Superhero Kindergarten

Superhero Kindergarten (also known as Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten) is a superhero streaming television series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Desiree Burch. The series is created by Stan Lee, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Andy Heyward and co-produced by Genius Brands, POW! Entertainment, Oak Productions and Telegael Teoranta. Superhero Kindergarten premiered on April 23, 2021, on Genius Brands' streaming service Kartoon Channel.[1][2][3] The series is expected to be renewed for a second season.[4]

Superhero Kindergarten
Official poster
GenreSuperhero
Created byStan Lee
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Andy Heyward
Based onSuperhero Kindergarten
by Stan Lee
Developed byFabian Nicieza
Voices ofArnold Schwarzenegger
Desiree Burch
Shelley Longworth
Penelope Rawlins
Rae Lim
Nneka Okoye
Jules de Jongh
Shash Hira
Dan Russell
Adam Diggle
ComposerPaul Westerberg
Country of origin
  • United States
  • Ireland
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producers
Running time24–25 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkKartoon Channel
Original releaseApril 23, 2021 (2021-04-23) –
present
Related
Hero Elementary
Rainbow Rangers

Premise

A former gym teacher turned superhero, Captain Fantastic, lost his superpowers in a battle with his nemesis, Dr. Superior. During this air battle, his superpower particles were transferred to six babies who were below. Five years later, the powerless Captain Fantastic, now known as Mr. Arnold, is called on to work "undercover" as a kindergarten teacher to raise a new generation of super-powered kids.[5]

Cast
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger as Arnold Armstrong / Captain Fantastic[6]
  • Desiree Burch as Principal Shoutzalot
  • Shelley Longworth as Billy / Blocker
  • Penelope Rawlins as Jackson Jet
  • Rae Lim as Lin / Cray-Cray
  • Nneka Okoye as Patty Putty
  • Jules De Jongh as Power Pedro
  • Shash Hira as Vik / Sticky
  • Dan Russell as Nigel Danforth / Dr. Superior and Mr. O
  • Adam Diggle as Stan Lee

Production

In May 2019, production began on the series, after Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast in the lead role as Arnold Armstrong / Captain Fantastic.[7] He served as a co-executive producer with Paul Wachter, CEO of Main Street Advisors and Fabian Nicieza, who was also the developer of the series.[5] On June 15, 2020, Amazon Prime Video acquired the series.[8][2] On June 20, 2020, John Landis signed on to direct and executive produce all of the episodes.[9] The season was to consist of 52 episodes.[10]

In July 2020, Genius Brands and Archie Comics published the late Stan Lee's comic book Superhero Kindergarten, in a multi-year partnership agreement.[11] As with other adaptations of his works, Lee made several cameo appearances in the series.[1][12][13] The series was the last project Lee personally worked on.[14] Discussing his work on the series, lead actor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "Superhero Kindergarten is near and dear to my heart, the greatest superhero to ever live. What an honor it was to collaborate with Stan Lee on the creation of the series, and I am absolutely thrilled that our new series has resonated so strongly with audiences right out of the gate".[1] In 2021, Steven Banks was revealed to have served as a writer on the series.[15]

During an April 2021 interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Schwarzenegger stated that the idea behind the making of Superhero Kindergarten came from his desire "to do a sequel to Kindergarten Cop".[16] Schwarzenegger reiterated this in a May 2021 interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, while adding that Stan Lee told him "[he had] an idea for an animated show. What about Superhero Kindergarten, where you're a kindergarten teacher for kids who have superpowers? You have been a superhero yourself (in the show) but you're now retired and teaching those kids how to be good contributors and how to save the world in the future".[17]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected by [9]Written byOriginal release date [5]
1"The First Day of School"John LandisSteven BanksApril 23, 2021 (2021-04-23)
One of the earth's greatest protectors, Captain Fantastic, ends up expelling his powers to win a final battle with his nemesis Dr. Superior. Five years later, when it is revealed that a group of unsuspecting toddlers in the vicinity of the fight were exposed to super-energy particles, he must become a kindergarten teacher to the now super-powered kids to train them as a new generation of young heroes.
2"Art of the Steal"John LandisSteven BanksApril 23, 2021 (2021-04-23)
The Super K's take a field trip to an art museum and must stop thieves from making off with the prize art.
3"Hammy"John LandisSteven BanksApril 30, 2021 (2021-04-30)
The class gains a pet, Hammy the hamster, and learn about taking care of a pet who also has superpowers.
4"Super K's vs. The Fearsome Foursome"John LandisSteven BanksMay 7, 2021 (2021-05-07)
The Super K's encounter academic and villainous rivals from the Academy for Superior Children, led by the former Dr. Superior.
5"Call Me Hugzilla"John LandisSteven BanksMay 14, 2021 (2021-05-14)
A superhero lesson on creative thinking leads Billy to question what it means to be a monster.
6"One Dark Night"John LandisSteven BanksMay 21, 2021 (2021-05-21)
Dueling sleep overs and pranks lead to a lesson on overcoming your fears - real or imagined.
7"The Experiment"John LandisSteven BanksJune 4, 2021 (2021-06-04)
Dr. Superior kidnaps Billy and Jackson in a bid to regain his superpowers.
8"Sleeping Duty"John LandisSteven BanksJune 18, 2021 (2021-06-18)
When Mr. Arnold falls asleep in class, the kids take on an important mission without him.
9"Castaways"John LandisSteven BanksJune 25, 2021 (2021-06-25)
The Super K's accidentally takes off in a hot air balloon without Mr. Arnold and crash onto a deserted island.
10"How the Super Ks Save Christmas, Part 1"John LandisSteven BanksJuly 2, 2021 (2021-07-02)
Nigel Danforth and the Academy children plan to ruin the Super K's Christmas pageant.
11"How the Super Ks Save Christmas, Part 2"John LandisSteven BanksJuly 9, 2021 (2021-07-09)
Having disrupted the Christmas festivities, Dr. Superior plans to kidnap Santa Claus.
12"Lost in a Space Odyssey Trek"John LandisSteven BanksJuly 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)
A trip to the Greenville Science Museum leads to an out of this world adventure.
13"Super Ks Gone Bad"John LandisSteven BanksJuly 23, 2021 (2021-07-23)
The Super K's are doing horrible, no good, super bad things all over Greenville, but is it them? When Nigel Danforth is involved, all bets are off.
14"The Substitute"John LandisSteven BanksJuly 30, 2021 (2021-07-30)
When Mr. Arnold misses class to attend a retired superhero meeting, the new substitute teaches the Super K's a lesson on trusting their instincts.
15"Hall of Fame"John LandisSteven BanksAugust 6, 2021 (2021-08-06)
When Captain Fantastic is inducted into the Super Hero Hall of Fame, Nigel Danforth decides to do everything he can to disrupt the main event.
16"Bessie We Hardly Knew Ye"John LandisSteven BanksAugust 13, 2021 (2021-08-13)
Vik's quest to find Bessie the lake monster teaches everyone that just because you can't see something doesn't mean it isn't real.
17"The Magic Ring"John LandisSteven BanksAugust 20, 2021 (2021-08-20)
A trip to meet Mr. Arnold's friends Penn and Teller leads to a magical mystery that only the Super K's can solve: finding out what happened to Houdini's Ring.
18"Time Trippers"John LandisSteven BanksAugust 27, 2021 (2021-08-27)
The Super K's accidental trip through time teaches everyone that history is best left in the past.
19"Checkmate"John LandisSteven BanksSeptember 3, 2021 (2021-09-03)
Mr. Armstrong is scheduled for a chess match with the champion Natasha Badinski, who's secretly planning a heist.
20"Weirdo World"John LandisSteven BanksSeptember 10, 2021 (2021-09-10)
The Super K's encounter an evil Captain Fantastic from a parallel world.
21"A Royal Visit"John LandisSteven BanksSeptember 17, 2021 (2021-09-17)
A Super K royal visit with Princess Zamunda turns chaotic when her priceless tiara goes missing.
22"The Paris Affair"John LandisSteven BanksSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
A geography lesson and a story about Mr. Arnold's long lost love leads to an adventure in Paris to save the city from the dastardly Joan of Dark.
23"Earthlings Got Talent"John LandisSteven BanksOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)
When Patty, Billy, and Vik are abducted by aliens, Mr. Arnold and the rest of the Super K's must race to save them from the most dangerous talent show in the universe.
24"Captain Fantastic Begins"John LandisSteven BanksOctober 8, 2021 (2021-10-08)
The origins of Captain Fantastic, Dr. Superior, and their superpowers are revealed.
25"Austrian Adventure"John LandisSteven BanksOctober 15, 2021 (2021-10-15)
The Super Ks take a trip to Austria with Mr. Arnold to solve the mystery of the missing mini horse.
26"Emerson"John LandisSteven BanksOctober 22, 2021 (2021-10-22)
An exchange student from England, Emerson, leaves the Super K's unsure if he can keep up with them due to his being in a wheelchair. When the alien Kremlon reveals himself and endangers the entire team, Emerson's powers are needed to save the day. Despite this, Kremlon captures and transports the team away.

Release

The first two episodes of Superhero Kindergarten were released on the Kartoon Channel on April 23, 2021, with subsequent episodes to be released weekly.[1][18][19] The first episode premiered on January 29, 2021, which included an introduction from series star, Arnold Schwarzenegger.[20][21]

Reception

Critical response

Alessia Santoro, of PopSugar, gave a positive review, saying "it's the perfect show for superhero-loving parents and their kids to enjoy together".[22]

Ratings

The first two episodes were watched by over 2 million viewers.[15] By May 3, 2021, the first three episodes surpassed 9 million views.[17][23] Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of Genius Brands, discussed the episodes' ratings, by saying "this breaks every record for us on the channel and goes beyond our wildest expectation for the series weekend debut. In the new world of streaming media, it's hard to compare apples to oranges, but if Superhero Kindergarten were a feature movie, we would be doing cartwheels with this 'opening weekend box office'".[1][24] However the average watch time per episode was less than 6 minutes (Extrapolated from GNUS Brands International reporting.

References
  1. Zogbi, Emily (April 26, 2021). "Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten Debuts to Over 2 Million Viewers". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  2. Milligan, Mercedes (April 22, 2020). "'Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten' to Arrive on Amazon in Spring 2021". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  3. Jennings, Collier (January 28, 2021). "Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten Trailer Introduces Schwarzenegger's Captain Fantastic". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  4. SUPERHERO KINDERGARTEN HEADS TO SEASON FINALE WITH 75M + INTRODUCES NEW CHARACTER
  5. Couch, Aaron (May 29, 2019). "Arnold Schwarzenegger Lending Voice to Stan Lee's 'Superhero Kindergarten'". The Hollywood Reporter. Valence Media. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  6. Baysinger, Tim (May 29, 2019). "Arnold Schwarzenegger to Star in 'Superhero Kindergarten' Series From Stan Lee". TheWrap. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  7. Kroll, Justin (May 29, 2019). "Arnold Schwarzenegger to Star in Animated Series 'Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  8. Goldsmith, Jill (June 15, 2020). "Arnold Schwarzenegger Invests In Genius Brands As Producer, Star Of Its Animated Kids Series 'Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  9. Jennings, Collier (June 20, 2020). "John Landis to Direct Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten Starring Schwarzenegger". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  10. White, Peter (October 14, 2019). "China's Youku To Co-Produce Arnold Schwarzenegger's Kids' Series 'Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten' – Mipcom". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  11. Vlessing, Etan (July 15, 2020). "Archie Comics to Launch Comic Books Based on Stan Lee Superheroes". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  12. Sharf, Zack (May 29, 2019). "Stan Lee's Final Project Is an Animated Superhero Show for Kids Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger". IndieWire. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  13. Tuchow, Ryan (July 6, 2020). "Genius Brands acquires Stan Lee's likeness, IPs". Kidscreen. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  14. Genius Brands to launch Stan Lee's "Superhero Kindergarten" featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger
  15. "Weekend Premiere of Genius Brands' "Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten," Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, on Kartoon Channel! Delivers Massive Success With Over 2 Million Views". Globe News Wire (Press release). April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  16. Chand, Neeraj (May 1, 2021). "How Stan Lee Made Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Kindergarten Cop 2' Wish Come True". MovieWeb. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  17. "Genius Brands' "Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten" Surpasses 9 Million Views on Kartoon Channel!". Yahoo! Finance. May 3, 2021. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  18. Cranswick, Amie (April 21, 2021). "Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in trailer for Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten". Flickering Myth. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  19. LiteraryJoe (April 20, 2021). "Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten: Arnold Schwarzenegger Stars In New Animated Series Premiering This Week". Comic Book Movie. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  20. "Sneak Peek Weekend: 'Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten' Episode 1 Premiere". Animation World Network. January 26, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  21. Milligan, Mercedes (January 25, 2021). "'Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten' Gets Sneak-Peek Weekend with Arnold". Animation Magazine. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  22. Santoro, Alessia (April 26, 2021). "Where to Watch Superhero Kindergarten, One of Stan Lee's Final Creations Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger". PopSugar. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  23. "Genius Brands' "Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten" Surpasses 9 Million Views on Kartoon Channel!". Associated Press. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  24. Burlingame, Russ (April 30, 2021). "Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals How Stan Lee Came Up With Idea For Superhero Kindergarten". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
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