The Backyardigans is a Canadian–American CGI-animated musical TV series created
by Janice Burgess. 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 continued to air on the Nickelodeon family of
channels in the United States until 2015. The show airs on Treehouse TV in
Canada. In 2015, the first season was included
as part of Nickelodeon's Noggin app, a mobile application featuring episodes of
older Nick Jr. programs. Plot
The series follows a ritualistic pattern and centers around an assortment of
neighboring playmates depicted as bipedal, 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 door to the
Backyardigans house or fence 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.
Characters Each of the five characters on the show
have two voice actors: one for speaking, and the other for singing. In the
English version, all the voice actors and singers are actual children.
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 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 characters = Uniqua
A curious, self-confident and high-spirited pink character. The series
uses the name "Uniqua" for both the character and her species. She wears
pink polka-dotted overalls and has a pair of swirled antennae 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 and despite her
love of books, she is more tomboyish than her friend, Tasha. Creator Janice
Burgess describes Uniqua as the child she wishes she was like as a child.
Speaking voice: Lashawn Tináh Jefferies Singing voice: Jamia Simone Nash and
Avion Baker Dancer: Hattie Mae Williams
Pablo Pablo is a yellow-beaked blue penguin
who wears a blue bow tie and a blue-and-yellow propeller beanie. 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 The Flipper! his
propensity for getting overexcited is a major plot point.
Pablo is absent for one episode, "Chichen-Itza Pizza."
Speaking voice: Zach Tyler Eisen and Jake Goldberg
Singing voice: Sean Curley Dancer: Tasha Cooper and Steven
Konopelski Tyrone
Tyrone is a good-natured, yet somewhat fearful, red-haired orange moose 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 ironic comments, one of them
being "That certainly was convenient." At the end of most episodes, he remarks,
"That was an excellent adventure, don't you think?". Despite not appearing to
wear trousers, Tyrone somehow manages to put his hands in his pockets.
Speaking voice: Reginald Davis, Jr., Jordan Coleman and Christopher Grant
Singing voice: Corwin C. Tuggles, Leon G. Thomas III, Damani Roberts and Tyrel
Jackson Williams Dancer: Greg Sinacori
Tasha A strong-willed yellow hippopotamus,
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!" Speaking voice: Naelee Rae and Gianna
Bruzzesse Singing voice: Kristine Mitchell and
Gabrielle Malek Dancer: Darlene Dirstine and Amanda
Ulibarri Austin
Austin is a shy but fun-loving purple kangaroo. 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." Austin has been
shown to occasionally display a more villainous side, such as in the episodes
"High Tea" and "The Magic Skateboard." Speaking voice: Jonah Bobo
Singing voice: Thomas Sharkey and Nicholas Barasch
Dancer: Kristen Frost = 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. 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. His voice, as well as the
other male robots, is provided by Evan Mathew Weinstein.
Setting The characters live in houses adjoining
a large backyard common to the three central houses 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, 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.
Not everything that appears in the imaginary world has a real-world
counterpart. Often trees, boulders, 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.
Episodes 80 episodes of The Backyardigans were
broadcast. Production
The series was based upon a live-action pilot titled "Me and My Friends,"
produced at Nickelodeon Studios in September 1998. This pilot was rejected
by Nickelodeon, and the concept was reworked into an animated short in 2002.
This pilot was greenlit by Nickelodeon to become a full-length series.
Dave Palmer began directing the show in the middle of season one, and directed
all subsequent episodes. Evan Lurie 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.
A second season had been announced on April 30, 2006 by Nelvana and
Nickelodeon. The third season was first released in the United States in January
2008. A fourth season was produced in 2009, and aired in 2010.
Production was wrapped up in late 2009. Live shows
Several The Backyardigans theatrical performances have toured Canada and the
United States. In Canada, three different performances
have toured: "Musical Playdate", "Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens" and "Sea
Deep in Adventure". 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 and produced by Koba Entertainment, both based in Winnipeg.
In the United States, two theatrical performances toured: 2008's "Tale of the
Mighty Knights" and 2010's "Storytime Live!".
Video releases = DVD releases =
In the United States, twenty-two DVDs featuring four episodes each were
released from August 2005 until March 2011.
= VHS releases = Five videotapes featuring two episodes
each were released in 2005 and 2006; the titles were the same as the first five
American DVDs. = iTunes Releases =
All four seasons have been released on iTunes in Canada and the US; however,
the US iTunes Store is missing three episodes from the first season: "Secret
Mission," "It's Great To Be A Ghost!" and "The Tea Party".
CD Releases There were four 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 Adventures Begin... =
Released September 2004, this CD promoted the series' debut. Because this
was a promotional album sent via mail, it was not sold in stores. It contains
four tracks from the first season, including the opening theme. The songs
would later be included in the next album.
The Backyardigans Theme Song Yeti Stomp
Secret Agent Please and Thank You
= The Backyardigans = Released on July 12, 2005, under Nick
Records' label. This is the first album sold in stores. It contains nineteen
tracks from the first season, including the opening theme.
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
Buffalo Girls and Boys Trudge, Trudge, Trudge
Secret Agent Laser Limbo Tango
Row Your Boat Into the Thick of It!
P.U.! Flying Rock Song
When I'm Booing Please and Thank You
Rockabilly Lullaby = Groove to the Music =
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.
Hold On 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 About 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
Astronauts Never Give Up = Born To Play =
The third and final The Backyardigans CD, it was released on January 22, 2008,
under Sony BMG's label. It contains songs from seasons 1-2, as well as all
the songs from Tale of the Mighty Knights. There is a total of 22 tracks.
There's also a special iTunes version of this album, containing 4 bonus tracks in
addition to the 22 tracks, totaling 26 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. This booklet was also included on the iTunes release as a file with
purchase of a digital download. Ready for Anything
We Love a Luau Tuba Polka
I Feel Good Go, Go, Go
The Customer Is Always Right Surf's Up, Ho Daddy
Almost Everything Is Boinga Nothing Too Tough
W-I-O-Wa I'm a Mountie
Racing Day I Never Fail to Deliver the Mail
Lady In Pink Nobody's Bigger Than a Giant
Hurry Home A Challenge
Dragon Mountain Goblin
Not an Egg Tweedily Dee
We're Knights Bonus iTunes Tracks:
23. Betcha I Can 24. Phantom Footsteps
25. Do It Myself 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
Activision released a The Backyardigans PC game, "Mission to Mars," in October
2006. In addition, there are interactive Backyardigans games available for the
LeapPad and VTech's V.Smile consoles. There is also a LeapFrog ClickStart game
titled "Number Pie Samurai," teaching children basic 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 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. All merchandise produced by Fisher-Price has
been discontinued as of 2009. There are also Beanie Babies of all the main
characters available. References
External links Official site
Nelvana production page Backyardigans on Guru Studios
The Backyardigans LIVE! on Stage Touring Website
Backyardigans on Nick Jr. Australia Backyardigans on Nick Jr. Canada
Backyardigans on Treehouse The Backyardigans at the Internet Movie
Database The Backyardigans at TV.com