Janice Burgess. Photo/Nickelodeon Janice Burgess, the creative force behind the beloved children's cartoon  The Backyardigans  and a children's media industry stalwart, has passed away at 72. Her legacy, as confirmed by Brown Johnson, a close friend and the creator of Nick Jr., was cut short by breast cancer, according to The New York Times. The Backyardigans  was an exciting cartoon that focused on the characters Tyrone, Tasha, Pablo, Austin, and Uniqua, who created the most