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{{short description|American-Canadian animated children's television series}} | |||
{{pp|small=yes}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} | |||
{{Infobox television | {{Infobox television | ||
| |
| alt_name = Backyardigans | ||
| |
| image = The-Backyardigans-characters.png | ||
| caption = The main characters of the series. From left: Tyrone, Pablo, Uniqua, Austin, and Tasha | |||
|image = The Backyardigans logo.svg | |||
|genre |
| genre = {{Plainlist| | ||
* ] | |||
|runtime = 21–23 minutes | |||
* ] | |||
|creator = ] | |||
* ] | |||
|executive_producer = ]<br />Robert Scull | |||
|voices=]<br />]<br/>Christopher Grant, Jr.<br />Gianna Bruzzese<br />] | |||
|composer = ] (score/songs: music)<br />Douglas Wieselman (songs: music)<br />Paul Smith (songs: lyrics) | |||
|country = United States<br />Canada | |||
|language = English | |||
|company = ]<br/>]<br/>] (S2–4)<br/>Pipeline Studios (S3–4) | |||
|distributor = ]<ref name ="Nelvana's Consumer Products/Distribution">{{Cite web| url=http://www.nelvana.com/ConsumerProducts| title=Nelvana Consumer Products/Distribution| publisher=Corus Entertainment| accessdate=2015-08-10}}</ref><br/> ]<ref name ="COMING SOON TO BACKYARDS AROUND THE WORLD -- THE BACKYARDIGANS ON DVD FROM FREMANTLE">{{Cite web| url=http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?ID=1346| title=COMING SOON TO BACKYARDS AROUND THE WORLD -- THE BACKYARDIGANS ON DVD FROM FREMANTLE| publisher=Diana Pitt| accessdate=2015-08-10}}</ref> | |||
|director = Bill Giggie (Season 1)<br>Mike Shiell (Season 1–2)<br>Dave Palmer (Season 3–4) | |||
|network = Nickelodeon (] and ])<br/>] (Canada) | |||
|picture_format = ] (Season 1–Season 3)<br />] (Season 3, episode 11–Season 4) | |||
|num_seasons = 4 | |||
|num_episodes = 80 | |||
|list_episodes = List of The Backyardigans episodes | |||
|first_aired = {{Start date|2004|10|11}} | |||
|last_aired = {{End date|present}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
| runtime = 21–23 minutes | |||
'''''The Backyardigans''''' is a Canadian–American CGI-animated musical TV series created by ], It is a co-production of animation studio Nelvana and Nickelodeon Animation Studios. The series debuted on October 11, 2004 and ended on May 31, 2010; reruns of The Backyardigans continued to air on the Nickelodeon family of channels in the United States until 2015. The show airs on ] in Canada. In 2015, the first season was included as part of Nickelodeon's ] app, a mobile application featuring episodes of older Nick Jr. programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noggin.com/blog/|title=Noggin Product Support Blog & App Updates|work=noggin.com}}</ref> | |||
| creator = ] | |||
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist| | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*Robert Scull | |||
*Jonny Belt | |||
*]}} | |||
| voices = {{Plainlist| | |||
* Various | |||
* '']'' | |||
}} | |||
| composer = {{Plainlist| | |||
* ] | |||
* ] <!-- The principal composer or composers providing incidental music for the show's episodes. --> | |||
}} | |||
| country = {{Plainlist| | |||
* United States | |||
* Canada | |||
}} | |||
| language = English | |||
| company = {{Plainlist| | |||
*] | |||
*] (pilot) | |||
*] (pilot) | |||
*]<br><small>(credited as ] for seasons 1–3)</small>}} | |||
| director = {{Plainlist| | |||
*Bill Giggie (season 1) | |||
*Mike Shiell (seasons 1–2) | |||
*Dave Palmer (seasons 3–4)}} | |||
| network = {{Plainlist| | |||
*] (U.S.) | |||
*] (Canada)}} | |||
| num_seasons = 4 | |||
| num_episodes = 80 | |||
| list_episodes = List of The Backyardigans episodes | |||
| first_aired = {{Start date|2004|10|11}} | |||
| last_aired = {{End date|2013|07|12}} | |||
}} | |||
'''''The Backyardigans''''' ({{IPAc-en|b|æ|k|ˈ|j|ɑːr|d|ɪ|g|ə|n|z|audio=en-us-Backyardigans.oga}} {{respell|bak|YAR|dih|gənz|}}) is an animated musical ] created by ] for ]. The series was written and recorded at ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nickanimationstudio.com/janice-burgess-the-backyardigans|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018143401/http://nickanimationstudio.com/janice-burgess-the-backyardigans|archive-date=October 18, 2014|work=]|title=Janice Burgess, ''The Backyardigans''|date=2016}}</ref> It centers on five anthropomorphic animal neighbors who imagine themselves on fantastic adventures in their backyard. The show's title is a ] of "backyard" and "]". Each episode is set to a different musical genre and features four songs, composed by ] with lyrics by McPaul Smith. The Backyardigans' adventures span many different genres and settings. The show's writers took inspiration from ]s, and many episodes are parodies of films. | |||
Janice Burgess had worked as Nick Jr.'s production executive since the mid-1990s. ''The Backyardigans'' originated as a live-action ] titled "Me and My Friends", filmed at ] and completed in September 1998. The characters were played by full-body puppets on an indoor stage. The pilot was rejected by Nickelodeon, and Burgess decided to rework the concept into an animated series. In 2002, a second pilot was animated at ] in New York. The second pilot was successful, and the series entered production. | |||
The series was based upon a live-action pilot produced in 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lyonpuppets.com/meercats.html|title=Rick Lyon: Nickelodeon "Me and My Friends" Meercats|work=lyonpuppets.com}}</ref> titled ''Me and My Friends''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yvettehelinstudio.com/CREDITS3.html|title=Yvette Helin Studio - Credits|work=yvettehelinstudio.com}}</ref> | |||
The show ran for four seasons, totaling 80 episodes. Most episodes aired on Nickelodeon on weekday mornings. In 2009, the show was planned to continue beyond the fourth season.<ref name="Techmedia" /> However, in 2010, Burgess decided to move onto a different series: Nickelodeon's ]. Burgess worked as a creative director and writer for ''Winx Club'' before eventually retiring from Nickelodeon in 2014. | |||
==Plot== | |||
The series follows a ritualistic pattern and centers around an assortment of neighboring playmates depicted as ], anthropomorphic animals: Uniqua, Pablo, Tyrone, Austin, and Tasha. Designed to encourage imaginative play, the characters communicate with the viewers by constantly breaking the fourth-wall, albeit the series rests particular focus on the role-playing games in which the friends participate varying with each episode, and said games are visualized through dream sequences lasting for a majority of the episode and serving as the primary focus of that certain episode. Usually, the group will visualize a unique scenario, ranging from prehistoric times to adventurous fantasies, and they are often presented with multiple dilemmas along the way to accomplishing a certain goal or priority, or may be challenged with a major single obstacle to defeat or problem to solve. The program also follows a musical format, featuring multiple musical numbers sung throughout the course of an episode regarding whatever imaginary predicament in which the characters have situated themselves or perhaps a challenge that they have met, every episode opening and concluding with a particular song. When the Backyardigans have achieved their mission or defeated any disadvantages, the fantasy sequence fades, restoring actuality to the setting of the episodes as the closing song is sung, the characters scurrying to their houses for a snack. The main character or characters then opens the snack host's house door, fence, or around the corner, and shouts the main catchphrase for the final time and then closes the door. The picture then is lifeless with some background bird noises often heard as iris closes, ending the episode. | |||
''The Backyardigans'' received generally positive reviews from audiences and critics who consider it superior to Nickelodeon's other preschool shows because its writing was sophisticated and enjoyable for older viewers. '']'' and ] commended the show for including frequent nods to an older audience,<ref name="nyt-knights">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/arts/television/14migh.html|date=January 14, 2008|last=Stewart|first=Susan|title=Cartoon Creatures Leave Home and Find ... Home|work=]|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602232658/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/arts/television/14migh.html|url-status=live}}</ref> such as references to action-adventure franchises. The quality of the show's music was also well received by critics, and the show received eight ] nominations for its music. | |||
==Characters== | |||
Each of the five characters on the show have two voice actors: one for speaking, and the other for singing. | |||
==Plot== | |||
The dancing on the show is first performed by live-action dancers, and their movements are later transported to animation. Choreographer, Beth Bogush, describes the process: "What we do is we film the live footage in the studio, send that off and they do a ], and then they send it to the animators. The animators watch, and were pretty precise. What we film for that day is pretty close to what you see in the character."<ref name="ref1">{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1542683,00.html|title=Who gets those 'toon-toed ''Backyardigans'' to dance? |last=Clarke|first=Eileen |date=October 4, 2006 |work=Bring It On |publisher=Entertainment Weekly|accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> | |||
The show centers around a group of five animal neighbors named <!-- Please do not change the order, which is based on the following references. --> Uniqua, Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, and Austin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/adam-pascal-makes-nickelodeon-debut-with-backyardigans-com-146688|title=Adam Pascal Makes Nickelodeon Debut with 'Backyardigans'|work=]|date=January 8, 2008|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214250/https://www.playbill.com/article/adam-pascal-makes-nickelodeon-debut-with-backyardigans-com-146688|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nickjr.com/shows/backyardigans/about/back_about_show.jhtml?_template=print|title=NickJr.com: About The Backyardigans|date=November 16, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116140159/http://www.nickjr.com/shows/backyardigans/about/back_about_show.jhtml?_template=print|archive-date=2006-11-16}}</ref> They share a large backyard between their houses. In each episode, they meet in the backyard and imagine themselves on a fantastical adventure. Their adventures span a variety of different genres and settings; many episodes involve visiting different parts of the world, traveling back or forward in time, and using magic or supernatural powers. The characters give themselves different jobs or roles depending on the episode's imaginary setting, such as detectives, knights, or scientists. From the second season onward, many episodes are parodies of action-adventure films such as '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. | |||
The openings and endings of the episodes follow a similar pattern. The stories begin with the characters in the backyard, introducing themselves and explaining the scenario they are about to imagine, which causes the backyard to transform into an environment fitting the scenario they are imagining. When the Backyardigans finish their adventure, their stomachs begin to growl, leading to them deciding to have a snack at one of their houses. As they return home, the fantasy sequence fades, restoring the original backyard setting. The characters sing a closing song, say their goodbyes to the audience, then walk inside the house that belongs to the snack inviter and close the door. As the episode ends, at least one character reopens the door and shouts a phrase related to the adventure. | |||
===Main characters=== | |||
The show follows the format of a ]. Each episode is set to a different genre of music and features four songs. The characters sing and dance to the songs with original choreography. The song and dance routines are often used to introduce a character's imaginary role, further the plot, or explain a problem. In addition to singing songs in a new genre each episode, the show's background music changes to match, scoring all of the Backyardigans' actions. | |||
====Uniqua==== | |||
<!-- Any speculation about the character's species will be removed. --> | |||
A curious, self-confident and high-spirited pink spotted character. The series uses the name "Uniqua" for both the character and her species. She wears pink polka-dotted ] and has a pair of swirled ] on top of her head. Uniqua is sweet and friendly, though her strong opinions and occasional stubbornness get in the way of her relationships. While imagining herself having the roles that require brains and fortitude (such as a scientist or pirate captain) and despite her love of books (as seen in episodes such as "The Masked Retriever"), she is more tomboyish than her friend, Tasha. Creator ] describes Uniqua as the child she wishes she was like as a | |||
child.<ref>{{cite interview|last=Burgess |first=Janice |url=http://www.nickjr.com/shows/backyardigans/backyardigans-show-info/meet-backyardigans-creator.jhtml |title=Meet the Creator of The Backyardigans! |publisher=NickJr.com |date= |accessdate=2008-12-27|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820062324/http://www.nickjr.com/shows/backyardigans/backyardigans-show-info/meet-backyardigans-creator.jhtml|archivedate=August 20, 2009|deadurl=yes}}</ref> | |||
==Characters== | |||
Speaking voice: ] (seasons 1–4)<br> | |||
Each of the five main characters on the show has a separate voice actor in the original US dub for speaking and singing voices, while the voice actors in the UK dub provide '''both''' speaking and singing voices. Live-action dancers first performed the dancing on the show, and their movements were later transported to animation. The choreographer, Beth Bogush, described the process: "What we do is we film the live footage in the studio, send that off, and they do a ], and then they send it to the animators. The animators watch and were pretty precise. What we film for that day is pretty close to what you see in the character."<ref name="ref1">{{cite news|url=https://ew.com/article/2006/10/05/who-gets-those-toon-toed-backyardigans-dance/|title=Who gets those 'toon-toed ''Backyardigans'' to dance?|last=Clarke|first=Eileen|date=October 4, 2006|work=Bring It On|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=2008-05-20|archive-date=2008-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520061040/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1542683,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Singing voice: ] (seasons 1–3) and Avion Baker (season 4)<br> | |||
Dancer: Hattie Mae Williams (seasons 1–4) | |||
=== |
===Main=== | ||
<!-- The characters are ordered based on Nick Jr's official website: https://web.archive.org/web/20061116140155/http://www.nickjr.com/shows/backyardigans/about/back_about_show.jhtml and character guide: https://issuu.com/dhosford/docs/by_sculpting_guide_rev Please do not change the order, see talk page. --> | |||
Pablo is a yellow-beaked blue ] who wears a blue bow tie and a blue-and-yellow propeller ]. Pablo tends to be the most excitable of the group and is best friends with Tyrone. Due to his energy and impetuousness, he often goes into a "panic attack" when he faces an obstacle, running around in circles and telling everyone not to worry until someone interrupts him. The number of panic attacks decreased considerably after the first season, though in the episode '']'' his propensity for getting overexcited is a major plot point. | |||
* {{anchor|Uniqua}}Uniqua is a pink-spotted unique creature who is curious, self-confident, and adventurous. She is best friends with Pablo and Tyrone. She likes to tell jokes and make her friends laugh. The series uses the name "Uniqua" for both the character and her species. She usually imagines herself having roles that require brains and courage, such as a scientist or pirate captain. Creator ] described Uniqua as the child she wished she was like as a child. She is the only Backyardigan to appear in every episode.<ref>{{cite interview|last=Burgess |first=Janice |url=http://www.nickjr.com/shows/backyardigans/backyardigans-show-info/meet-backyardigans-creator.jhtml |title=Meet the Creator of The Backyardigans! |publisher=NickJr.com |access-date=2008-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820062324/http://www.nickjr.com/shows/backyardigans/backyardigans-show-info/meet-backyardigans-creator.jhtml|archive-date=August 20, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Voices are provided by: | |||
** LaShawn Jefferies - speaking | |||
** ] - singing, Seasons 1-3 | |||
** Avion Baker - singing, Season 4 | |||
** Lizzie Waterworth - UK dub | |||
* Pablo is a blue ] who is high-strung, frenetic, and tends to overreact. Due to his energy and impetuousness, he often goes into a "panic attack" when he faces an obstacle, running around in circles and telling his friends not to worry until someone gets his attention by calling his name three times. Pablo's panic attacks became less prominent after the first season, though in the later episode "The Flipper!", his propensity for getting overexcited is the main plot point. He is best friends with Uniqua and Tyrone. Voices are provided by: | |||
** ] - speaking, Season 1 | |||
** ] - speaking, Seasons 2-4 | |||
** ] - singing | |||
** Janet James - UK dub | |||
* Tyrone is a red-haired orange ] who is laid-back and cool-headed. He is best friends with Pablo and Uniqua, and he is almost the complete opposite of Pablo in terms of personality, with his calm and easygoing character. Tyrone is known for his sarcastic comments, one of them being "That certainly was convenient." At the end of most episodes, he says, "That was an excellent adventure, don't you think?" Despite not appearing to wear pants, Tyrone somehow manages to put his hands in his pockets. Voices are provided by: | |||
** Reginald Davis Jr. - speaking, Season 1 to Season 2 Episode 3 | |||
** Jordan Coleman - speaking, Season 2 Episode 4 to Season 3 | |||
** Chris Grant Jr. - speaking, Season 4 | |||
** ] - singing, Season 1 | |||
** ] - singing, Season 2 to Season 3 Episode 5 | |||
** Damani Roberts - singing, Season 3 Episodes 6-8 | |||
** ] - singing, Season 3 Episode 9 to Season 4 | |||
** ] - UK dub, Seasons 1-2 | |||
** ] - UK dub, Seasons 3 & 4 | |||
* Tasha is a strong-willed yellow ] who is rational, skeptical, and highly motivated to get her own way. She is the most serious of the Backyardigans, though she can be just as easy going as the others from time to time. Her catchphrase is "Oh, for goodness sakes." Nickelodeon describes Tasha as "deceptively sweet" and "tough-as-nails." Voices are provided by: | |||
** ] - speaking, US, Seasons 1-2 | |||
** Gianna Bruzzese - speaking, US, Seasons 3-4 | |||
** ] - singing, Season 1 to Season 3 Episode 5 | |||
** Gabriella Malek - singing, Season 3 Episode 6 to Season 4 | |||
** Maria Darling - UK dub, Seasons 1-2 | |||
** Emma Tate - UK dub, Seasons 3-4 | |||
* Austin is a shy but fun-loving purple ]. In the first season, he is reserved and soft-spoken due to recently moving into the neighborhood. In later episodes, Austin becomes more outgoing and is revealed to be smart and imaginative. Austin rarely appears in the spotlight, but takes the role of the lead character in several episodes. Beth Bogush described him as "the one pulling up the rear. He's kind of a get-along guy."<ref name="ref1" /> Voices are provided by: | |||
** ] - speaking | |||
** Thomas Sharkey - singing, Seasons 1-3 | |||
** Nicholas Barasch - singing, Season 4 | |||
** Lizzie Waterworth - UK dub | |||
===Recurring=== | |||
Pablo is absent for one episode, "]." | |||
*The Wormans are a fictional species of colorful ]-like creatures who speak in squeaks and gibberish. | |||
**Sherman (vocal effects by ]) is a small, orange-spotted yellow Worman. Sherman is easily scared due to his small size. | |||
*Dragon (vocal effects by Oliver Wyman, singing voice by ]) is a friendly, green-colored dragon who appears three times (the special "Tale of the Mighty Knights" and the episode "The Tale of the Not-So-Nice Dragon"). He hatched from a spotted egg and lives inside of Dragon Mountain. | |||
*Green-colored aliens with eyestalks appear four times: "Mission to Mars", "News Flash", "Los Galacticos", and "The Big Dipper Diner". | |||
*A hungry, irritable giant clam appears in "The Legend of the Volcano Sisters" and "The Great Dolphin Race". He is very protective of his pearl. He pants and acts like a dog. | |||
*Voices were included in the episodes "Secret Mission" and "It's Great to Be a Ghost!" that do not come from any shown character. | |||
*Robot Roscoe (voiced by Evan Mathew Weinstein) is a robot owned by Austin, who appears three times in the fourth season (the two-part special "Robot Rampage" and the episode "Elephant on the Run"). | |||
==Episodes== | |||
Speaking voice: Zach Tyler Eisen (season 1) and Jake Goldberg (seasons 2–4) <br> | |||
{{main|List of The Backyardigans episodes}} | |||
Singing voice: Sean Curley (seasons 1–4) <br> | |||
{{:List of The Backyardigans episodes}} | |||
Dancer: Tasha Cooper (seasons 1–3) and Steven Konopelski (seasons 3–4) | |||
== |
==Production== | ||
{{quote box|align=right|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|width=34em|style=max-width:40% | |||
Tyrone is a good-natured, yet somewhat fearful, red-haired orange ] who wears a red-and-blue striped shirt. He is almost the complete opposite of his best friend Pablo in terms of personality, despite his laid-back and cool-headed character and being known for his sarcastic comments, one of them being "That certainly was convenient." At the end of most episodes, he remarks, "That was an excellent ''(type)'' adventure, don't you think?" (though Pablo, Austin and Tasha recite the line when he is absent). Despite not appearing to wear trousers (except on rare occasions), Tyrone somehow manages to put his hands in his pockets. | |||
|quote=I really enjoy a big adventure. I think '']'' is one of the greatest films ever, not to mention '']''. I love those big films... I wanted to bring some of that fantastical nature to young children, but to do it in a way that is safe, hopefully not scary, and not 'imitatable' except in your head. | |||
|source=— Janice Burgess on the inspirations for ''The Backyardigans''<ref name="Techmedia">Seitz, Patrick. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214101/https://techmediatainment.blogspot.com/2009/12/animated-kids-show-backyardigans-began.html |date=2021-06-02}}, ''Tech-media-tainment'', December 10, 2009.</ref> | |||
}} | |||
] | |||
Burgess drew inspiration from ]s<ref>, {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719175201/https://www.press.org/sites/default/files/20060628_msmalls.pdf |date=July 19, 2014}}, ], June 28, 2006.</ref> when writing episodes of the show, as she wanted to adapt high-stakes stories for a young audience.<ref name="Techmedia" /> In an interview with the '']'', Burgess was asked what inspired the show; she responded, "I know this is going to sound very strange, but the things I really draw upon are action films. I like '']'', '']'', the ] ... I thought it would be fun to take kids on that big adventure."<ref>Owen, Rob. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403024407/http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/06281/727734-237.stm |date=2008-04-03}}, '']'', October 8, 2006. Accessed January 18, 2008. "Landing Keys was a treat for series creator Janice Burgess, a Squirrel Hill native and a 1974 graduate of The Ellis School."</ref> The character of Uniqua was based on how Burgess viewed herself as a child; as a result, Uniqua was written as the leader of the Backyardigans, and Uniqua was the only character who appeared in every episode. | |||
The main characters were based on designs by children's book author and illustrator ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 11, 2014 |title=Cartoon illustrator Yaccarino to read from his books |url=https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/cartoon-illustrator-yaccarino-to-read-from-his-5225279.php |newspaper=Connecticut Post |access-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207184039/https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/cartoon-illustrator-yaccarino-to-read-from-his-5225279.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Michael Lennicx, an artist at Nick Digital, co-designed the characters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://michaellennicx.com/NICKELODEON-MTV-NETWORKS|title=NICKELODEON + MTV NETWORKS - Michael Lennicx|website=michaellennicx.com|access-date=2024-03-06|archive-date=2019-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921174256/https://michaellennicx.com/NICKELODEON-MTV-NETWORKS|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Speaking voice: Reginald Davis (seasons 1–2), ] (seasons 2–3) and Christopher Grant, Jr. (season 4)<br> | |||
Singing voice: ] (season 1), ] (seasons 2–3), Damani Roberts (season 3) and ] (seasons 3–4)<br> | |||
Dancer: Greg Sinacori (seasons 1–4) | |||
Before Nickelodeon ordered the first season, two pilot episodes of ''The Backyardigans'' were made. The first was a live-action pilot titled "Me and My Friends,"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yvettehelinstudio.com/credits.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212033602/http://www.yvettehelinstudio.com/credits.html|archivedate=February 12, 2006|title=Yvette Helin Studios: Credits, Characters|date=2006|last=Helin|first=Yvette|quote=Me + My Friends ... Pilot evolved into cartoon 'The Backyardigans'}}</ref> filmed at ] in September 1998.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.yvettehelinstudio.com/GalleryMotionPictures/MOTIONPICTURESGALLERY.htm| title=Me and My Friends Pilot from Nickelodeon Studios| publisher=Yvette Helin Studio| access-date=July 11, 2015| archive-date=September 25, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925141248/http://www.yvettehelinstudio.com/GalleryMotionPictures/MOTIONPICTURESGALLERY.htm| url-status=live}}</ref> The characters were played by full-body puppets who danced on an indoor stage. The pilot was rejected by Nickelodeon, and Burgess decided to rework the concept into an animated show. In 2002, a second pilot was created; it was a computer-animated short produced at ].<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.tmfile.com/mark/?q=7814102| title=Backyardigans, 2002| publisher=TMFile| access-date=July 11, 2015}}</ref> The second pilot was greenlit by Nickelodeon to become a full-length series. Nickelodeon called the show "a home-grown ] property," as "the whole creative team... been part of the Nick Jr. family for years."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/nick-jr-steps-out-new-backyardigans-series|title=Nick Jr. Steps Out with New ''Backyardigans'' Series|work=]|last=Baisley|first=Sarah|date=October 11, 2004|quote=premieres at 11:00 am on Oct. 11, 2004.|access-date=July 27, 2019|archive-date=July 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727172115/https://www.awn.com/news/nick-jr-steps-out-new-backyardigans-series|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
====Noelle (Tasha)==== | |||
A strong-willed yellow ], Tasha wears an orange flowered dress and red shoes. She is a sweet girl on the outside, but is more rational and likes to get her own way. She is the most serious of the major characters, although Tasha can be just as easygoing from time to time. From the second season onward, she has a more amiable personality, as well as a more muscular appearance than the other characters. She tends to be grumpy if not the boss. Her catchphrase is "Oh, for goodness sakes!" | |||
In December 2009, Nick Jr. president Brown Johnson stated that Nickelodeon intended to keep the show running for "at least another five years. Maybe forever."<ref name="Techmedia" /> Nickelodeon believed that ''The Backyardigans'' was an ideal "evergreen" property: a series that would stay in production for a long time through multiple generations. A fifth season was planned in 2009.<ref name="Techmedia" /> However, in 2010, Burgess decided to end ''The Backyardigans'' to start working on Nickelodeon's newer projects: a revival series of '']''. Burgess brought the former ''Backyardigans'' crew onto ''Winx Club'' as well. This included lyricist McPaul Smith; writers Jeff Borkin, ], and ]; ] Sara Kamen; and ] Jonathan Foss. Burgess worked as a story editor, writer, and creative consultant on ''Winx Club''.<ref>Information taken from show credits. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602220703/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SzwOa6IZp8&t=4 |date=2021-06-02}}, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602220720/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaWE2WKvwrY&t=1325 |date=2021-06-02}}, 2011.</ref> The crew considered it a natural progression, as ''Winx Club'' was also a musical action-adventure show, but it targeted an older audience, allowing them to branch out. | |||
Speaking voice: ] (seasons 1–2) and Gianna Bruzzesse (seasons 3–4)<br> | |||
Singing voice: Kristin Danielle Klabunde (seasons 1–3) and Gabriella Malek (seasons 3–4)<br> | |||
Dancer: Darlene Dirstine (seasons 1–3) and Amanda Ulibarri (season 4) | |||
== |
== Reception == | ||
''The Backyardigans'' received eight ] nominations, and Burgess won the 2008 Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929062239/http://emmyonline.com/day_35th_creative_winners |date=2020-09-29}}, ]s, June 13, 2008.</ref> In a 2016 article for '']'', drama critic ] called ''The Backyardigans'' "a fabulously inventive TV show."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-spongebob-squarepants-musical-chicago-ae-0605-20160602-column.html|title=How SpongeBob SquarePants got his own musical in Chicago|last=Jones|first=Chris|website=]|author-link=Chris Jones (drama critic)|date=June 2, 2016|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-date=June 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620175006/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-spongebob-squarepants-musical-chicago-ae-0605-20160602-column.html|url-status=live}}</ref> '']''{{'}}s John Crichton gave the show a "hearty recommendation," citing its "enjoyable (and varied) music score, the character voices (both spoken and singing) and the impressive visual presentation."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/20828/the-backyardigans-cave-party/|title=''The Backyardigans'': Cave Party|work=]|last=Crichton|first=John|date=March 27, 2006|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215534/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/20828/the-backyardigans-cave-party/|url-status=live}}</ref> '']'' named the ''Backyardigans'' episode "The Swamp Creature" one of the best episodes of children's television.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/technology/2017/12/the-children-s-tv-canon-slate-critics-pick-the-episodes-of-children-s-television-of-all-time.html|title=The Children's TV Canon|work=]|date=December 21, 2017|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214540/https://slate.com/technology/2017/12/the-children-s-tv-canon-slate-critics-pick-the-episodes-of-children-s-television-of-all-time.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Austin is a shy but fun-loving purple ]. Though generally soft-spoken in the first season, due to recently moving in the neighborhood, Austin starts to come out of his shell as the series progresses. He is revealed to be smart and imaginative. Austin rarely appears in the spotlight, but takes the role of the lead character in several episodes. Says Bogush: "Austin's usually the one pulling up the rear. He's kind of a get-along guy."<ref name="ref1"/> Austin has been shown to occasionally display a more villainous side, such as in the episodes "High Tea" and "The Magic Skateboard." | |||
Critics noted that the series held broad appeal to older viewers, due to its high-quality music and focus on character-driven, non-educational stories. Susan Stewart of '']'' said "it's hard to say whether ''The Backyardigans'' is a fantasy for children or for their parents,"<ref name="nyt-knights" /> commending the show's animation and storytelling. ]'s Emily Ashby wrote, "It's not always easy to find a show you like as much as your youngsters do, but ''The Backyardigans'' definitely has the potential to fit that bill."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-backyardigans|work=]|title=''The Backyardigans'' Review|last=Ashby|first=Emily|date=13 September 2007|access-date=2 June 2021|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602220044/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-backyardigans|url-status=live}}</ref> Journalist ] wrote, "with each episode devoted not just to a separate quest but also to a different musical genre...the show blows you away with its artistic exactitude."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/magazine/16FOB-medium-t.html|title=Dancing with the Paws|work=]|date=August 16, 2009|last=Heffernan|first=Virginia|author-link=Virginia Heffernan|access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603011140/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/magazine/16FOB-medium-t.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Speaking voice: ] (seasons 1–4)<br> | |||
Singing voice: Thomas Sharkey (seasons 1–3) and Nicholas Barasch (season 4)<br> | |||
Dancer: Kristen Frost (seasons 1–4) | |||
In 2021, the songs "Castaways" and "Into the Thick of It" went viral on ], with the former appearing in more than 745,000 videos<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/the-backyardigans-castaway-tiktok-spotify/|title=TikTok and Spotify are making an old song from 'The Backyardigans' go viral|date=May 19, 2021|website=The Daily Dot|access-date=May 25, 2021|archive-date=May 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525224759/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/the-backyardigans-castaway-tiktok-spotify/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the latter appearing in more than 46,000 videos as of June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/into-the-thick-of-it-tiktok-trend|title=The "Into the Thick of It" Trend on TikTok Is Seriously Difficult|website=Distractify|date=4 June 2021|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=5 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605222112/https://www.distractify.com/p/into-the-thick-of-it-tiktok-trend|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to their success on TikTok, "Castaways" and "Into the Thick of It" reached number 5 and 13 respectively on the Spotify viral 50 chart in the US for the week beginning on June 10, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 June 2021|title=Spotify Viral 50|url=https://spotifycharts.com/viral/us/weekly/latest|url-status=live|website=Spotify Charts|publisher=]|access-date=17 June 2021|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204033645/https://spotifycharts.com/viral/us/weekly/latest}}</ref> | |||
===Recurring characters=== | |||
*'''Sherman''' – A small, orange-spotted yellow worm. Sherman is easily scared due to his small size. He plays a role in three episodes throughout the series: "The Heart Of The Jungle," "Polka Palace Party," and "Attack of the 50 Foot Worman." His voice is provided by Oliver Wyman. | |||
*'''Wormans''' – A fictional species of colorful, worm-like creatures who speak in squeaks and gibberish. They appear in every season of the series. | |||
*'''Dragon''' – A friendly, green-colored dragon who appears in three episodes of the series (the two-part episode "Tale of the Mighty Knights" and its sequel, "The Tale of the Not-So-Nice Dragon"). He hatched from a spotted egg and resides in Dragon Mountain. His voice is provided by Oliver Wyman. | |||
*'''Aliens''' – Green-colored aliens appear in four episodes of the series: "Mission To Mars," "News Flash," "Los Galacticos," and "The Big Dipper Diner." | |||
*'''Giant clam''' – A clam appearing in both "The Legend Of The Volcano Sisters" and "The Great Dolphin Race." It pants and acts like a dog. | |||
*'''Voices''' – Voices included in the episodes "Secret Mission" and "It's Great To Be A Ghost!" that do not come from any shown character. | |||
*'''Robot Roscoe''' – A robot owned by Austin who appears in three episodes from the fourth season (the two-part episode "Robot Rampage" and "Elephant on the Run"). His voice, as well as the other male robots, is provided by Evan Mathew Weinstein. | |||
== |
==Accolades== | ||
{|class="plainrowheaders sortable wikitable" | |||
The characters live in houses adjoining a large backyard common to the three central houses (Uniqua's, Pablo's and Tyrone's) that is transformed by imagination into various adventure settings. Each house roughly corresponds to the color scheme of the character: Uniqua in a pink house, Pablo lives in a blue one, and Tyrone in an orange one. Tasha's house, which is to the left of the three central houses, is yellow and Austin's, to the right, is partially obscured by a fence but what is visible is purple. The fence, which surrounds the combined properties of the three main characters (Uniqua, Pablo and Tyrone), has a gate in it which leads to Austin's house. The curve of the cul-de-sac allows the play area to be roughly equal in distance from each house's back door. | |||
|- | |||
!Award | |||
!Year | |||
!Category | |||
!Nominee(s) | |||
!Result | |||
!{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} | |||
|- | |||
!scope="row" rowspan="2"|] | |||
| align="center" rowspan="2"|] | |||
| ] | |||
| ''The Backyardigans'' | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
| align="center" rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://annieawards.org/legacy/35th-annie-awards|title=35th Annie Awards|accessdate=March 6, 2024|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828035858/https://annieawards.org/legacy/35th-annie-awards|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| Best Music In a Television Production | |||
| ], Robert Scull, and ] {{small|(for "International Super Spy")}} | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
|- | |||
!scope="row" rowspan="10"|] | |||
| align="center"|] | |||
| Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation | |||
| Jeff Astolfo | |||
| {{won}} | |||
| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_0607_creative_arts_winners_v2.pdf | title=Winners of The 34th Creative Arts Entertainment Emmy Awards | publisher=] | date=June 14, 2007 | access-date=June 16, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070618020250/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_34th_creative_winners.html| archive-date= June 18, 2007 | url-status= dead}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| align="center"|] | |||
| Outstanding Special Class Animated Program | |||
| ''The Backyardigans'' | |||
| {{won}} | |||
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announces 35th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award nominations|url=http://emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_35th_nominations.html|publisher=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203084039/http://emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_35th_nominations.html|archive-date=February 3, 2017|date=April 30, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| align="center" rowspan="3"|] | |||
| ] | |||
| ], Jonny Belt, Robert Scull, Ellen Martin, Scott Dyer, Pam Lehn, and Jennifer Hill | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
| align="center" rowspan="3"|<ref>{{cite web|title=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announces the 36th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award nominations|url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_0809_nominations_v2.pdf|publisher=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923162355/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_0809_nominations_v2.pdf|archive-date=September 23, 2016|date=May 14, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition | |||
| Evan Lurie and ] | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
|- | |||
| Outstanding Writing in Animation | |||
| ], Janice Burgess, and McPaul Smith | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
|- | |||
| align="center" |] | |||
| Outstanding Children's Animated Program | |||
| Janice Burgess, Robert Scull, Jonny Belt, Pam Lehn, Scott Dyer, Ellen Martin, Lynne Warner, Susan Ma, Jennifer Hill, and Sara Kamen | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announces the 37th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award nominations|url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_0910_nominations_v03.pdf|publisher=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204081719/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_0910_nominations_v03.pdf|archive-date=December 4, 2016|date=May 12, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| align="center"|] | |||
| Outstanding Children's Animated Program | |||
| Janice Burgess, Robert Scull, Jonny Belt, Pam Lehn, Scott Dyer, Ellen Martin, Lynne Warner, Jennifer Hill, and Sara Kamen | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_38th_nominations.pdf|title=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announces the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations|website=]|date=May 11, 2011|access-date=August 25, 2017|archive-date=June 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604155932/http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_38th_nominations.pdf}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| align="center"|] | |||
| Outstanding Writing in Animation | |||
| Adam Peltzman, Jeff Borkin, Kerri Grant, Scott Gray, Rodney Stringfellow, and Janice Burgess | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_39th_nominations.html |title=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Award Nominations |publisher=] |date=May 9, 2012 |access-date=September 29, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110083538/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_39th_nominations.html |archive-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| align="center"|] | |||
| Outstanding Music Direction and Composition | |||
| Evan Lurie and Doug Wieselman | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_40th_nominations.html |title=The 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations |publisher=emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |access-date=May 6, 2015 |date=May 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606100958/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_40th_nominations.html |archive-date=June 6, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| align="center"|] | |||
| Outstanding Music Direction and Composition | |||
| Evan Lurie and Doug Wieselman | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
| align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611205111/http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_41st_nominations_v03.8.pdf|url=http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_41st_nominations_v03.8.pdf|title=The 41st Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations|publisher=emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences|access-date=June 25, 2014|date=May 1, 2014|archive-date=June 11, 2022}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
!scope="row" rowspan="2"|] | |||
| align="center"|] | |||
| Best Pre-School Program or Series | |||
| Scott Dyer, Jocelyn Hamilton, Ellen Martin, Doug Murphy, Tracey Dodokin, Jennifer Hill, Janice Burgess, Robert Scull, and Patricia R. Burns | |||
| {{won}} | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| align="center"|] | |||
| Best Pre-School Program or Series | |||
| Scott Dyer, Janice Burgess, Jocelyn Hamilton, Jennifer Hill, Pam Lehn, Ellen Martin, and Doug Murphy | |||
| {{nom}} | |||
| | |||
|} | |||
==Related media== | |||
Not everything that appears in the imaginary world has a real-world counterpart. Often ]s, ]s, brickwork, or similar objects appear where nothing originally existed. By the same token, even large trees in the real garden disappear completely when the imagination part of the story commences. | |||
===Live events=== | |||
] of the ] advertising a ''Backyardigans'' live event in 2008]] | |||
''The Backyardigans'' was adapted into several stage shows. These included 2008's "Tale of the Mighty Knights" and 2010's "Storytime Live!" (an event featuring other ] characters from '']'', '']'', and '']'', as well as hosts ]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nicklivetour.com/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306181630/http://nicklivetour.com/index.html|title=Storytime Live!|archive-date=6 March 2010|work=nicklivetour.com}}</ref> In Canada, separate live shows called "Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens" (2008) and "Sea Deep in Adventure" (2009) were created.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebackyardigansontour.com/ |title=The Backyardigans On Tour: Sea Deep in Adventure |work=Live On Stage Fall 2009 |publisher=The Backyardigans on tour |access-date=2009-09-11 |archive-date=2009-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018080738/http://www.thebackyardigansontour.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==Episodes== | |||
{{Main|List of The Backyardigans episodes}} | |||
{{:List of The Backyardigans episodes}} | |||
===Merchandise=== | |||
Seventy-nine episodes of ''The Backyardigans'' were broadcast. | |||
] released a ''The Backyardigans'' PC game, "Mission to Mars," in October 2006. There are interactive ''Backyardigans'' games made for the ] and ]'s ] consoles. There is also a ] ] game titled "Number Pie Samurai," teaching children necessary computer skills. | |||
From 2005 to 2007 ] had a section devoted to the series' merchandise, including a clothing line and toys exclusively in-store. | |||
==Production== | |||
The series was based upon a live-action pilot titled "Me and My Friends," produced at ] in September 1998.<ref name="Me and My Friends Nickelodeon Pilot from Nickelodeon Studios">{{Cite web| url=http://www.yvettehelinstudio.com/GalleryMotionPictures/MOTIONPICTURESGALLERY.htm| title=Me and My Friends Pilot from Nickelodeon Studios| publisher=Yvette Helin Studio| accessdate=July 11, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Me and My Friends Nickelodeon Pilot, Rick Lyon with Nickelodeon Studios">{{Cite web| url=http://www.lyonpuppets.com/meercats.html| title=Me and My Friends Pilot, Rick Lyon Puppeteer| publisher=Rick Lyon| accessdate=July 11, 2015}}</ref> This pilot was rejected by Nickelodeon, and the concept was reworked into an animated short in 2002.<ref name ="Backyardigans, 2002">{{Cite web| url=http://www.tmfile.com/mark/?q=7814102| title=Backyardigans, 2002| publisher=TMFile| accessdate=July 11, 2015}}</ref> This pilot was greenlit by Nickelodeon to become a full-length series. | |||
Over one hundred storybooks (both original stories and episode-based) were released throughout the series' run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/backyardigans?No=20&Nrpp=20&_requestid=265936&fs=0|title=The Backyardigans - Barnes & Noble|author=Barnes & Noble|work=Barnes & Noble|access-date=2015-08-27|archive-date=2015-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923192351/http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/backyardigans?No=20&Nrpp=20&_requestid=265936&fs=0|url-status=live}}</ref> Most of these were released in both Canada and the United States; however, a 2006 series of educational books were exclusively sold in Canada under the license of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.busyhandseducation.com/product/the-backyardigans-thinking-skills/|title=Treehouse TV Backyardigans Books|author=Busy Hands Education|work=BusyHandsEducation.com|access-date=2015-08-27|archive-date=2015-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929014550/http://www.busyhandseducation.com/product/the-backyardigans-thinking-skills/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
Dave Palmer began directing the show in the middle of season one, and directed all subsequent episodes. ] (of The Lounge Lizards) and Douglas Wieselman composed the music for the show with lyrics by McPaul Smith. The characters were designed by children's author and illustrator Dan Yaccarino. | |||
] produced numerous plush toys and interactive character toys (mostly Uniqua, Pablo, and Tyrone). There are also Beanie Babies of the main characters available. | |||
A second season had been announced on April 30, 2006 by Nelvana and ].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.corusent.com/corporate/press_room/pressReleaseDetail.asp?id=1033|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127145130/http://www.corusent.com/corporate/press_room/pressReleaseDetail.asp?id=1033|archivedate=2008-01-27 |title=Nick Jr. And Nelvana Announce A Second Season Of The Backyardigans |location=Cannes, France |publisher=Corus Entertainment |date=April 3, 2006 |accessdate=2008-12-27}}</ref> The third season was first released in the United States in January 2008. A fourth season was produced in 2009, and aired in 2010. | |||
===Distribution=== | |||
Production was wrapped up in late 2009.<ref name ="Dave Palmer - Biography">{{Cite web| url=http://www.bydavepalmer.com/about/biography/| title=Dave Palmer - Biography| accessdate=2015-08-10}}</ref> | |||
] handled distribution and marketing of the series worldwide, except in the United States, where it was handled by co-producer Nickelodeon.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.awn.com/news/nelvana-mixes-slate-pre-sold-house-offerings | title=Nelvana Mixes Slate with Pre-Sold & In-House Offerings | access-date=2023-12-31 | archive-date=2023-12-31 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231215107/https://www.awn.com/news/nelvana-mixes-slate-pre-sold-house-offerings | url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
== |
===Home media=== | ||
In the United States, the show's 80 episodes were released across a series of 21 DVD releases. Ten episodes of the first season were also released to ] across five volumes. Viacom's ] published all of the show's video releases. Outside North America, Paramount released ] under a separate deal with Nelvana, with this worldwide deal later transitioning to ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/fremantlemedia-grabs-backyardigans-dvd-rights-108135/|title=FremantleMedia grabs 'Backyardigans' DVD rights|website=]|date=March 28, 2008|access-date=July 13, 2021|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713215953/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/fremantlemedia-grabs-backyardigans-dvd-rights-108135/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?ID=1346| title=COMING SOON TO BACKYARDS AROUND THE WORLD -- THE BACKYARDIGANS ON DVD FROM FREMANTLE| publisher=Diana Pitt| access-date=2015-08-10| archive-date=2015-09-23| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210638/http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?ID=1346| url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
Several ''The Backyardigans'' theatrical performances have toured Canada and the United States. | |||
====Main releases==== | |||
In Canada, three different performances have toured: "Musical Playdate" (2006), "Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens" (2008) and "Sea Deep in Adventure" (2009).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebackyardigansontour.com |title=The Backyardigans On Tour: Sea Deep in Adventure |author= |date= |work=Live On Stage Fall 2009 |publisher=The Backyardigans on tour |accessdate= }}</ref> The "Musical Playdate" performance had been promoted as "V.I.P. Appearance" and "Backyardigans Mini Performance" in earlier advertisements. All three tours were presented by Paquin Entertainment Group<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paquinentertainment.com/agency-roster-bio.php?art_id=203 |title=Paquin |author=Paquin Entertainment Group |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=30 August 2010}}</ref> and produced by Koba Entertainment,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://koba-entertainment.com/the-backyardigans-bio.php |title=The Backyardigans |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Koba Entertainment |accessdate=30 August 2010}}</ref> both based in ]. | |||
In the United States, two theatrical performances toured: 2008's "Tale of the Mighty Knights" and 2010's "Storytime Live!" (an event featuring four other ] shows: '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nicklivetour.com/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306181630/http://nicklivetour.com/index.html|title=Storytime Live!|archivedate=6 March 2010|work=nicklivetour.com}}</ref> | |||
==Video releases== | |||
===DVD releases=== | |||
In the United States, twenty-two DVDs featuring four episodes each were released from August 2005 until March 2011. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Name | |||
! Release Date | |||
! Number of Episodes | |||
! Episode Titles | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''It's Great to Be a Ghost!'' | |||
! Season One | |||
| August 30, 2005 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "It's Great to Be a Ghost!" | |||
* "Monster Detectives" | |||
* "The Key to the Nile" | |||
* "Pirate Treasure" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''The Snow Fort'' | |||
|It's Great to Be a Ghost! (2005) | |||
| November 8, 2005 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "The Snow Fort" | |||
* "The Yeti" | |||
* "Knights Are Brave and Strong" | |||
* "Secret Mission" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Polka Palace Party'' | |||
|The Snow Fort (2005) | |||
| January 24, 2006 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Polka Palace Party" | |||
* "High Tea" | |||
* "The Heart of the Jungle" | |||
* "Viking Voyage" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| |
| ''Cave Party'' | ||
| March 7, 2006 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Cave Party" | |||
* "Race Around the World" | |||
* "Eureka!" | |||
* "Castaways" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Surf's Up!'' | |||
|Cave Party (2006) | |||
| May 30, 2006 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Surf's Up!" | |||
* "Riding the Range" | |||
* "Race to the Tower of Power" | |||
* "The Quest for the Flying Rock" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Mission to Mars'' | |||
|Surf's Up (2006) | |||
| October 10, 2006 | |||
|} | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Mission to Mars" | |||
* "Samurai Pie" | |||
* "Scared of You" | |||
* "Whodunit" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''The Legend of the Volcano Sisters'' | |||
! Season Two | |||
| February 6, 2007 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "The Legend of the Volcano Sisters" | |||
* "The Swamp Creature" | |||
* "Horsing Around" | |||
* "Special Delivery" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Movers & Shakers'' | |||
|Mission to Mars (2006) | |||
| May 29, 2007 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Movers of Arabia" | |||
* "Cops and Robots" | |||
* "Sinbad Sails Alone" | |||
* "Best Clowns in Town" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Into the Deep'' | |||
|The Legend of the Volcano Sisters (2007) | |||
| July 31, 2007 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Into the Deep" | |||
* "Save the Day" | |||
* "News Flash!" | |||
* "Catch that Butterfly" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Super Secret Super Spy'' | |||
|Movers and Shakers (2007) | |||
| September 18, 2007 | |||
| align="center" | 3 | |||
| | |||
* "International Super Spy" | |||
* "The Secret of Snow" | |||
* "A Giant Problem" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| |
| ''Tale of the Mighty Knights'' | ||
| February 26, 2008 | |||
| align="center" | 3 | |||
| | |||
* "Tale of the Mighty Knights" | |||
* "Blazing Paddles" | |||
* "Garbage Trek" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''High Flying Adventures!'' | |||
|Super Secret Super Spy (2007) | |||
| May 13, 2008 | |||
|} | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Fly Girl" | |||
* "Who Goes There?" | |||
* "What's Bugging You?" | |||
* "Chicken-Itza Pizza" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Mighty Match-Up!'' | |||
! Season Three | |||
| July 8, 2008 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Match on Mt. Olympus" | |||
* "The Great Dolphin Race" | |||
* "Ranch Hands from Outer Space" | |||
* "Caveman's Best Friend" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Escape from Fairytale Village!'' | |||
|Tale of the Mighty Knights (2008) | |||
| October 7, 2008 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Escape from Fairytale Village!" | |||
* "Front Page News!" | |||
* "Le Master of Disguise" | |||
* "Pirate Camp" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Robin Hood the Clean'' | |||
|High Flying Adventures (2008) | |||
| February 10, 2009 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Robin Hood the Clean" | |||
* "The Two Musketeers" | |||
* "The Masked Retriever" | |||
* "To the Center of the Earth" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Singing Sensation!'' | |||
|Mighty Match-Up (2008) | |||
| August 4, 2009 | |||
| align="center" | 21 | |||
| | |||
'''Songs:''' | |||
* "A Pirate Says Arrr!" | |||
* "Save the Day" | |||
* "Sinbad the Sailor" | |||
* "Ya Gotta Have Pirattitude" | |||
* "Viking Song" | |||
* "A Message, A Message" (tune: "]") | |||
* "On Top of the World" | |||
* "We're Knights, That's Right!" | |||
* "Not an Egg Anymore" (featuring ]) | |||
* "Everything is Filthy in Flithingham" | |||
* "Ready for Anything" | |||
* "Bad Bots" | |||
* "Can't Stop the Cops" (tune: "]") | |||
* "Intergalactic Garbage Trek" | |||
* "Front Page News" | |||
* "Going to Mars" | |||
* "Riding the Range" | |||
* "Go, Go, Go" | |||
* "The Yeti Stomp" | |||
* "International Super Spy" | |||
* "The Lady in Pink" (featuring ]) | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Robot Repairman'' | |||
|Escape from Fairytale Village (2008) | |||
| October 13, 2009 | |||
| align="center" | 3 | |||
| | |||
* "Robot Rampage" | |||
* "Catch that Train!" | |||
* "Attack of the 50 Foot Worman" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| |
| ''Join the Adventurer's Club'' | ||
| January 5, 2010 | |||
|} | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Follow the Feather" | |||
* "Dragon Express" | |||
* "The Funnyman Boogeyman" | |||
* "Flower Power" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Escape from the Tower'' | |||
! Season Four | |||
| March 30, 2010 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Break Out!" | |||
* "Los Galacticos" | |||
* "For the Love of Socks!" | |||
* "The Tale of the No-So-Nice Dragon" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Operation Elephant Drop'' | |||
|Robot Repairman (2009) | |||
| July 13, 2010 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Elephant on the Run" | |||
* "The Magic Skateboard" | |||
* "The Flipper!" | |||
* "Super Team Awesome!" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Christmas with the Backyardigans'' | |||
|Join the Adventurer's Club (2010) | |||
| October 5, 2010 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve" | |||
* "The Big Dipper Diner" | |||
* "Pablor and the Acorns" | |||
* "The Amazing Splashinis" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''We Arrrr Pirates!'' | |||
|Escape From the Tower (2010) | |||
| March 8, 2011 | |||
|- | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
|Operation Elephant Drop (2010) | |||
| |
| | ||
* "Pirate Camp" | |||
|Christmas with the Backyardigans (2010) | |||
* "Pirate Treasure" | |||
|- | |||
* "Sinbad Sails Alone" | |||
|We ARRRR Pirates! (2011) | |||
* "The Tale of the Not-So-Nice Dragon" | |||
|} | |} | ||
====Episodes on Nick Jr. compilation DVDs==== | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Name | |||
! Release Date | |||
! Number of Episodes | |||
! Episode Titles | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 2'' | |||
! Compilations | |||
| October 18, 2005 | |||
|- | |||
| align="center" | 1 | |||
|Nick Jr. Favorites 2 (2005) | |||
| |
| | ||
* "The Quest for the Flying Rock" | |||
|Nick Jr. Favorites 3 (2006) | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Nick Jr. Favorites |
| ''Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 3'' | ||
| February 7, 2006 | |||
| align="center" | 1 | |||
| | |||
* "Race to the Tower of Power" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Nick Jr. Favorites |
| ''Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 4'' | ||
| June 6, 2006 | |||
| align="center" | 1 | |||
| | |||
* "Pirate Treasure" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Nick Jr. Favorites Holiday |
| ''Nick Jr. Favorites Holiday'' | ||
| September 26, 2006 | |||
| align="center" | 1 | |||
| | |||
* "The Snow Fort" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Nick Jr. Favorites |
| ''Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 5'' | ||
| March 13, 2007 | |||
| align="center" | 1 | |||
| | |||
* "Knights Are Brave and Strong" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 6'' | |||
|Singing Sensation! (2009) | |||
| August 7, 2007 | |||
|- | |||
| align="center" | 1 | |||
|We ARRRR Pirates! (2011) | |||
| | |||
* "Monster Detectives" | |||
|} | |} | ||
=== |
====British releases==== | ||
Five videotapes featuring two episodes each were released in 2005 and 2006; the titles were the same as the first five American DVDs. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Name | |||
! Release Date | |||
! Number of Episodes | |||
! Episode Titles | |||
|- | |||
| ''Polka Palace Party'' | |||
| August 28, 2006 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Polka Palace Party" | |||
* "High Tea" | |||
* "The Heart of the Jungle" | |||
* "Viking Voyage" | |||
|- | |||
| ''Cave Party'' | |||
| February 5, 2007 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Cave Party" | |||
* "Race Around the World" | |||
* "Eureka!" | |||
* "Castaways" | |||
|- | |||
| ''Surf's Up'' | |||
| July 2, 2007 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "Surf's Up" | |||
* "Riding the Range" | |||
* "Race to the Tower of Power" | |||
* "The Quest for the Flying Rock" | |||
|- | |||
| ''The Snow Fort'' | |||
| October 15, 2007 | |||
| align="center" | 4 | |||
| | |||
* "The Snow Fort" | |||
* "The Yeti" | |||
* "Knights Are Brave and Strong" | |||
* "Secret Mission" | |||
|- | |||
| ''Mission to Mars'' | |||
| June 16, 2008 | |||
| align="center" | 5 | |||
| | |||
* "Mission to Mars" | |||
* "Samurai Pie" | |||
* "Scared of You" | |||
* "Whodunit" | |||
* "The Legend of the Volcano Sisters" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''The Secret of Snow'' | |||
! VHS releases | |||
| October 27, 2008 | |||
| align="center" | 15 | |||
| | |||
* "The Secret of Snow" | |||
* "The Swamp Creature" | |||
* "Horsing Around" | |||
* "Special Delivery" | |||
* "International Super Spy: Part 1" | |||
* "International Super Spy: Part 2" | |||
* "News Flash" | |||
* "Catch that Butterfly" | |||
* "A Giant Problem" | |||
* "Who Goes There?" | |||
* "Blazing Paddles" | |||
* "Rubbish Trek" | |||
* "Fly Girl" | |||
* "What's Bugging You?" | |||
* "Chichen-Itza Pizza" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Into the Deep'' | |||
|It's Great to Be a Ghost! (2005) | |||
| February 16, 2009 | |||
| align="center" | 5 | |||
| | |||
* "Cops and Robots" | |||
* "Sinbad Sails Alone" | |||
* "Best Clowns in Town" | |||
* "Save the Day" | |||
* "Into the Deep" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Tale of the Mighty Knights'' | |||
|The Snow Fort (2005) | |||
| April 13, 2009 | |||
| align="center" | 5 | |||
| | |||
* "To the Centre of the Earth" | |||
* "Front Page News" | |||
* "Tale of the Mighty Knights: Part 1" | |||
* "Tale of the Mighty Knights: Part 2" | |||
* "Le Master of Disguise" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Movers of Arabia'' | |||
|Polka Palace Party (2006) | |||
| June 29, 2009 | |||
| align="center" | 5 | |||
| | |||
* "Movers of Arabia" | |||
* "Match on Mt. Olympus" | |||
* "The Great Dolphin Race" | |||
* "Caveman's Best Friend" | |||
* "Ranch Hands from Outer Space" | |||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Robin Hood the Clean'' | |||
|Cave Party (2006) | |||
| August 31, 2009 | |||
| align="center" | 5 | |||
| | |||
* "Robin Hood the Clean" | |||
* "Escape from Fairytale Village" | |||
* "Pirate Camp" | |||
* "The Two Musketeers" | |||
* "The Masked Retriever" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Surf's Up (2006) | |||
|} | |} | ||
===iTunes releases=== | ====iTunes releases==== | ||
All four seasons have been released on iTunes in Canada and the |
All four seasons have been released on the ] in Canada and the United States; however, the US iTunes Store is missing three episodes from the first season: "Secret Mission," "It's Great to Be a Ghost!," and "High Tea". | ||
==CD releases== | ===CD releases=== | ||
There were |
There were three ''The Backyardigans'' albums released in North America, and one album released in Europe. Each has approximately 20 tracks, while ''Born to Play'' has four bonus tracks only available on the iTunes Store. | ||
===The |
====''The Backyardigans''==== | ||
Released |
Released on July 12, 2005, under ]' label. This is the first album sold in stores. It debuted at #32 on the Billboard 200, selling 46,000 copies its first week. It contains nineteen tracks from the first season, including the opening theme. | ||
The CD also contains a bonus video track titled "Go, Go, Go!" | |||
# The Backyardigans Theme Song | # "The Backyardigans Theme Song" | ||
# "You and Me to the Rescue" | |||
# Yeti Stomp | |||
# "]" | |||
# Secret Agent | |||
# "Questing, Questing" | |||
# Please and Thank You | |||
# "A Pirate Says Arr" | |||
# Preview | |||
# "Yeti Stomp!" | |||
# "Queens are Never Wrong" | |||
# "Those Bones" (tune: "]") | |||
# "Buffalo Girls & Boys" (tune: "]") | |||
# "Trudge, Trudge, Trudge" | |||
# "Secret Agent" | |||
# "Laser Limbo Tango" (tune: "]") | |||
# "Row Your Boat" (tune: "]") | |||
# "Into the Thick of It" | |||
# "P.U.! (Stinky Swamp Song)" | |||
# "Flying Rock Song (II)" (tune: "]") | |||
# "When I'm Booin'" (tune: "]") | |||
# "Please and Thank You" (tune: "]") | |||
# "Rockabilly Lullaby (Hush Little Mermaid)" | |||
=== |
====''Groove to the Music''==== | ||
This second CD was released on July 11, 2006, under Nick Records' label. It contains eighteen tracks from Seasons 1 and 2. | |||
# "Hold Tight" | |||
# The Backyardigans Theme Song | |||
# "Gotta Get the Job Done" | |||
# You and Me to the Rescue | |||
# "Shake Your Body" | |||
# Castaways | |||
# "Rad Moves" | |||
# Questing, Questing | |||
# "We're Going to Mars" | |||
# A Pirate Says Arr | |||
# "Drumming Song" | |||
# Yeti Stomp! | |||
# "Eureka!" | |||
# Queens Are Never Wrong | |||
# |
# "The Rules" | ||
# "Tree to Tree" | |||
# Buffalo Girls and Boys | |||
# "What's So Scary 'Bout That?" | |||
# Trudge, Trudge, Trudge | |||
# "The Ballad of the Brave Pink Knight" | |||
# Secret Agent | |||
# "I Love Being a Princess" | |||
# Laser Limbo Tango (Limbo Rock) | |||
# "Aha!" | |||
# Row Your Boat | |||
# "Skate Ahead" | |||
# Into the Thick of It! | |||
# "We'll Get You What You Want" | |||
# P.U.! (Stinky Swamp Song) | |||
# "Ski Patrol to the Rescue" | |||
# Flying Rock Song (II) | |||
# "Super Heroes vs. Super Villains" | |||
# When I'm Booing | |||
# "Oh, My Sherman" (tune: "]") | |||
# Please and Thank You | |||
# Rockabilly Lullaby | |||
=== |
====''Born to Play''==== | ||
The third and final ''Backyardigans'' CD was released on January 22, 2008, under ]'s label. It contains songs from Seasons 1 and 2, as well as all the songs from "Tale of the Mighty Knights". There is a total of 22 tracks. This album was released in a cardboard foldout case, rather than a jewel case like the previous two releases. ] carried the jewel case release exclusively, which included a booklet. | |||
This second CD was released on July 11, 2006, under Nick Records' label. It contains eighteen tracks from seasons one and two. Target sold an exclusive release including ''Astronauts Never Give Up'', totaling nineteen tracks. | |||
=====Tracks from 1 to 16===== | |||
# Hold Tight | |||
# "Ready for Anything" | |||
# Gotta Get the Job Done | |||
# "We Love a Luau" | |||
# Shake Your Body | |||
# "Dancin' the Worman Polka" | |||
# Rad Moves | |||
# "I Feel Good" | |||
# We're Going to Mars | |||
# "Go, Go, Go!" | |||
# Drumming Song | |||
# "The Customer is Always Right" | |||
# Eureka! | |||
# "Surf's Up, Ho Daddy" | |||
# The Rules | |||
# "Almost Everything is Boinga" (featuring ]) | |||
# Tree to Tree | |||
# "Nothing Too Tough" | |||
# What's So Scary About That? | |||
# "W-I-O-Wa" | |||
# The Ballad of the Brave Pink Knight (Hey, Uniqua!) | |||
# "I'm a Mountie" (tune: "]") | |||
# I Love Being a Princess | |||
# "Racing Day" | |||
# Aha! | |||
# "I Never Fail to Deliver the Mail" | |||
# Skate Ahead | |||
# "Lady in Pink" (featuring ]) | |||
# We'll Get You What You Want | |||
# "Nobody's Bigger Than a Giant" | |||
# Ski Patrol to the Rescue | |||
# "Hurry Home" | |||
# Super Heroes vs. Super Villains | |||
# Oh, My Sherman | |||
# Astronauts Never Give Up ''(exclusive track)'' | |||
=====Bonus Tracks from "Tale of the Mighty Knights"===== | |||
===Born To Play=== | |||
# "I Have a Challenge" | |||
The third and final ''The Backyardigans'' CD, it was released on January 22, 2008, under ]'s label. It contains songs from seasons 1-2, as well as all the songs from ]. There is a total of 22 tracks. There's also a special iTunes version of this album, containing 5 bonus tracks in addition to the 22 tracks, totaling 27 tracks. This album was released in a cardboard foldout case, rather than a jewel case like the previous two releases. ] carried the jewel case release exclusively, which included a booklet. This booklet was also included on the iTunes release as a file with purchase of a digital download. | |||
# "Dragon Mountain" | |||
# "That Goblin Has Grabbed" | |||
# "I'm Not an Egg Anymore" (featuring ]) | |||
# "Tweedily-Dee" | |||
# "We're Knights, That's Right" | |||
==References== | |||
# Ready for Anything | |||
{{reflist|1=30em}} | |||
# We Love a Luau | |||
# The Worman Polka | |||
# I Feel Good | |||
# Go, Go, Go | |||
# The Customer Is Always Right | |||
# Surf's Up, Ho Daddy | |||
# Almost Everything Is Boinga (feat. ]) | |||
# Nothing Too Tough | |||
# W-I-O-Wa | |||
# I'm a Mountie | |||
# Racing Day | |||
# I Never Fail to Deliver the Mail | |||
# Lady In Pink (feat. ]) | |||
# Nobody's Bigger Than a Giant | |||
# Hurry Home | |||
# A Challenge | |||
# Dragon Mountain | |||
# Goblin | |||
# I'm Not an Egg Anymore (feat. ]) | |||
# Tweedily Dee | |||
# We're Knights | |||
Bonus iTunes Tracks: | |||
23. Betcha I Can<br /> | |||
24. Phantom Footsteps<br /> | |||
25. Do It Myself<br /> | |||
26. The Call of the Mermaid | |||
===Join in the Adventures...=== | |||
Released in 2006, as part of a series launch tour in the United Kingdom. The album is near identical to the American-released counterpart, with ''Please and Thank You'' replaced with ''Questing.'' | |||
# The Backyardigans Theme Song | |||
# Yeti Stomp | |||
# Secret Agent | |||
# Questing | |||
==Merchandise== | |||
] released a ''The Backyardigans'' PC game, "Mission to Mars," in October 2006. In addition, there are interactive ''Backyardigans'' games available for the ] and ]'s ] consoles. There is also a ] ] game titled "Number Pie Samurai," teaching children basic computer skills. | |||
From 2005 to 2007, ] had a section devoted to the series' merchandise, including a clothing line and toys exclusively in store. | |||
Over one hundred storybooks (both original stories and episode-based) were released throughout the series' run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/backyardigans?No=20&Nrpp=20&_requestid=265936&fs=0|title=The Backyardigans - Barnes & Noble|author=Barnes & Noble|work=Barnes & Noble}}</ref> Most of these were released in both Canada and the United States; however, a 2006 series of educational books were exclusively sold in Canada under the license of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.busyhandseducation.com/product/the-backyardigans-thinking-skills/|title=Treehouse TV Backyardigans Books|author=Busy Hands Education|work=BusyHandsEducation.com}}</ref> | |||
] produced numerous plush toys and interactive character toys (mostly Uniqua, Pablo and Tyrone). All merchandise produced by Fisher-Price has been discontinued as of 2009. There are also ] of all the main characters available. | |||
== References == | |||
{{Reflist|30em}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 07:33, 11 January 2025
American-Canadian animated children's television series
The Backyardigans | |
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The main characters of the series. From left: Tyrone, Pablo, Uniqua, Austin, and Tasha | |
Also known as | Backyardigans |
Genre | |
Created by | Janice Burgess |
Directed by |
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Voices of |
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Composers | |
Country of origin |
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Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 80 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Running time | 21–23 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network |
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Release | October 11, 2004 (2004-10-11) – July 12, 2013 (2013-07-12) |
The Backyardigans (/bækˈjɑːrdɪɡənz/ bak-YAR-dih-gənz) is an animated musical children's television series created by Janice Burgess for Nickelodeon. The series was written and recorded at Nickelodeon Animation Studio. It centers on five anthropomorphic animal neighbors who imagine themselves on fantastic adventures in their backyard. The show's title is a portmanteau of "backyard" and "cardigan". Each episode is set to a different musical genre and features four songs, composed by Evan Lurie with lyrics by McPaul Smith. The Backyardigans' adventures span many different genres and settings. The show's writers took inspiration from action-adventure films, and many episodes are parodies of films.
Janice Burgess had worked as Nick Jr.'s production executive since the mid-1990s. The Backyardigans originated as a live-action pilot episode titled "Me and My Friends", filmed at Nickelodeon Studios Florida and completed in September 1998. The characters were played by full-body puppets on an indoor stage. The pilot was rejected by Nickelodeon, and Burgess decided to rework the concept into an animated series. In 2002, a second pilot was animated at Nickelodeon Digital in New York. The second pilot was successful, and the series entered production.
The show ran for four seasons, totaling 80 episodes. Most episodes aired on Nickelodeon on weekday mornings. In 2009, the show was planned to continue beyond the fourth season. However, in 2010, Burgess decided to move onto a different series: Nickelodeon's revival of Winx Club. Burgess worked as a creative director and writer for Winx Club before eventually retiring from Nickelodeon in 2014.
The Backyardigans received generally positive reviews from audiences and critics who consider it superior to Nickelodeon's other preschool shows because its writing was sophisticated and enjoyable for older viewers. The New York Times and Common Sense Media commended the show for including frequent nods to an older audience, such as references to action-adventure franchises. The quality of the show's music was also well received by critics, and the show received eight Daytime Emmy Award nominations for its music.
Plot
The show centers around a group of five animal neighbors named Uniqua, Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, and Austin. They share a large backyard between their houses. In each episode, they meet in the backyard and imagine themselves on a fantastical adventure. Their adventures span a variety of different genres and settings; many episodes involve visiting different parts of the world, traveling back or forward in time, and using magic or supernatural powers. The characters give themselves different jobs or roles depending on the episode's imaginary setting, such as detectives, knights, or scientists. From the second season onward, many episodes are parodies of action-adventure films such as James Bond, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, and Ghostbusters.
The openings and endings of the episodes follow a similar pattern. The stories begin with the characters in the backyard, introducing themselves and explaining the scenario they are about to imagine, which causes the backyard to transform into an environment fitting the scenario they are imagining. When the Backyardigans finish their adventure, their stomachs begin to growl, leading to them deciding to have a snack at one of their houses. As they return home, the fantasy sequence fades, restoring the original backyard setting. The characters sing a closing song, say their goodbyes to the audience, then walk inside the house that belongs to the snack inviter and close the door. As the episode ends, at least one character reopens the door and shouts a phrase related to the adventure.
The show follows the format of a stage musical. Each episode is set to a different genre of music and features four songs. The characters sing and dance to the songs with original choreography. The song and dance routines are often used to introduce a character's imaginary role, further the plot, or explain a problem. In addition to singing songs in a new genre each episode, the show's background music changes to match, scoring all of the Backyardigans' actions.
Characters
Each of the five main characters on the show has a separate voice actor in the original US dub for speaking and singing voices, while the voice actors in the UK dub provide both speaking and singing voices. Live-action dancers first performed the dancing on the show, and their movements were later transported to animation. The choreographer, Beth Bogush, described the process: "What we do is we film the live footage in the studio, send that off, and they do a Leica, and then they send it to the animators. The animators watch and were pretty precise. What we film for that day is pretty close to what you see in the character."
Main
- Uniqua is a pink-spotted unique creature who is curious, self-confident, and adventurous. She is best friends with Pablo and Tyrone. She likes to tell jokes and make her friends laugh. The series uses the name "Uniqua" for both the character and her species. She usually imagines herself having roles that require brains and courage, such as a scientist or pirate captain. Creator Janice Burgess described Uniqua as the child she wished she was like as a child. She is the only Backyardigan to appear in every episode. Voices are provided by:
- LaShawn Jefferies - speaking
- Jamia Simone Nash - singing, Seasons 1-3
- Avion Baker - singing, Season 4
- Lizzie Waterworth - UK dub
- Pablo is a blue penguin who is high-strung, frenetic, and tends to overreact. Due to his energy and impetuousness, he often goes into a "panic attack" when he faces an obstacle, running around in circles and telling his friends not to worry until someone gets his attention by calling his name three times. Pablo's panic attacks became less prominent after the first season, though in the later episode "The Flipper!", his propensity for getting overexcited is the main plot point. He is best friends with Uniqua and Tyrone. Voices are provided by:
- Zach Tyler Eisen - speaking, Season 1
- Jake Goldberg - speaking, Seasons 2-4
- Sean Curley - singing
- Janet James - UK dub
- Tyrone is a red-haired orange moose who is laid-back and cool-headed. He is best friends with Pablo and Uniqua, and he is almost the complete opposite of Pablo in terms of personality, with his calm and easygoing character. Tyrone is known for his sarcastic comments, one of them being "That certainly was convenient." At the end of most episodes, he says, "That was an excellent adventure, don't you think?" Despite not appearing to wear pants, Tyrone somehow manages to put his hands in his pockets. Voices are provided by:
- Reginald Davis Jr. - speaking, Season 1 to Season 2 Episode 3
- Jordan Coleman - speaking, Season 2 Episode 4 to Season 3
- Chris Grant Jr. - speaking, Season 4
- Corwin C. Tuggles - singing, Season 1
- Leon Thomas III - singing, Season 2 to Season 3 Episode 5
- Damani Roberts - singing, Season 3 Episodes 6-8
- Tyrel Jackson Williams - singing, Season 3 Episode 9 to Season 4
- Maria Darling - UK dub, Seasons 1-2
- Emma Tate - UK dub, Seasons 3 & 4
- Tasha is a strong-willed yellow hippopotamus who is rational, skeptical, and highly motivated to get her own way. She is the most serious of the Backyardigans, though she can be just as easy going as the others from time to time. Her catchphrase is "Oh, for goodness sakes." Nickelodeon describes Tasha as "deceptively sweet" and "tough-as-nails." Voices are provided by:
- Naelee Rae - speaking, US, Seasons 1-2
- Gianna Bruzzese - speaking, US, Seasons 3-4
- Kristin Klabunde - singing, Season 1 to Season 3 Episode 5
- Gabriella Malek - singing, Season 3 Episode 6 to Season 4
- Maria Darling - UK dub, Seasons 1-2
- Emma Tate - UK dub, Seasons 3-4
- Austin is a shy but fun-loving purple kangaroo. In the first season, he is reserved and soft-spoken due to recently moving into the neighborhood. In later episodes, Austin becomes more outgoing and is revealed to be smart and imaginative. Austin rarely appears in the spotlight, but takes the role of the lead character in several episodes. Beth Bogush described him as "the one pulling up the rear. He's kind of a get-along guy." Voices are provided by:
- Jonah Bobo - speaking
- Thomas Sharkey - singing, Seasons 1-3
- Nicholas Barasch - singing, Season 4
- Lizzie Waterworth - UK dub
Recurring
- The Wormans are a fictional species of colorful worm-like creatures who speak in squeaks and gibberish.
- Sherman (vocal effects by Oliver Wyman) is a small, orange-spotted yellow Worman. Sherman is easily scared due to his small size.
- Dragon (vocal effects by Oliver Wyman, singing voice by Adam Pascal) is a friendly, green-colored dragon who appears three times (the special "Tale of the Mighty Knights" and the episode "The Tale of the Not-So-Nice Dragon"). He hatched from a spotted egg and lives inside of Dragon Mountain.
- Green-colored aliens with eyestalks appear four times: "Mission to Mars", "News Flash", "Los Galacticos", and "The Big Dipper Diner".
- A hungry, irritable giant clam appears in "The Legend of the Volcano Sisters" and "The Great Dolphin Race". He is very protective of his pearl. He pants and acts like a dog.
- Voices were included in the episodes "Secret Mission" and "It's Great to Be a Ghost!" that do not come from any shown character.
- Robot Roscoe (voiced by Evan Mathew Weinstein) is a robot owned by Austin, who appears three times in the fourth season (the two-part special "Robot Rampage" and the episode "Elephant on the Run").
Episodes
Main article: List of The Backyardigans episodesSeason | Episodes | Originally released | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First released | Last released | |||
Pilots | 2 | Unaired | ||
1 | 20 | October 11, 2004 (2004-10-11) | June 19, 2006 (2006-06-19) | |
2 | 20 | October 9, 2006 (2006-10-09) | January 17, 2008 (2008-01-17) | |
3 | 20 | January 14, 2008 (2008-01-14) | June 5, 2009 (2009-06-05) | |
4 | 20 | October 26, 2009 (2009-10-26) | July 12, 2013 (2013-07-12) |
Production
— Janice Burgess on the inspirations for The BackyardigansI really enjoy a big adventure. I think Die Hard is one of the greatest films ever, not to mention Terminator 2. I love those big films... I wanted to bring some of that fantastical nature to young children, but to do it in a way that is safe, hopefully not scary, and not 'imitatable' except in your head.
Burgess drew inspiration from action films when writing episodes of the show, as she wanted to adapt high-stakes stories for a young audience. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Burgess was asked what inspired the show; she responded, "I know this is going to sound very strange, but the things I really draw upon are action films. I like Die Hard, Star Wars, the Tolkien movies ... I thought it would be fun to take kids on that big adventure." The character of Uniqua was based on how Burgess viewed herself as a child; as a result, Uniqua was written as the leader of the Backyardigans, and Uniqua was the only character who appeared in every episode.
The main characters were based on designs by children's book author and illustrator Dan Yaccarino. Michael Lennicx, an artist at Nick Digital, co-designed the characters.
Before Nickelodeon ordered the first season, two pilot episodes of The Backyardigans were made. The first was a live-action pilot titled "Me and My Friends," filmed at Nickelodeon Studios in September 1998. The characters were played by full-body puppets who danced on an indoor stage. The pilot was rejected by Nickelodeon, and Burgess decided to rework the concept into an animated show. In 2002, a second pilot was created; it was a computer-animated short produced at Nickelodeon Digital. The second pilot was greenlit by Nickelodeon to become a full-length series. Nickelodeon called the show "a home-grown Nick Jr. property," as "the whole creative team... been part of the Nick Jr. family for years."
In December 2009, Nick Jr. president Brown Johnson stated that Nickelodeon intended to keep the show running for "at least another five years. Maybe forever." Nickelodeon believed that The Backyardigans was an ideal "evergreen" property: a series that would stay in production for a long time through multiple generations. A fifth season was planned in 2009. However, in 2010, Burgess decided to end The Backyardigans to start working on Nickelodeon's newer projects: a revival series of Winx Club. Burgess brought the former Backyardigans crew onto Winx Club as well. This included lyricist McPaul Smith; writers Jeff Borkin, Adam Peltzman, and Carin Greenberg; line producer Sara Kamen; and script coordinator Jonathan Foss. Burgess worked as a story editor, writer, and creative consultant on Winx Club. The crew considered it a natural progression, as Winx Club was also a musical action-adventure show, but it targeted an older audience, allowing them to branch out.
Reception
The Backyardigans received eight Daytime Emmy Award nominations, and Burgess won the 2008 Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program. In a 2016 article for The Chicago Tribune, drama critic Chris Jones called The Backyardigans "a fabulously inventive TV show." DVD Talk's John Crichton gave the show a "hearty recommendation," citing its "enjoyable (and varied) music score, the character voices (both spoken and singing) and the impressive visual presentation." Slate named the Backyardigans episode "The Swamp Creature" one of the best episodes of children's television.
Critics noted that the series held broad appeal to older viewers, due to its high-quality music and focus on character-driven, non-educational stories. Susan Stewart of The New York Times said "it's hard to say whether The Backyardigans is a fantasy for children or for their parents," commending the show's animation and storytelling. Common Sense Media's Emily Ashby wrote, "It's not always easy to find a show you like as much as your youngsters do, but The Backyardigans definitely has the potential to fit that bill." Journalist Virginia Heffernan wrote, "with each episode devoted not just to a separate quest but also to a different musical genre...the show blows you away with its artistic exactitude."
In 2021, the songs "Castaways" and "Into the Thick of It" went viral on TikTok, with the former appearing in more than 745,000 videos and the latter appearing in more than 46,000 videos as of June 2021. Due to their success on TikTok, "Castaways" and "Into the Thick of It" reached number 5 and 13 respectively on the Spotify viral 50 chart in the US for the week beginning on June 10, 2021.
Accolades
Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annie Awards | 2007 | Best Animated Television Production for Children | The Backyardigans | Nominated | |
Best Music In a Television Production | Evan Lurie, Robert Scull, and Steven Bernstein (for "International Super Spy") | Nominated | |||
Daytime Emmy Awards | 2007 | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation | Jeff Astolfo | Won | |
2008 | Outstanding Special Class Animated Program | The Backyardigans | Won | ||
2009 | Outstanding Children's Animated Program | Janice Burgess, Jonny Belt, Robert Scull, Ellen Martin, Scott Dyer, Pam Lehn, and Jennifer Hill | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition | Evan Lurie and Doug Wieselman | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Writing in Animation | Adam Peltzman, Janice Burgess, and McPaul Smith | Nominated | |||
2010 | Outstanding Children's Animated Program | Janice Burgess, Robert Scull, Jonny Belt, Pam Lehn, Scott Dyer, Ellen Martin, Lynne Warner, Susan Ma, Jennifer Hill, and Sara Kamen | Nominated | ||
2011 | Outstanding Children's Animated Program | Janice Burgess, Robert Scull, Jonny Belt, Pam Lehn, Scott Dyer, Ellen Martin, Lynne Warner, Jennifer Hill, and Sara Kamen | Nominated | ||
2012 | Outstanding Writing in Animation | Adam Peltzman, Jeff Borkin, Kerri Grant, Scott Gray, Rodney Stringfellow, and Janice Burgess | Nominated | ||
2013 | Outstanding Music Direction and Composition | Evan Lurie and Doug Wieselman | Nominated | ||
2014 | Outstanding Music Direction and Composition | Evan Lurie and Doug Wieselman | Nominated | ||
Gemini Awards | 2007 | Best Pre-School Program or Series | Scott Dyer, Jocelyn Hamilton, Ellen Martin, Doug Murphy, Tracey Dodokin, Jennifer Hill, Janice Burgess, Robert Scull, and Patricia R. Burns | Won | |
2008 | Best Pre-School Program or Series | Scott Dyer, Janice Burgess, Jocelyn Hamilton, Jennifer Hill, Pam Lehn, Ellen Martin, and Doug Murphy | Nominated |
Related media
Live events
The Backyardigans was adapted into several stage shows. These included 2008's "Tale of the Mighty Knights" and 2010's "Storytime Live!" (an event featuring other Nick Jr. Channel characters from Dora the Explorer, Wonder Pets!, and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, as well as hosts Moose and Zee). In Canada, separate live shows called "Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens" (2008) and "Sea Deep in Adventure" (2009) were created.
Merchandise
Activision released a The Backyardigans PC game, "Mission to Mars," in October 2006. There are interactive Backyardigans games made for the LeapPad and VTech's V.Smile consoles. There is also a LeapFrog ClickStart game titled "Number Pie Samurai," teaching children necessary computer skills.
From 2005 to 2007 Kohl's had a section devoted to the series' merchandise, including a clothing line and toys exclusively in-store.
Over one hundred storybooks (both original stories and episode-based) were released throughout the series' run. Most of these were released in both Canada and the United States; however, a 2006 series of educational books were exclusively sold in Canada under the license of Treehouse TV.
Fisher-Price produced numerous plush toys and interactive character toys (mostly Uniqua, Pablo, and Tyrone). There are also Beanie Babies of the main characters available.
Distribution
Nelvana handled distribution and marketing of the series worldwide, except in the United States, where it was handled by co-producer Nickelodeon.
Home media
In the United States, the show's 80 episodes were released across a series of 21 DVD releases. Ten episodes of the first season were also released to VHS across five volumes. Viacom's Paramount Home Media Distribution published all of the show's video releases. Outside North America, Paramount released DVDs under a separate deal with Nelvana, with this worldwide deal later transitioning to Fremantle Home Entertainment.
Main releases
Name | Release Date | Number of Episodes | Episode Titles |
---|---|---|---|
It's Great to Be a Ghost! | August 30, 2005 | 4 |
|
The Snow Fort | November 8, 2005 | 4 |
|
Polka Palace Party | January 24, 2006 | 4 |
|
Cave Party | March 7, 2006 | 4 |
|
Surf's Up! | May 30, 2006 | 4 |
|
Mission to Mars | October 10, 2006 | 4 |
|
The Legend of the Volcano Sisters | February 6, 2007 | 4 |
|
Movers & Shakers | May 29, 2007 | 4 |
|
Into the Deep | July 31, 2007 | 4 |
|
Super Secret Super Spy | September 18, 2007 | 3 |
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Tale of the Mighty Knights | February 26, 2008 | 3 |
|
High Flying Adventures! | May 13, 2008 | 4 |
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Mighty Match-Up! | July 8, 2008 | 4 |
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Escape from Fairytale Village! | October 7, 2008 | 4 |
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Robin Hood the Clean | February 10, 2009 | 4 |
|
Singing Sensation! | August 4, 2009 | 21 |
Songs:
|
Robot Repairman | October 13, 2009 | 3 |
|
Join the Adventurer's Club | January 5, 2010 | 4 |
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Escape from the Tower | March 30, 2010 | 4 |
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Operation Elephant Drop | July 13, 2010 | 4 |
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Christmas with the Backyardigans | October 5, 2010 | 4 |
|
We Arrrr Pirates! | March 8, 2011 | 4 |
|
Episodes on Nick Jr. compilation DVDs
Name | Release Date | Number of Episodes | Episode Titles |
---|---|---|---|
Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 2 | October 18, 2005 | 1 |
|
Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 3 | February 7, 2006 | 1 |
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Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 4 | June 6, 2006 | 1 |
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Nick Jr. Favorites Holiday | September 26, 2006 | 1 |
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Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 5 | March 13, 2007 | 1 |
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Nick Jr. Favorites Vol. 6 | August 7, 2007 | 1 |
|
British releases
Name | Release Date | Number of Episodes | Episode Titles |
---|---|---|---|
Polka Palace Party | August 28, 2006 | 4 |
|
Cave Party | February 5, 2007 | 4 |
|
Surf's Up | July 2, 2007 | 4 |
|
The Snow Fort | October 15, 2007 | 4 |
|
Mission to Mars | June 16, 2008 | 5 |
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The Secret of Snow | October 27, 2008 | 15 |
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Into the Deep | February 16, 2009 | 5 |
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Tale of the Mighty Knights | April 13, 2009 | 5 |
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Movers of Arabia | June 29, 2009 | 5 |
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Robin Hood the Clean | August 31, 2009 | 5 |
|
iTunes releases
All four seasons have been released on the iTunes Store in Canada and the United States; however, the US iTunes Store is missing three episodes from the first season: "Secret Mission," "It's Great to Be a Ghost!," and "High Tea".
CD releases
There were three The Backyardigans albums released in North America, and one album released in Europe. Each has approximately 20 tracks, while Born to Play has four bonus tracks only available on the iTunes Store.
The Backyardigans
Released on July 12, 2005, under Nick Records' label. This is the first album sold in stores. It debuted at #32 on the Billboard 200, selling 46,000 copies its first week. It contains nineteen tracks from the first season, including the opening theme. The CD also contains a bonus video track titled "Go, Go, Go!"
- "The Backyardigans Theme Song"
- "You and Me to the Rescue"
- "Castaways"
- "Questing, Questing"
- "A Pirate Says Arr"
- "Yeti Stomp!"
- "Queens are Never Wrong"
- "Those Bones" (tune: "Dem Bones")
- "Buffalo Girls & Boys" (tune: "Buffalo Gals")
- "Trudge, Trudge, Trudge"
- "Secret Agent"
- "Laser Limbo Tango" (tune: "Limbo Rock")
- "Row Your Boat" (tune: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")
- "Into the Thick of It"
- "P.U.! (Stinky Swamp Song)"
- "Flying Rock Song (II)" (tune: "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here")
- "When I'm Booin'" (tune: "When You're Smiling")
- "Please and Thank You" (tune: "Shine On, Harvest Moon")
- "Rockabilly Lullaby (Hush Little Mermaid)"
Groove to the Music
This second CD was released on July 11, 2006, under Nick Records' label. It contains eighteen tracks from Seasons 1 and 2.
- "Hold Tight"
- "Gotta Get the Job Done"
- "Shake Your Body"
- "Rad Moves"
- "We're Going to Mars"
- "Drumming Song"
- "Eureka!"
- "The Rules"
- "Tree to Tree"
- "What's So Scary 'Bout That?"
- "The Ballad of the Brave Pink Knight"
- "I Love Being a Princess"
- "Aha!"
- "Skate Ahead"
- "We'll Get You What You Want"
- "Ski Patrol to the Rescue"
- "Super Heroes vs. Super Villains"
- "Oh, My Sherman" (tune: "Oh My Darling, Clementine")
Born to Play
The third and final Backyardigans CD was released on January 22, 2008, under Sony BMG's label. It contains songs from Seasons 1 and 2, as well as all the songs from "Tale of the Mighty Knights". There is a total of 22 tracks. This album was released in a cardboard foldout case, rather than a jewel case like the previous two releases. Borders carried the jewel case release exclusively, which included a booklet.
Tracks from 1 to 16
- "Ready for Anything"
- "We Love a Luau"
- "Dancin' the Worman Polka"
- "I Feel Good"
- "Go, Go, Go!"
- "The Customer is Always Right"
- "Surf's Up, Ho Daddy"
- "Almost Everything is Boinga" (featuring Alicia Keys)
- "Nothing Too Tough"
- "W-I-O-Wa"
- "I'm a Mountie" (tune: "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain")
- "Racing Day"
- "I Never Fail to Deliver the Mail"
- "Lady in Pink" (featuring Cyndi Lauper)
- "Nobody's Bigger Than a Giant"
- "Hurry Home"
Bonus Tracks from "Tale of the Mighty Knights"
- "I Have a Challenge"
- "Dragon Mountain"
- "That Goblin Has Grabbed"
- "I'm Not an Egg Anymore" (featuring Adam Pascal)
- "Tweedily-Dee"
- "We're Knights, That's Right"
References
- "Janice Burgess, The Backyardigans". Nickelodeon Animation Studio. 2016. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014.
- ^ Seitz, Patrick. "Animated kids' show 'The Backyardigans' began as a full-body puppet show" Archived 2021-06-02 at the Wayback Machine, Tech-media-tainment, December 10, 2009.
- ^ Stewart, Susan (January 14, 2008). "Cartoon Creatures Leave Home and Find ... Home". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- Hetrick, Adam (January 8, 2008). "Adam Pascal Makes Nickelodeon Debut with 'Backyardigans'". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- "NickJr.com: About The Backyardigans". November 16, 2006. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006.
- ^ Clarke, Eileen (October 4, 2006). "Who gets those 'toon-toed Backyardigans to dance?". Bring It On. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 20, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
- Burgess, Janice. "Meet the Creator of The Backyardigans!" (Interview). NickJr.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
- Cuthbert, Wendy (May 1, 2004). "Scales even out at the kids upfront". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications.
- DeMott, Rick (April 3, 2006). "Nick Jr. Starts Production on Backyardigans Season Two". Animation World Network.
- "The Backyardigans: Season 3". iTunes. Apple Inc. September 3, 2007. Archived from the original on June 18, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
- "Nickelodeon Picks-Up Returning Animated Hits Including Seventh Seasons of Spongebob Squarepants and the Fairly Oddparents, Plus More Episodes of New Nicktoon Back at the Barnyard and the Preschool Favorite the Backyardigans". The Futon Critic. March 13, 2008.
- "The Backyardigans: Season 4". Amazon. Archived from the original on July 27, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
'Pablor and the Acorns': July 12, 2013
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Me + My Friends ... Pilot evolved into cartoon 'The Backyardigans'
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premieres at 11:00 am on Oct. 11, 2004.
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External links
- Page on NickJr.com (archive)
- The Backyardigans at IMDb
- The Backyardigans discography at Discogs
Children's programming on CBS in the 2000s | |
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First-run animated series |
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First-run live-action series |
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First-run interstitials | |
Rebroadcasts |
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- 2000s American animated television series
- 2000s American children's television series
- 2000s Canadian animated television series
- 2000s Canadian children's television series
- 2000s Nickelodeon original programming
- 2000s preschool education television series
- 2004 American television series debuts
- 2004 animated television series debuts
- 2004 Canadian television series debuts
- 2010s American animated television series
- 2010s American children's television series
- 2010s Canadian animated television series
- 2010s Canadian children's television series
- 2010s Nickelodeon original programming
- 2010s preschool education television series
- 2013 American television series endings
- 2013 Canadian television series endings
- American children's animated adventure television series
- American children's animated comedy television series
- American children's animated fantasy television series
- American children's animated musical television series
- American computer-animated television series
- American preschool education television series
- Animated preschool education television series
- Animated television series about animals
- Animated television series about penguins
- Television series about deer and moose
- Animated television series about hippopotamuses
- Television series about kangaroos and wallabies
- Animated television series about children
- Canadian children's animated adventure television series
- Canadian children's animated comedy television series
- Canadian children's animated fantasy television series
- Canadian children's animated musical television series
- Canadian computer-animated television series
- Canadian preschool education television series
- American English-language television shows
- Canadian English-language television shows
- Nick Jr. original programming
- Treehouse TV original programming
- Television series by Nelvana