Special Agent Oso
| Special Agent Oso | |
|---|---|
 Special Agent Oso title card | |
| Created by | Ford Riley |
| Directed by | Jamie Mitchell |
| Voices of | Sean Astin Meghan Strange Gary Anthony Williams Phill Lewis Amber Hood Cam Clarke Jess Harnell |
| Theme music composer | Ford Riley and Mike Himelstein |
| Composer | Mike Himelstein and Michael Turner |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 60 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Ford Riley Jamie Mitchell |
| Animator | Sunwoo Entertainment |
| Running time | 24 minutes (2 12-minute segments per episode, except for episodes 35, 56, and 60) |
| Production company | Disney Television Animation |
| Release | |
| Original network | Playhouse Disney (2009–11) Disney Junior (2011–2019) Disney Channel (2009-2017) |
| First shown in | United States |
| Original release | April 4, 2009 – May 17, 2012 |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
Special Agent Oso (/oʊˈsoʊ/) is an American children's CGI-animated TV series. The series was created by Ford Riley.[1] It premiered on April 4, 2009 with 2 episodes airing that day as part of Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney block,[2] and aired two seasons of 60 episodes through May 17, 2012.[3] After the original broadcast of the series finale on May 17, 2012, reruns continued to air through 2019. The series was made available on Disney+ on May 14, 2021. Disney Junior has confirmed that the series would not have a third season.
Premise[]
Each episode begins with Special Agent Oso in the midst of a training exercise, which he usually fails on his first try, causing him to say "It's all part of the plan more or less," and Paw Pilot, his computerized assistant, gives him a special alert by saying "Special Alert, Special Alert." Invariably, during the exercise, at least one child is confronted with a simple task which they have trouble completing, an event which a Shutterbug drone notices. Oso is always assigned to the case, and Paw Pilot, along with the unseen Mr. Dos, illustrates his client's plight and assigns him a mission to help the child complete the task. To do so, Paw Pilot provides Oso with three special steps, a simplified step-by-step guide to completing the task. Oso is transported to the child's location and attempts to follow the steps as the three special steps are, in and of themselves, usually too vague to complete the task properly. Paw Pilot also gives further elaborations, including at least one helpful trick. On the third and final step, Paw Pilot senses the time limit on the task between 3 and 19 seconds and begins counting down when the time limit is near. Oso and the child usually complete the task, just as the time runs out. Then Paw Pilot says "[Special] Assignment Complete."
Returning from the assignment, the helpful trick given during the assignment always turns out to be the same trick Oso needed to complete the interrupted training exercise, which he likewise completes and passes, getting a digi-medal for both the training exercise and the special assignment.
Episodes[]
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 24 | April 4, 2009 | April 17, 2010 | ||
| 2 | 36 | July 10, 2010 | May 17, 2012 | ||
The show has 60 episodes; 24 in the first season and 36 in the second. The episode names are usually references to the names of James Bond 007 films from Albert R. Broccoli's Eon Productions LTD, such as The World Is Not Enough and The Man with the Golden Gun. The two seasons contain at least one episode title that parodies all 22 of the existing Bond films at the time as Skyfall was released after the show finalized, same with Spectre and No Time to Die. Some episode titles also parody the Carly Simon song Nobody Does it Better which is the Oscar-nominated theme song to The Spy Who Loved Me. One episode references the non-Eon film Never Say Never Again. One episode also spoofs Another Way to Die, which is the theme song to Quantum of Solace.
Components[]
Each episode is composed of four components:
- The Three Special Steps are the steps that Paw Pilot gives Oso to follow when he is on his special assignments. Oso has a matter of time to finish the three special steps. The third step is usually timed between 3 and 19 seconds.
- The training exercises are Oso's training task assigned by Wolfie, Dotty or Buffo. Oso usually fails on his first try, but in the course of doing the special assignments, he refers to the mistake he made in his training exercise, thanks to the person he is helping. He then returns to his training exercise and does it right on his second try, then earns a "Digi-Medal".
- The special assignments are missions that Oso is requested to complete by the mysterious Mr. Dos, in order to help a child in need. Sometimes, Oso asks the audience to help him on his special assignments if it gets tricky and he needs some help. Oso tries to complete the Three Special Steps that Paw Pilot gives him. Then he earns a "Digi-Medal".
- Audience participation or interaction with Oso. Sometimes, Oso will ask the audience to help him find something hidden or missing on the screen. Other times, Oso will ask the audience to try something physically demanding that he is doing.
Three Healthy Steps[]
Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps is a short series that airs in the United States during the Disney Junior programming block. It encourages children to use "three healthy steps" regarding eating, being healthy and exercising.
This series combined both animated characters and real life actors. The animated characters that are featured in the short series are Special Agent Oso, Paw Pilot, Special Agent Wolfie, Special Agent Dotty, and Professor Buffo.
Handy Manny Crossover[]
In episode 32 of season 2, Oso meets Handy Manny and they work together to help a kid fix his bicycle.
Characters[]
Main[]
| Character's name | Voiced by in the English version | Character description |
|---|---|---|
| Special Agent Oso | Sean Astin | The colorful special agent stuffed bear who predominantly works on helping children perform tasks such as blowing bubbles, making a card, or cleaning their rooms; is the main character of the series. His name, Oso, is Spanish for bear. He and his friends work for UNIQUE, which stands for The United Network for the Investigation of Quite Unusual Events.[4]
The show was designed for encouraging and educational purposes. |
| Paw Pilot | Meghan Strange | Oso's computerized assistant who guides Oso through the three special steps he needs to accomplish his current mission. When she sings the song that features the codename for his assignment, the backgrounds she appears in are similar to the elaborate title sequences to James Bond films. Her name is a reference to the Palm Pilot series of handheld computers. |
| Mr. Dos | Gary Anthony Williams | Oso's Siri-like boss. He is a talking smartwatch that assigns Oso's missions. |
| Special Agent Wolfie | Phill Lewis | A blue stuffed wolf; one of the special agent animals that regularly oversee Oso's training. |
| Special Agent Dotty | Amber Hood | A spotted orange stuffed cat with a Southern accent; the other special agent animal that regularly oversees Oso's training. It's hinted that she may have feelings for Oso.[citation needed] |
| Professor Buffo | Brad Garrett, later voiced by Jess Harnell | A slightly clumsy and excitable Italian-speaking bison who is the inventor of Oso's gadgets. Introduced in the Season 2 episode, From China with Love. |
| Whirly Bird | Cam Clarke | Oso's talking bird-shaped autogyro, who takes Oso to wherever someone needs help. He doesn't hear very well and often misunderstands what Oso tells him, which usually leads to Oso's ejection at inopportune moments and places. |
| R.R. Rapide | Oso's French-speaking train. Though his French accent would suggest a TGV, he is likely a reference to the Fastech 360, based on his shape and retractable speedbrake ears. | |
| Special Agent Musa | N/A | A silent, dark brown squirrel ninja, the master of stealth and speed. Introduced in the Season 2 episode, Table Manners are Forever. |
| Shutterbug | A ladybug-shaped robotic camera, who keeps an eye out for children who need help. She doesn't speak. Appears only in the English and Russian versions. |
Guest voices[]
- Madison Davenport as Stacy/Fiona
- Grace Rolek as Molly/Sophie
- Khamani Griffin as Danny/Aaron/Paulie
- Maria Celeste as Samantha
- Kara R. Stribling as Abby/Jessica
- Isabella Murad as Sally/Cassie/Michelle/Anna/Audrey
- Colin Ford as Joe/David
- Sekai Murashige as Jack/Jennethan
- Ciara Bravo as Sarah
- Billy Unger as Michael/Quinn
- Kurt Doss as Dawson/Austin/Logan
- Kimberly Brooks as Grace
- Kristen Combs as Caroline/Aaliyah/Avery
- Quinton Lopez as Jim
- Juliette Alba as Olivia
- Jack Samson as Ben/Nathan
- Harrison Fahn as Jake/Oliver/Anthony
- Isabella Acres as Jade/Mia #1
- Madison Pettis as Katie/Tara
- John Devito as Sam/Theo
- Fiona Riley as Addison
- Church Lieu as Frank
- Jillian Henry as Brianna
- Stefanie Scott as Emma
- Hynden Walch as Hailey
- Nina Barry as Nicole
- Jacob Bertrand as Spencer
- Tiffany Espensen as Joon Kim/Carina
- Élan Garfias as Cody/Grayson/Jose/Eric
- Luke Manriquez as Carlos
- Kwesi Boakye as Andrew
- Diane HSU as Min/Meehwa
- Firoozeh Adli as Makayla/Marie/Faith
- Zachary Gordon as Tyler/Rasheed/Croco
- Kailey Swanson as Ashley
- Jelani Imani as William/Joshua/Dylan
- Avion Baker as Natalie/Nadia
- Nancy Kim as Maya/Jennifer
- Luke Davis as Gavin
- Zachary Michael as John
- Brianna McCracken as Alexis
- Cameron Escalante as Chloe
- Sabre Jacobs as Kaylee
- Parish Allen as Lizzie
- Vanessa Millsaps as Lily
- Coleen Crabtree as Leila
- Raymond Ochoa as Noah
- Ryan Christopher Lee as Noh Yoon/Nicholas/Liam/Charlie
- Rico Rodriguez as Lin/Xavier/Marco/Brandon
- Jacob Medrano as Alberto
- Sayeed Shahidi as Evan
- Liberty Smith as Madison/Lena
- Alec Gray as Dimitri/Juan (Dimitri is a Granny Smiths apple wheelchair)
- Caitlin Carmichael as Athena
- Jet Jurgensmeyer as Rudy/Gabriel/Aiden
- Maxim Knight as David #2
- Wilmer Valderrama as Handy Manny
- Nika Futterman as Stretch & Squeeze
- Carlos Alazraqui as Felipe
- Dee Bradley Baker as Turner
- Tom Kenny as Pat
- Fred Stoller as Rusty
- Kath Soucie as Dusty
- Grey DeLisle as Flicker
- Nancy Truman as Kelly
- Erica Luttrell as Dylan and Sophie’s moms
- Jennifer Aquino as Ashley #1
Additional voices[]
- Lou Holtz as Uncle Lou (character was modeled to look like himself)
- Rob Paulsen as Cassie's Dad/Dawson's Dad/Emma's Dad
- Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Jade's Mom/Jake's Mom/Nadia's Mom
- Sarah Chalke as David's Mom
- Jeannie Elias as Michael's Mom/Quinn's Mom
- James Arnold Taylor as Mr. Thompson
- Mel Brooks as Grandpa Mel
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Brayden's Dad
- Kimberly Brooks as Andrew's Mom/Caroline's Mom
Broadcast[]
The first season of Special Agent Oso premiered in the United States and United Kingdom on April 4, 2009, and aired through April 17, 2010; the second and final season premiered on July 10, 2010 and the series finale aired May 17, 2012.[citation needed] In season 2, new characters were introduced, Professor Buffo and Special Agent Musa. The show has a crossover with Handy Manny called "The Manny with the Golden Bear".
References[]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 9, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Special Agent Oso". www.bcdb.com, May 13, 2012
- ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. pp. 174–175. ISBN 9781476672939.
- ^ Special Agent Oso. Disney Junior Canada. . URL:http://www.disneyjunior.ca/en/shows/special-agent-oso. Accessed: 2014-05-11. (Archived URL:https://web.archive.org/web/20130306121009/http://www.disneyjunior.ca/en/shows/special-agent-oso)
External links[]
- Disney animated television series
- Disney Junior original programming
- 2009 American television series debuts
- 2012 American television series endings
- 2000s American animated television series
- 2010s American animated television series
- Television series by Disney Television Animation
- Fictional secret agents and spies
- American preschool education television series
- American computer-animated television series
- American children's animated action television series
- American children's animated adventure television series
- American children's animated fantasy television series
- Animated preschool education television series
- 2000s preschool education television series
- 2010s preschool education television series
- Animated television series about bears
- Television series about wolves
- Animated television series about foxes
- English-language television shows
- Fictional bison
- Fictional teddy bears