Video: "Braincandy" is sweet television for kids

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With giggling kids and impertinent puppets, it's just another day at the office for the crew at Braincandy.

"I am a firm believer you can get a child to do just about anything if you put a sock on your hand," said Sam Reich-Dagnen, Braincandy Co-founder

For Sam and John Dagnen, it's a labor of love.

"It started because we got really passionate and engaged in early learning,” said Sam.

The root of their passion: their twin children, Blaise and Logan. After they were born, Sam and John decided to trade in their careers as filmmakers for sock puppets, and create their own children's show.

"You know, there really was a big purple dinosaur and Mozart. And those were the choices," said Sam.

They wanted to see something more engaging for little kids, something more interactive, something like a talking 'brain' named Bruce.

"He is the guy who interprets and explores the world through his five sense partners," said John.

After a lot of research and the help of some professional puppeteers, Braincandy was born. The children's videos try to nourish children's brains by engaging their five senses through the exploits of five 'sensory' puppets.

Blaise's favorite is 'Mojo-Mouth.”

"He eats stuff he isn't suppose to eat," he said.

"We thought we could, like, come up with some sort of creative, ingenious new way to like, engage children. So that's what we're trying to do," said John.

KING

Sam and John Dagnen created "Braincandy.'

Five years later, Braincandy has won more than 30 national awards, forged partnerships with Amazon.com and Warner Music, and is sold in stores across the country.

Sam and John edited their first shows on the computer in a laundry room. Now, it's used more for storing all their brain candy puppets and DVDs and children's clothes.

It's still a family affair. Mom and dad create the shows and the kids act in them and even help promote them.

"They're our best marketers," said Sam.

A passion for early learning has really paid off.

"It's been a venture that's going to take some time but we're so committed to it, it's really just ... it's a love,” said Sam.

And it’s clearly a lot of fun.

The Braincandy producers use local actors and studios to create their shows. They hope to branch into children's books and a TV series.