The series was based on an idea by Kevin O'Donnell and developed for television by Kevin O'Donnell, Robby London, Mike Maliani, and Andy Heyward. It received two Daytime Emmy nominations, in 2003 and 2004, both for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program (Walter Cronkite, playing Benjamin Franklin). Its purpose is to teach its viewers about the origins of the United States. Like the cartoon mini-series "This Is America, Charlie Brown" earlier, "Liberty's Kids" tells of young people in dramas surrounding the major events in the Revolutionary War days.