Zoboomafoo

Zoboomafoo is an American-Canadian live-action/animated children's television series that originally aired on PBS from January 25, 1999, to November 21, 2001. It was formerly shown in public television (depending on the area) and was regularly shown on Sprout until 2012. A total of 65 episodes were aired. A creation of the Kratt Brothers (Chris and Martin), it features a talking lemur (a Coquerel's sifaka) named Zoboomafoo, performed by Canadian puppeteer Gord Robertson (who had also puppeteered on Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock), and mainly portrayed by a lemur named Jovian, along with a collection of returned animal guests.

Zoboomafoo
GenreComedy
Educational
Children's
Created by
Starring
  • Chris Kratt
  • Martin Kratt
  • Gord Robertson
  • Jovian
  • Samantha Tolkacz (Season 1)
  • Genevieve Farrell (Season 2)
Theme music composer
Opening theme"Me and You and Zoboomafoo"
Ending theme
  • "Animal Friends Song"
  • "Me and You and Zoboomafoo" (instrumental)
ComposerPure West
Country of origin
  • Canada
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes65
Production
Executive producers
  • Leo Eaton
  • Micheline Charest (1999–2000, uncredited)
  • Peter Moss (2000–01)
  • Chris Kratt
  • Martin Kratt
Running time28 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkUnited States
PBS Kids
Canada
TVOntario (Season 1)
Treehouse TV (Season 2)
Original releaseJanuary 25, 1999 (1999-01-25) 
November 21, 2001 (2001-11-21)

Cast

  • Chris Kratt as himself
  • Martin Kratt as himself
  • Jovian and Gord Robertson as Zoboomafoo
  • Samantha Tolkacz as Jackie (Season 1)
  • Genevieve Farrell as Amy (Season 2)

Segments

  • Zoboomafoo Theme
  • The Mystery Animal (Song: “Who Could It Be?”)
  • Zobooland Story #1
  • Duck/Animal Helpers with Jackie/Amy
  • A Journey to Visit Animals (Song: “Going to the Closet”)
  • Zobooland Story #2
  • Ending Theme: Animal Friends

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
140January 25, 1999 (1999-01-25)April 27, 2000 (2000-04-27)
225October 3, 2000 (2000-10-03)November 21, 2001 (2001-11-21)

Season 1 (1999–2000)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title[1]Directed by[lower-alpha 1]Written byOriginal air date[1]Prod.
code
11"The Nose Knows"Daniel J. MurphySimon MuntnerJanuary 25, 1999 (1999-01-25)101
22"Eye Spy"Leo EatonJulie Strassman-CohnJanuary 26, 1999 (1999-01-26)102
33"Dinosaurs"Jesse CollinsCarol CommissoJanuary 27, 1999 (1999-01-27)103
44"Who's In the Hole"Laurie LyndChris KrattJanuary 28, 1999 (1999-01-28)104
55"Happy Lemur Day"Steve WrightMartin KrattJanuary 29, 1999 (1999-01-29)105
66"Swimming"Tony LefresneTerry SaltsmanFebruary 1, 1999 (1999-02-01)106
77"Slimy Buddies"Jesse CollinsTerry SaltsmanFebruary 2, 1999 (1999-02-02)107
88"Snow Day"Jesse CollinsMartin KrattFebruary 3, 1999 (1999-02-03)108
99"Night Time"Jesse CollinsCarol CommissoFebruary 4, 1999 (1999-02-04)109
1010"Climbing"Tony LefresneTerry SaltsmanFebruary 5, 1999 (1999-02-05)110
1111"Fierce Creatures"Leo EatonAnna BourqueFebruary 8, 1999 (1999-02-08)111
1212"Homes"Laurie LyndJulie Strassman-CohnFebruary 9, 1999 (1999-02-09)112
1313"Puppies"Laurie LyndMartin KrattFebruary 10, 1999 (1999-02-10)113
1414"Tracks"Leo EatonCarol CommissoFebruary 11, 1999 (1999-02-11)114
1515"Fling"Steve WrightMartin KrattFebruary 12, 1999 (1999-02-12)115
1616"Itchy"Leo EatonBrendan SmithFebruary 15, 1999 (1999-02-15)116
1717"Ears Hear"Daniel J. MurphyMartin KrattFebruary 16, 1999 (1999-02-16)117
1818"Feeling Good"Leo EatonDenise FordhamFebruary 17, 1999 (1999-02-17)118
1919"Running"Daniel J. MurphyJames HurstFebruary 18, 1999 (1999-02-18)119
2020"Animal Daycare"Steve WrightAnna BourqueFebruary 19, 1999 (1999-02-19)120
2121"Giants"Steve WrightChris WatersFebruary 22, 1999 (1999-02-22)121
2222"Pets"Steve WrightAnna BourqueJune 21, 1999 (1999-06-21)122
2323"Bears"Chris KrattChris KrattJune 22, 1999 (1999-06-22)123
2424"Lids"Steve WrightAnna BourqueJune 23, 1999 (1999-06-23)124
2525"Great Singers"Tony LefresneCarol CommissoJune 24, 1999 (1999-06-24)125
2626"Playtime"Martin KrattAnna BourqueJune 25, 1999 (1999-06-25)126
2727"Fast and Slow"Daniel J. MurphyChris KrattJune 28, 1999 (1999-06-28)127
2828"Horses"Jesse CollinsJill GolickJune 29, 1999 (1999-06-29)128
2929"Bathtime"Jesse CollinsMartin KrattJune 30, 1999 (1999-06-30)129
3030"Jumpers"Jesse CollinsChris KrattJuly 1, 1999 (1999-07-01)130
3131"Funny Faces"Leo EatonSteve WestrenJuly 2, 1999 (1999-07-02)131
3232"Spots & Stripes"Leo EatonKim HarrisSeptember 6, 1999 (1999-09-06)132
3333"Sand Creatures"Jesse CollinsTerry SaltsmanSeptember 7, 1999 (1999-09-07)133
3434"Water Creatures"Jesse CollinsDan RedicanSeptember 8, 1999 (1999-09-08)134
3535"Who's in the Egg?"Daniel J. MurphyJennifer McAuley-BiasiSeptember 9, 1999 (1999-09-09)135
3636"Hail to Tails"Steve WrightJill GolickSeptember 10, 1999 (1999-09-10)136
3737"Cats"Jesse CollinsSteve WestrenApril 24, 2000 (2000-04-24)137
3838"The Four F's"Jesse CollinsJulie Strassman-CohnApril 25, 2000 (2000-04-25)138
3939"Stinky"Leo EatonPenny GayApril 26, 2000 (2000-04-26)139
4040"Bzzz"Jesse CollinsJames HurstApril 27, 2000 (2000-04-27)140

Season 2 (2000–01)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title[1]Directed by[lower-alpha 1]Written byOriginal air date[1]Prod.
code
411"Green Creatures"Jacques LabergeChris KrattOctober 3, 2000 (2000-10-03)201
422"Brain Power"Jacques LabergeAnna BourqueOctober 10, 2000 (2000-10-10)202
433"Bovine"Pierre RoyAnna BourqueOctober 17, 2000 (2000-10-17)203
444"Snakebellies"Jacques LabergeMartin KrattOctober 24, 2000 (2000-10-24)204
455"Humans"Jesse CollinsEdith ReyOctober 31, 2000 (2000-10-31)205
466"Super Lemur"Pierre RoyChris KrattNovember 7, 2000 (2000-11-07)206
477"Pop Goes The Tiger"Pierre RoyMartin KrattNovember 14, 2000 (2000-11-14)207
488"Powerhouse"Pierre RoyAnna BourqueNovember 21, 2000 (2000-11-21)208
499"Talk To Me"Jacques LabergeMartin KrattNovember 28, 2000 (2000-11-28)209
5010"Flying Buddies"Pierre RoyEdith ReyFebruary 6, 2001 (2001-02-06)210
5111"Creature Neighbors"Pierre RoyChris KrattFebruary 13, 2001 (2001-02-13)211
5212"Buddies"Pierre RoyAnna BourqueFebruary 20, 2001 (2001-02-20)212
5313"Can You Feel It?"Martin KrattMartin KrattFebruary 27, 2001 (2001-02-27)213
5414"Fearfest"Pierre RoyMartin KrattMarch 6, 2001 (2001-03-06)214
5515"Super Claw"Jacques LabergeEdith ReyMarch 13, 2001 (2001-03-13)215
5616"Grow, Zoboo Grow"Pierre Roy & Jesse CollinsChris KrattMarch 20, 2001 (2001-03-20)216
5717"Don't Fence Me In"Pierre Roy & Jacques LabergeAnna BourqueMarch 27, 2001 (2001-03-27)217
5818"Families"Pierre Roy & Jesse CollinsChris KrattNovember 12, 2001 (2001-11-12)218
5919"H2O"Jesse Collins & Jacques LabergeMike Erskine-Kellie & John Erskine KellieNovember 13, 2001 (2001-11-13)219
6020"Crocodilian"Jacques LabergeAnna BourqueNovember 14, 2001 (2001-11-14)220
6121"Hot and Cold"Pierre RoyAnna BourqueNovember 15, 2001 (2001-11-15)221
6222"Armour"Pierre Roy & Jesse CollinsEdith ReyNovember 16, 2001 (2001-11-16)222
6323"Ants and Eaters"Chris KrattChris KrattNovember 19, 2001 (2001-11-19)223
6424"World Of Legs"Pierre RoyMartin KrattNovember 20, 2001 (2001-11-20)224
6525"Messy And Clean"Pierre RoyEdith ReyNovember 21, 2001 (2001-11-21)225

Production notes

Zoboomafoo was produced by PBS KIDS, CINAR Corporation (now WildBrain), and the Kratt brothers' Earth Creatures Company.[2][3]

Partial filming for the series took place on location at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, North Carolina.[4] The claymation segments were filmed at a studio in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. Although the last new episode aired on PBS Kids in November 2001, most PBS stations continued to rerun Zoboomafoo episodes in syndication until 2017. In addition, Sprout aired reruns until February 2012. The show was broadcast in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Middle East, and India.

After production on the series ended, in 2003, the Kratt Brothers began another series titled Be the Creature on the National Geographic Channel. In 2011, they created the animated series Wild Kratts, which currently airs on PBS Kids and TVOntario.

Jovian (a captive Coquerel's sifaka housed at the Duke Lemur Center) portrayed Zoboomafoo in the live-action segments (along with stand-ins). On November 10, 2014, he died of kidney failure in his home at age 20.[5]

Awards and nominations

Zoboomafoo received the 2001 Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Children's Series[6] and a Parents' Choice Award for Spring 2001 and Silver Honor for Fall 2001.[7][8]

Other media

There are also several video games for the PC based on Zoboomafoo, where children learn the alphabet and animals that correlate to each letter. Some of the letters have interactive games to go with them, such as a coloring page.[9]

References

  1. PBS Publicity (February 10, 2000). "PBS and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing To Launch PBS Kids Books". PBS. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  2. "CINAR, PBS and the Kratt Brothers Become Partners on". Bloomberg. April 13, 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  3. "Remembering a star: Jovian, lemur host of Zoboomafoo, passes away". Duke Lemur Center. November 11, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  4. "Remembering a Star: Jovan, Lemur Host of Zobomoofaoo Passes". Duke Lemur Center. 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  5. Williams, Donna (May 21, 2001). "PBS Wins Two More Daytime Emmys at Televised Ceremony". PBS News Archive. New York, NY. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  6. Fries, Laura. "Zoboomafoo". Parents' Choice Awards: Television. Parents' Choice. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  7. "Zoboomafoo". Parents' Choice Awards: Television. Parents' Choice. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  8. "Old Games Finder". Old Games Finder. Retrieved June 16, 2017.

Notes

  1. Information is taken from the opening and ending credits of each episode.
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