Elinor Wonders Why
| Elinor Wonders Why | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Jorge Cham Daniel Whiteson |
| Directed by | Kevin Micallef |
| Starring | Markeda McKay Wyatt White Juan Chioran Dan Darin-Zanco Eric Khou Maria Nash Shoshana Sperling Nicole Stamp Paul Bates |
| Theme music composer | Jorge Cham Daniel Whiteson |
| Opening theme | "Elinor Wonders Why Theme" by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson, performed by Markeda McKay |
| Ending theme | "Elinor Wonders Why Theme" (instrumental) |
| Composers | Asher Lenz Stephen Skratt |
| Country of origin | United States[citation needed] Canada |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 45 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Jorge Cham Daniel Whiteson Luis Lopez Juan Lopez |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Production companies | Pipeline Studios Shoe Ink |
| Release | |
| Original network | PBS Kids |
| Picture format | HDTV (720p) |
| Audio format | Dolby Digital 5.1 |
| Original release | September 7, 2020 – present |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
Elinor Wonders Why is a flash-animated television series created by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson. The show premiered on September 7, 2020 on PBS Kids.[1]
Plot
The exploration-themed show encourages children to follow their curiosity, ask questions when they don't understand, and find answers using science inquiry skills. The main character Elinor, the most observant and curious bunny rabbit in Animal Town just north of Natural Forest, CA, introduces children ages 3–6 to science, nature and community through adventures with her friends Olive and Ari. Each episode includes two 11-minute animated stories plus interstitial content where Elinor and her classmates enjoy either Señor Tapir singing about famous nature explorers or Ms. Mole reading stories.[2]
Characters
Main
- Elinor (voiced by Markeda McKay) - A white bunny girl with an inquisitive nature and a sweet personality.
- Ari (voiced by Wyatt White) - A funny and imaginative light brown bat boy who is a picky eater and one of Elinor's best friends.
- Olive (voiced by Maria Nash) - An elephant calf girl who is one of Elinor's best friends who often makes charts for whatever questions are being asked.
- Ranger Rabbit (voiced by Lisette St. Louis) - Elinor's mom who works as a park ranger.
- Mr. Rabbit (voiced by Colin Doyle) - Elinor's dad.
- Ms. Mole (voiced by Shoshana Sperling) - A brown mole who is Elinor, Ari and Olive's teacher and wears glasses.
Recurring
- Olive's Mom (voiced by Ana Sani)
- Senor Tapir (voiced by Juan Chioran) - A tapir who sings about famous explorers and inventors during interstitials.
- Mr. Raccoon (voiced by Dan Darin-Zanco) - A raccoon who runs a bakery.
- Rollie (voiced by Eric Khou) - An armadillo who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
- Ms. Llama (voiced by Nicole Stamp) - A llama who owns the fruit cart.
- Mr. Dog (voiced by Paul Bates) - A dog who loves to bury his stuff in the ground.
- Tito Mouse (voiced by Leo Orgil) - A mouse who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
- Mr. Bat (voiced by Raoul Bhaneja) - Ari's Dad.
- Mr. Lion (voiced by Kevin Dennis)
- Koa (voiced by Ian Ho) - A brown quokka who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
- Camilla (voiced by Norah Adams) - A camel who is a friend of Elinor, Ari, and Olive.
- Sally Beaver (voiced by Royal Goodfellow) - A beaver who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
- Mary and Lizzie Goat (voiced by Abigail and Grace Oliver) - Twin goat girls who are Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
- Alejandro Possum (voiced by Sergio Di Zio)
- Silas (voiced by Callum Shoniker) - A cheetah who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
- Baba and Bibi (voiced by George Buza and Linda Kash) - Elinor's grandparents who live in Desert Town.
- Deputy Mouse (voiced by Ron Pardo)
- Ms. Beaver (voiced by Diane Saleme)
- Farmer Bear (voiced by Ellen Dublin)
- Mrs. Tiger (voiced by Ella Jones Farlinger) - The mayor of Animal Town.
- Ms. Bat (voiced by Shoshana Sperling) Aria's Mom.
- Mr. Hamster (voiced by Cliff Saunders)
- Siggy (voiced by Simon Pirso)
- Lola (voiced by Elana Dunkelman)
- Mr. Beaver (voiced by Mike Petersen)
- Mr. Hippo (voiced by Derek McGrath)
- Mrs. Hippo (voiced by TBA)
- Mr. Bear (voiced by TBA)
- Ms. Bear (voiced by TBA)
- Mr. Antelope (voiced by Eddie Glen)
- Hazel (voiced by TBA)
Episodes
| No. | Title [3] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code [3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Hiding In Plain Sight Owl Girl" | Kevin Micallef | Tom Berger Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson | September 7, 2020 | 102 |
| 2 | "Backyard Soup Colorful and Tasty" | Kevin Micallef | Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson | September 7, 2020 | 113 |
| 3 | "The Amazing Expandable Clubhouse The Town Picnic" | Kevin Micallef | Katherine Sandford Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson | September 8, 2020 | 101 |
| 4 | "The Science of Staying Warm The Seed of an Idea" | Kevin Micallef Kevin Micallef & Joey So | Miklos Perlus Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson | September 9, 2020 | 103 |
| 5 | "The House That Ants Built Special Places" | Kevin Micallef | Adam Ruben Rachel Lipman | September 10, 2020 | 104 |
| 6 | "The Tomato Drop Look What I Can Do" | Kevin Micallef | Karen Moonah Dave Dias | September 14, 2020 | 105 |
| 7 | "The Lizard Lounge Feathers" | Kevin Micallef | Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson | September 15, 2020 | 106 |
| 8 | "Bird Song No Need to Shout" | Kevin Micallef | Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson Kate Barris | September 16, 2020 | 107 |
| 9 | "Ms. Mole's Glasses Elinor Stops the Squish" | Kevin Micallef | Rachel Lipman Karen Moonah | July 13, 2020 (PBS Kids Video) September 17, 2020 | 108 |
| 10 | "Speed Racer One of These Goats" | Kevin Micallef | Adam Ruben Kate Barris | September 21, 2020 | 109 |
| 11 | "Leave It to Ari Snow Friend" | Kevin Micallef | Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson Katherine Sandford | September 22, 2020 | 111 |
| 12 | "Wind in the Web The Pokey Plant" | Kevin Micallef | Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson | September 23, 2020 | 112 |
| 13 | "Bubble House The Syrup Tree" | Kevin Micallef | Katherine Sandford Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson | September 28, 2020 | 114 |
| 14 | "The Paper Trail Bath Time" | Kevin Micallef | Karen Moonah Adam Ruben | September 29, 2020 | 115 |
| 15 | "Make Music Naturally Light the Way" | Kevin Micallef | Kate Barris Tom Berger | November 2, 2020 | 116 |
| 16 | "These Sneezes Ari's Lucky Shirt" | Kevin Micallef | Dave Dias Michael Foulke | November 9, 2020 | 117 |
| 17 | "Follow That Roly Poly Rain, Rain Don't Go Away" | Kevin Micallef | Katherine Sandford Rachel Lipman | November 16, 2020 | 118 |
| 18 | "Water You Doing? Thinking About Blinking" | Kevin Micallef | Kate Barris Paul Moncrieffe | November 23, 2020 | 119 |
| 19 | "Feed the Birds Señor Tapir Says Adios" | TBA | TBA | TBA | 110 |
| 20 | "Butterfly Babies Elinor's Circus" | Kevin Micallef | Rosemary Mosco Karen Moonah | March 15, 2021 | 120 |
| 21 | "Zig Zag Plant Butterfly Drinks" | Kevin Micallef | Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson | March 16, 2021 | 121 |
| 22 | "Frozen Fish Pirate Treasure" | Kevin Micallef | Adam Ruben Tom Berger | March 17, 2021 | 122 |
| 23 | "Burrowing Owl Girl Olive's Tree" | TBA | TBA | March 18, 2021 | 123 |
| 24 | "Speedy Swimming Strawberry Jam" | TBA | Katherine Sandford Rosemary Mosco | June 7, 2021 | 124 |
| 25 | "To Bee or Not to Bee Turtle Crossing" | TBA | TBA | June 8, 2021 | 125 |
| 26 | "Big Trees Baby Steps" | TBA | TBA | June 9, 2021 | 126 |
| 27 | "Follow Your Nose Leaf Charms[4]" | TBA | Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson | June 10, 2021 | 127 |
| 28 | "A Change of Art Litterbug[5]" | TBA | TBA | September 6, 2021 | 128 |
| 29 | "The Unsinkable Lynx Rocky the Rock" | TBA | TBA | September 7, 2021 | 129 |
| 30 | "Echo Location Ears to You" | TBA | TBA TBA | September 8, 2021 | 130 |
| 31 | "Olive's Library Nature Walk" | TBA | Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson Katherine Sandford | September 9, 2021 | 131 |
| 32 | "Butterfly Library More Than One Right Way" | TBA | TBA | TBA | 132 |
| 33 | "Underground Soup Dandy Dandelions" | TBA | TBA | TBA | 133 |
| 34 | "A Moth Mystery Just Peachy" | TBA | TBA | TBA | 134 |
| 35 | "A Garden for All Band of Explorers" | TBA | TBA | TBA | 135 |
| 36 | "The Little Drummer Rest is Best" | TBA | TBA | TBA | 136 |
| 37 | "Elinor's Fishy Friend Do the Crane Dance" | TBA | TBA | TBA | 137 |
| 38–40 | "A Wonderful Journey" | TBA | TBA | TBA | 138-140 |
Home Video
In early 2021, the series began to release its episodes on PBS Kids compilation DVDs.[6]
Development
Development of the show began in 2017, when Cham and Whiteson were approached by PBS. PBS found Cham's comic, Piled Higher and Deeper, online and asked if he was interested in pitching to them. "I reached out to Daniel, and what inspires us beyond science is our children," Cham recalled. "They are curious, and it motivated us to create the show."[7] Cham cites Pogo and Calvin and Hobbes as inspiration for the show's visual design, which he described as "something that felt natural and calming, as opposed to overloaded or frenetic."[2]
The character of Elinor was inspired by Cham's own daughter, Elinor.[1] Cham said "She was about 4, which is just at that perfect age where she really does wonder why, all the time. Any answer you give her, she’ll (have) a follow-up question, another why."[8] Cham and Whiteson went with animals as the show's characters to make them "appealing but also relatable at the same time", and to "highlight their range of skills and abilities."[1]
Broadcast
The series premiered on PBS Kids in the United States on September 7, 2020, as a sneak peek by showing the first 2 episodes, before regularly airing new episodes on September 8.[9]
On April 2021, PBS International has licensed the series to Canada, Latin America, Finland, Israel, Sweden and the UAE via Knowledge Network, Discovery, YLE, Hop!, SVT and E-junior respectively.[10]
References
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Rocque, Starr Rhett (September 7, 2020). "How a physicist and a robotics engineer created 'Elinor Wonders Why' to teach young kids science". Fast Company. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Murphy, Jackson (September 10, 2020). "INTERVIEW: "Elinor Wonders Why" Creators on New PBS Program". Animation Scoop. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "ELINOR WONDERS WHY Episode Descriptions". pressroom.pbs.org. June 26, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ "Digital Lesson Leaf Hunt!". PBS Learning Media. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ "Digital Lesson Litterbug Clean Up". PBS Learning Media. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ "PBS KIDS: 15 Sports Stories". May 18, 2021 – via Amazon.
- ^ Gomez, Adrian (September 1, 2020). "PBS show by NM grad premieres next week". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ Hughes, Mike (September 7, 2020). "Wonder-ful Elinor sparks new cartoon series". Mike Hughes On TV. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (May 29, 2019). "PBS KIDS Announces 'Elinor Wonders Why' for Fall. 2020". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ "Elinor Wonders Why Expands Global Reach". aNbMedia. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
External links
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Categories:
- 2020s American children's television series
- 2020s American animated television series
- 2020 American television series debuts
- 2020s Canadian children's television series
- 2020s Canadian animated television series
- 2020 Canadian television series debuts
- 2020s preschool education television series
- American flash animated television series
- American children's animated adventure television series
- American children's animated science fiction television series
- American preschool education television series
- Canadian flash animated television series
- Canadian children's animated adventure television series
- Canadian children's animated science fiction television series
- Canadian preschool education television series
- Animated preschool education television series
- Science education television series
- Nature educational television series
- PBS Kids shows
- PBS original programming
- CBC Television original programming
- Animated television series about rabbits and hares
- Animated television series about children
- Animated television series about families
- Television shows set in California