All over the globe his illustrious motivational techniques have offered a glimpse of hope through change in the hearts and minds of many LazyTowners. Creator and C.E.O. Magnús Scheving shares his thoughts and ideas...

May 30th, 2010








   If there's any routine in my life – it is that there is no routine. But if I try to sum it up it's something like this. I start my day with having a breakfast with the family before the kids take off to school. If I have the time I try to go the gym at LazyTown for a few minutes early in the day but sometimes I do it later in the day. Then it's work, and as I'm involved in so many things in the company it can be everything from looking over a business plan to color correcting a video that has to go out. I'm working on shortening my working hours and be home earlier. I'm usually home around 18:00 and then I try to play some football with my boy or go swimming with the family. We try not to have huge dinners, so after a light meal I try to do something fun. It can be anything from practicing my golf swing to going to the movies with my buddies. The summer days are very long here in Iceland so you can be playing outside in the sun until midnight! We have a lot of business in the US and the downside of that is the time difference. I often have to take phone calls late in the evening but I'm used to that.


   I try not to think too much about the nutritional value in this and that. I rather try to use common sense. For me it's obvious that orange, apple and other fruit juices are better for you than soda's for example. So I try to drink more of those. Actually I think pure water is the best drink of all. But balance is the key. If there's any one word I want people to pick up from the LazyTown message – I want it to be "balance". Of course you can have the occasional glass of soda as long as you also drink orange or apple juice or whatever fruit juice you want. Again, remember that water is the best of all.


   As I guess you know, it all started with the book "Afram Latibaer"�. The plays followed that story. The idea for the original book originated from my travels abroad at that time. I was teaching fitness and giving lectures on living a healthy lifestyle. Many of the people I was talking to were parents and I noticed I was getting the same questions from that group – again and again. In Japan – Italy or Argentina, everyone had the same hopes for their kids. They wanted them to be healthy. But it's so hard to explain health as it means so many different things to different people. To be able to educate, or should I say motivate people, I realized it had to be done through a fun and entertaining story. It's a known fact that we learn the most when we're having fun, so that's why I decided to make a story. The "story"� has of course evolved through the years.


   I realized that the health issue was going to be a big problem all over the world. Obesity has been on the rise for many years with some saying it's becoming an epidemic. The numbers are terrifying to say the least. I wanted to do everything I could to change this evolution. But I knew that it couldn't be done through standard education. It has to be done through entertainment for the reasons I mentioned above. If kids get the message early enough, it will get into their system and help them when they grow older.


   I have big plans for LazyTown. We have done LazyTown on many platforms; books, plays, TV shows, radio shows and even board games. I want to keep on extending LazyTown and my next mission is to make an on-line club and last but not least – a LazyTown movie!

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"Now that's how you squeeze an orange!"

                                        - Íþróttaálfurinn

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© 2010 L.G. Wise (X RADAR Publ.)
All Rights Reserved

No part of this Magnús Commentary can be used, reprinted, copied or stored in any medium without the publisher's authorization.





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