endless possibilities of their dreams.
Donna Kay Lau, Creator Surf Soup
Donna Kay Lau is an award-winning, Emmy-honored TV animator, author, and illustrator known for her innovative work in children's entertainment. She is the creative force behind the beloved Surf Soup series, a whimsical world where imagination, exploration, and teamwork take center stage. With a passion for storytelling and a deep connection to her cultural roots, Donna has crafted over 66+ books and 158+ Kindle Vella episodes that resonate with children and families worldwide. Her work celebrates themes of unity, friendship, and the magic of creativity, making her a cherished figure in the world of children's literature.
Becoming an Unstoppable Women Magazine
I'm thrilled to share that I've been featured in the April edition of "Becoming an Unstoppable Woman” magazine by She Rises Studios! Dive into the article to explore my journey with Surf Soup and the exciting developments ahead. You can read the full feature here:
Just Released
Surf Soup Book Series: 69+ Adventures and Counting
The Surf Soup book series, created by Emmy-honored TV animator and author Donna Kay Lau, has grown into a beloved collection of over 69+ captivating stories that enchant young readers worldwide. Each book takes children on a new adventure with Koa and his friends, exploring themes of imagination, friendship, courage, and unity. From magical surfboards to instant noodle friends, the Surf Soup series is packed with vibrant illustrations and heartwarming tales that inspire creativity and teach valuable life lessons. Recently expanded with even more exciting volumes, the series continues to captivate and inspire children, making it a must-read for families everywhere.
Q and A with Donna Kay Lau, Creator of Surf Soup
Q: Donna, what inspired you to create the Surf Soup series?
A: The inspiration for Surf Soup came from my love for the ocean, surfing, and the stories I’ve encountered throughout my career in animation. I wanted to create a world where children could explore their imaginations, learn valuable life lessons, and have fun with characters that embody positivity, creativity, and teamwork. The ocean has always been a place of inspiration for me, and I wanted to share that magic with young readers and viewers.
Q: Can you tell us more about the characters in Surf Soup?
A: Absolutely! The main character, Koa, is a young surfer who’s curious, adventurous, and full of imagination. He’s joined by a diverse group of friends who each bring their own unique qualities to the story. For example, there’s Auntie Donna, who’s always full of wisdom and has a magical connection to the island. Each character plays a vital role in teaching important lessons about friendship, courage, and embracing who you are.
Q: Surf Soup has grown into a series with 69+ books. How do you keep coming up with new ideas?
A: The beauty of Surf Soup is that it’s a world where anything is possible. The characters and the setting provide endless opportunities for new adventures. I’m constantly inspired by the world around me—whether it’s through nature, my cultural heritage, or the stories of people I meet. Each book is a new chapter in the lives of these characters, and I love exploring different themes and ideas that resonate with young readers.
Q: What do you hope children and families take away from the Surf Soup series?
A: My hope is that Surf Soup inspires children to embrace their creativity, be kind to others, and find joy in exploration. The series is about more than just stories; it’s about teaching children the value of friendship, teamwork, and believing in themselves. I want families to enjoy the stories together and feel the positive messages long after they’ve finished reading or watching.
Q: You’ve also launched Surf Soup TV. How does it differ from the book series?
A: Surf Soup TV brings the stories and characters from the books to life through animation. While the books allow readers to imagine and create their own visuals, the TV show adds another layer of excitement with colorful animation, dynamic storytelling, and engaging episodes. It’s a way to reach even more children and offer them a different way to connect with the characters and the world of Surf Soup.
Q: What’s next for you and Surf Soup?
A: There’s always something new on the horizon! We’re continuing to expand the book series and exploring new themes and stories. There are also plans for more episodes of Surf Soup TV and even more interactive experiences for children. My goal is to keep the Surf Soup world growing and evolving, providing a space where kids can learn, laugh, and be inspired.
Collage Fan Art , Katy Age 6
TV Animator: Donna Kay Lau's Journey in Animation Since 1998
Donna Kay Lau has been a pioneering force in the world of television animation since 1998. With over two decades of experience, she has brought her creative vision to some of the most beloved animated series, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. As an Emmy-honored animator, Donna has played a key role in shaping iconic shows like Dora the Explorer, CatDog, Generator Rex, Oswald the Octopus, and Regular Show, each of which has captured the hearts of millions of viewers worldwide.
Donna’s unique ability to bring characters to life with vibrant energy, emotion, and authenticity has made her a sought-after talent in the animation world. Her work is characterized by a deep understanding of storytelling, an eye for detail, and a commitment to excellence. She has collaborated with top studios and creative teams to craft stories that resonate across generations, making a lasting impact on the world of children's entertainment.
Beyond her work on these iconic series, Donna has also channeled her vast experience and creativity into her original project, Surf Soup TV. As the creator, animator, and producer, she continues to innovate and inspire through a world of vibrant characters and imaginative adventures. Surf Soup TV embodies Donna's passion for storytelling and her dedication to creating content that entertains, educates, and uplifts young audiences.
Donna Kay Lau’s career in TV animation is a testament to her enduring love for the art form and her unwavering commitment to telling stories that matter. Her work continues to influence the industry and inspire the next generation of animators and storytellers.
Press and Publicity
Donna Kay Lau rarely gives interviews or writes articles, as she prefers to devote most of her time to writing books. If you have a media enquiry, please contact Donna Kay Lau’s PR team at Surfsouptv@Yahoo.com
For Immediate Release
“As an Asian American artist, I foster unity, diversity through art, books, and animation. Nurturing children and oceans, let's steward a world of peace, love, joy, and harmony, planting seeds of hope.”
Donna Kay Lau-Creator Surf Soup
Prime Time Emmy Honored TV Animator Launches “Surf Soup”
The The beginning of Surf Soup Projects that Include: Two Podcasts, NFT Art, Animated Shorts, Vella
Prime Time Emmy Honored TV Animator & Author Launches “Surf Soup” Kids Book Series & Reveals More!
The beginning of Surf Soup Projects that Include: Two Podcasts, NFT Art, Animated Shorts, Vella and a Short Documentary Film:” Making ‘Surf Soup”-A Chinese American Story of Donna Kay Lau TV Animator, Author and illustrator
Prime Time Emmy Honored TV animator, author & Illustrator Donna Kay Lau launches “Surf Soup” children’s book series. Lau the creator of ‘Surf Soup” is a TV animator who produced shows from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network animation studios: Dora the Explorer, Catdog, Oswald the Octopus, Generator Rex, Ben 10 & Generator Rex (Crossover), and Regular Show. Lau has produced children’s content for over 30 years.
The stories begin with Auntie, an animator inviting you into her art studio to play and use your imagination.
The “Surf Soup” series is based on a tropical island with Koa, a diverse character with a magical hair on his head, and his surfboard that farts rainbows. “Surf Soup” series is character rich, with many unique characters like a fuzzy purple pickle, a sea cucumber, Prana the piranha, and a pigeon that speaks pidgin to name a few. There are eight books currently in the “Surf Soup” series, for ages 6 to 12, and have bright colorful illustrations on every page, including unique, colorful end pages and fun creative activities and back matter. The Surf Soup books have, on average, 70 to 120 pages each.
Lau’s imagination will keep you surprised and laughing. Each story highlights character development, self-esteem, diversity, grit, inclusion, and an emphasis on caring for the island and the environment, and in the book “Surf Soup’ in the series you learn how to surf and the lessons you learn from surfing, and then the beach is closed. Kids learn the value of caring for the ocean and their friends. Parents and teachers will delight as stories teach SEL (Social, emotional learning) and teach S.T.E.A.M. (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math), with an emphasis of being compassionate towards each other and all living things.
“We are all in the Surf Soup Together.”
Lau, a first generation Chinese American, was inspired by her experiences and developed Asian characters for the Surf Soup series displaying a full age range with inspiration drawn from her elderly relatives. Lau has also launched a serialized “Vella” introducing one episode at a time later to be published as a book, and made into a documentary short film -” Making ‘Surf Soup”-A Chinese American Story of Donna Kay Lau TV Animator, Author and illustrator. Eli Reed, director of photography of the Surf Soup film, Eli Reed is an American photographer and photojournalist. Reed was the first full-time black photographer employed by Magnum Agency and the author of several books, including Black In America. Reed was recently honored with I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence Lucie Foundation Award Documentary photography, to name a few. Lau and Reed will produce the “Making Surf Soup” film. Lau writes about her experience producing the Surf Soup projects, and amazing coincidences, while following her purpose through perseverance and grit.
Lau also created and launched her Surf Soup NFT art collection, a unique collection of collectible animated shorts minted and sold on “Rarible” and Lau has also created a limited edition Surf Soup character merchandise and sold on Etsy (Surf Soup)
Lau recently launched and hosts two new podcasts: “Surf Soup-Talk Story” and ‘Surf Soup TV” podcast for children. Lau has produced a Surf Soup-Talk Story episode with Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, the author of “Blue Mind” and Lau will interview Eli Reed in the Fall of 2022.
For the Surf Soup TV podcast for children, Lau will read excerpts from the ‘Surf Soup” series starting in Fall, 2022 and available for live virtual book signing and appearances. Lau will introduce her Surf Soup series and teach about success as an artist and animation.
There is so much to be excited about. With the launching of the “Surf Soup” book series, podcasts, Vella, NFT art, short documentary, and forthcoming animated shorts, it’s just the beginning of more to follow. Stay informed by following Donna Kay Lau’s ‘Surf Soup’ series and projects at
https://Surfsoup.tv and follow @Surfsoup Instagram
Surf Soup series books are available in paperback, hardback, epub/Kindle, and wherever books are sold, book stores, online retailers, and Amazon books.
https://amzn.to/3AOTseX Bsrnes & Noble, Booktopia (AU), Alibris (Europe/UK)
SURF SOUP TV links: https://bit.ly/m/Surfsoup
For more information, email: Surfsouptv@yahoo.Om
Website: https://Surfsoup.tv
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Surf Soup TV-Donna Kay Lau
Surf Soup Links
There's much to see here. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about Surf Soup. I hope you enjoy my site and take a moment to check out all these links.
Newsroom
Surf Soup Funded on Kickstarter
Surf Soup Funded on Kickstarter
Surf Soup Funded on Kickstarter
Funded Kickstarter
Contact: Donna Kay Lau
Email: SurfsoupTV@Yahoo.com
Wall Street Journal
The Year in Photos
Wall Street Journal Photo by: Eli Reed
Donna Kay Lau at Special Olympics.Opening Ceremonies.
Photo Gallery
Press
Spinning Out Ideas
Spinning out ideas Jill-of-all- trades finds many ways to survive as fine artist
by Shirley Hsu , Staff Writer
Spinning in the dark is one of Donna Lau's favorite activities. She teaches indoor cycling, or spinning... Dim lighting accompanied by world music helps her students to focus, she says.
She's also a fine artist, a children's book illustrator, a children's clothing designer, and an animator. For Lau, being a Jill- of-all trades is the only way for an artist to survive in today's competitive world.
After studying advertising design and illustration at Mt. San Antonio College, Lau attended night school at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where she soon realized the impossibility of paying tuition.
While in school, Lau worked 40 hours a week at a gas station, secretly doing her painting homework in a back room when business was slow.
Lau soon realized that to survive, she needed to support herself in other ways, she said. With a $50 loan from her mother, she bought and decorated T-shirts, which she then took to a local park where they sold out.
Buoyed by this modest success, Lau decided to launch her own children's fashion and design company, and "Art is On!" was born.
She soon had a stroke of good luck when she got a bit of unexpected exposure at a New York show.
"My 3-year-old model walked down the runway and then just decided to flash everyone her underwear,' said Lau. "The photographers loved it.'
In addition to children's fashion, Lau makes an adult line of Chinese-themed clothing. She also has worked as a production assistant on the animation "CatDog' as well as a self-described "glorified eraser' for "Dora the Explorer.'
She is now working on a children's cookbook, "Chow Fun' which will include recipes for her mom's Chinese dishes as well as the stories behind the food.
"I realized there were some rich stories behind some of these dishes,' she said and that learning about them might help children appreciate Asian culture, something Lau has only recently taken to heart.
"When I was growing up, didn't have the Asian residents it does now. I dyed blond streaks in my hair, and I would do anything to fit in to the American ideal,' she said.
Now, Lau seems to have an Asian fetish of sorts - her clothing is trimmed in Asian-themed fabrics, and she wants to package a new T-shirt in a Chinese takeout box with decorative chopsticks. And, she is studying Chinese brush painting.
Whether she's spinning yarns about Chinese food or spinning on a stationary bike, Lau insists that versatility is not just essential for an artist's financial survival, but also for mental and physical health.
She has run in and finished six marathons, and is planning to compete in the San Dimas Express triathlon in October.
She also has produced a new "fitness line' of clothing as an alternative to unfeminine workout clothes.
"I was tired of looking like a boy after workouts,' Lau said.
Lau's career choices often have baffled her beleaguered parents.
"I have five kids,' her father said. "My first, she's a civil engineer with the county. My second is a security banker with the Bank of America. My third one is an accountant. My son is a structural engineer. Donna, we cannot tell her what to do. Now I just leave her alone.'
