Boffins (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boffins |
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Title card for the series, seen at the beginning of every episode.
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| Created by | John Patterson Ian Munro |
| Directed by | Ian Munro |
| Opening theme | "Boffins" performed by Suzy Connolly |
| Composer(s) | Robert Moss |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Chris Oliver |
| Editor(s) | Robin Archer |
| Running time | 9.5 mins |
| Production company(s) | Film Australia |
| Release | |
| Original network | N/A |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Audio format | Stereo |
Boffins (sometimes called The Boffins) is an Australian children's TV show. It was made by Film Australia in 1993. The show was created by John Patterson and Ian Munro. They also made Johnson and Friends. Even though it was made in Australia, it wasn't shown on TV there at first. The ABC network thought about showing it for schools, but it didn't happen. However, Boffins was shown in many other countries. It was even translated into different languages! In Australia, people could finally watch it when it came out on home video in 1995.
Contents
What is Boffins About?
Boffins tells the stories of four tiny, furry, alien-like creatures. They are called Boffins! These little characters live in kitchen cupboards and nearby areas. Their main goal is to figure out how science works in the world. Two of the Boffins, Madame Curie and Aristotle, are very keen on finding answers. But Newton and Echo, who are younger Boffins from the house next door, just want to have fun!
Learning Science with Boffins
The show was made to teach kids in primary school about basic science rules. Each episode explores a different science idea. For example, they learn about how sound travels, how levers and pulleys work, and what magnetism is. They also explore gravity, siphons, and how water disappears (evaporation). Other topics include how light reflects and spreads out, friction, and what plants need to grow.
Meet the Boffins Characters
Here are the main characters you'll meet in the show:
- Aristotle: He is named after a famous Greek thinker. Aristotle loves science, but he can be a bit lazy, proud, and bossy. Still, he has a kind heart and a good sense of humor. He doesn't like Galileo because he gets jealous of Galileo's inventions. Aristotle lives in the kitchen cupboard with Madame Curie.
- Madame Curie: She lives in the kitchen cupboard with Aristotle. Madame Curie can be strict sometimes, but she is very caring. She acts like a mother figure to Newton and Echo. She is named after the famous Polish physicist Marie Curie.
- Newton: Newton is a teenage Boffin from the house next door. He doesn't really like science, which is common for kids his age. He wears a red flat cap and a yellow shirt with a peace symbol. Even though he dislikes science, he still visits the kitchen with Echo. It's funny because he's named after the British physicist Sir Isaac Newton!
- Echo: Echo lives next door with Newton. Unlike Newton, Echo is curious about science instead of disliking it. She wears a green shirt with different symbols stitched on it, and a skirt. Her name comes from the effect caused by the reflection of sound.
- Galileo: Galileo is Madame Curie's cousin. He lives in a kitchen cupboard in a house across town. He has invented many cool gadgets and machines. Aristotle gets very jealous of these inventions! Galileo often sends his inventions to Madame Curie, which makes Aristotle even more annoyed. You never see Galileo in person, but he is often talked about in the episodes. He is named after the Italian physicist Galileo Galilei.
- Doris: Doris is Madame Curie's sister. She lives on the other side of town. She was only mentioned in one episode called "Wrong Number." In that episode, she sends a letter to Madame Curie, which makes Madame Curie want to get a telephone. The letter says that Doris lives with Galileo.
Who Played the Boffins?
The actors who wore the costumes and did the voices for the Boffins are listed here. The amazing costumes were made by a company called Studio Kite.
| Character | Costume Actor | Voice Actor |
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| Aristotle | Peter Browne | Peter Browne |
| Madame Curie | Deborah Kennedy | Deborah Kennedy |
| Newton | James Caitlin Troy Rowley |
Zachery McKay |
| Echo | Kirsty McGregor | Kirsty McGregor |
Boffins Episodes and Science Topics
There are 13 episodes of Boffins, and each one explores a different science idea.
| No. | Episode Title | Science Concept | |
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| 1 | "Wrong Number" | How Sound Travels | |
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Madame Curie wants a phone, so the Boffins learn about sound and build their own telephone.
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| 2 | "No Entry" | Levers | |
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The Boffins try to lift a stuck kitchen tile. They accidentally discover how powerful levers can be!
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| 3 | "Over the Moon" | Pulleys | |
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The Boffins need to move a huge box of cornflakes. They figure out how to use pulleys to make it easier.
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| 4 | "Fridgestuff" | Magnetism | |
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The Boffins try to find out where a new secret force comes from – it's magnetism!
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| 5 | "Upwards and Downwards" | Hypothesizing | |
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Aristotle and Madame Curie show how gravity works. They soon learn they also need to clean up the mess!
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| 6 | "Life in the Balance" | Gravity | |
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Newton is hanging dangerously off the kitchen bench. Aristotle saves him by finding the center of gravity.
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| 7 | "Water Water Everywhere" | Siphons | |
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The young Boffins find a "scientific" way to move water. They start a siphon but can't stop it!
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| 8 | "The Disappearing Water" | Evaporation | |
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The Boffins become detectives to help Newton find his missing water. There's no thief, just evaporation.
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| 9 | "Let There Be Light" | Reflection of Light | |
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The young Boffins try to catch light in a matchbox. They learn they can't hold it, but they can reflect it.
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| 10 | "Feeling Blue" | Dispersion of Light | |
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Aristotle and Madame Curie use prisms to pick colors for their lab. This helps them understand how light splits into colors.
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| 11 | "Moving Matters" | Friction | |
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The Boffins try to get rid of some cleaning soap. They discover friction and invent a new sport: soap skating!
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| 12 | "The Miracle of Life" | Requirements for Growth | |
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The young Boffins have trouble growing plants. Then they learn how important light, water, and soil are.
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| 13 | "The Pledge" | - | |
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Aristotle and Madame Curie go on an adventure. Newton and Echo realize they can now lead the science experiments themselves.
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Where Was Boffins Shown?
Even though Boffins wasn't well-known in Australia, it was shown in many countries around the world. These included Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, Brunei, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Canada, and parts of the Middle East and Africa. The show was also translated and dubbed into languages like Hebrew, Malay, and Portuguese.
In the United States and Canada, Boffins was released as a set of educational videos. These videos were mostly available for schools and universities to use for teaching.
