LazyTown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LazyTown |
|
|---|---|
First logo used 2004–11 in seasons 1–2 on Nick Jr.
|
|
| Created by | Magnús Scheving |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Voices of |
|
| Composer(s) | Máni Svavarsson |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom Iceland |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 78 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Running time | 24 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
|
| Release | |
| Original network | Nick Jr. |
| Original release | 16 August 2004 – 15 October 2007 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | LazyTown Extra |
LazyTown (called Latibær in Iceland) is a fun and educational TV show for kids. It was created by Magnús Scheving, an aerobics champion who also plays the hero, Sportacus. The show teaches children how to live healthy lives, encouraging them to be active and eat well.
This popular series started in Iceland and was first made in English. It has been shown in many languages and countries around the world. LazyTown uses a mix of real actors, puppets, and computer animation to bring its colorful world to life. It is known for being one of the most expensive children's shows ever made.
Contents
What is LazyTown About?
The story of LazyTown takes place in a town where most people are not very active. They prefer to relax and do nothing. But things change when the hero, Sportacus, arrives. He is joined by a new girl named Stephanie. Together, they help the town's kids learn to be more active and choose healthy foods.
However, there's a villain named Robbie Rotten. He loves being lazy and tries to make everyone else lazy too. Robbie often comes up with funny plans to stop Sportacus and Stephanie. But his plans usually involve him doing a lot of physical activity, and they always fail!
Stephanie makes friends with other kids in LazyTown. Ziggy loves candy too much. Pixel spends all his time on computers. Stingy is very selfish and wants everything for himself. Trixie likes to cause trouble and doesn't always follow rules. As the show goes on, these characters learn to be healthier and more active.
The show features lots of catchy songs, mostly in a Eurodance style. Each episode has at least one new song. It always ends with Stephanie singing "Bing Bang". Many of these songs are new versions of tunes from the original Icelandic stage shows.
Meet the Characters!
Real-Life Actors
- Sportacus (played by Magnús Scheving) is the main hero of LazyTown. He loves to exercise and eat healthy food, which he calls "sports candy." Sportacus lives in a cool airship above the town. A special crystal on his chest glows when someone needs help. Eating fruits and vegetables gives him energy, but junk food makes him lose his powers. In later seasons, he gained a backpack with healthy snacks and sports gear. His crystal also flashes red when his energy is low.
- Stephanie (played by Julianna Rose Mauriello in seasons 1-2 and Chloe Lang in seasons 3-4) is an energetic and kind girl. She is a great dancer. When she moves to LazyTown to live with her uncle, Mayor Meanswell, she is surprised by how lazy the other kids are. Stephanie tries to get them to play and be active, even while dealing with Robbie Rotten's tricks.
- Robbie Rotten (played by Stefán Karl Stefánsson) is the main villain. He loves being lazy and tries to make everyone in LazyTown lazy too. Robbie really dislikes Sportacus and often tries to get rid of him. It's funny because his plans often make him more active than anyone else, but they never work!
Puppet Characters
- Ziggy (voiced by Guðmundur Þór Kárason in the US) is a young boy who loves candy and sweets. He is a bit naive and looks up to Sportacus.
- Pixel (voiced by Noel MacNeal/Kobie Powell/Chris Knowings/Ronald Binion in the US) is a boy who loves technology and inventing. He used to spend too much time on his computer and video games. His house is a popular meeting spot for the kids.
- Stingy (voiced by Jodi Eichelberger in the US) is a boy who is a bit selfish and likes to keep things for himself. He has a piggy bank he calls Piggy, who is his best friend.
- Trixie (voiced by Sarah Burgess/Heather Asch/Aymee Garcia in the US) is a girl who loves to have fun and sometimes causes a little trouble. She doesn't always like following rules.
- Mayor Milford Meanswell (puppeteered by David Matthew Feldman) is Stephanie's uncle and the mayor of LazyTown. He has a crush on Bessie Busybody.
- Miss Bessie Busybody (puppeteered by Julie Westwood) is the town's public relations agent. She is fashionable and tries to be like a mother to the kids. She often talks on her cellphone.
Episodes of LazyTown
There were 52 episodes made for the first two seasons of LazyTown between 2004 and 2007. Another 26 episodes were made for seasons three and four between 2013 and 2014. This makes a total of 78 episodes.
How LazyTown Began and Was Made
LazyTown started as a storybook in 1995 called Áfram Latibær! (which means "Go Go LazyTown!"). More books followed, and then stage plays were created in Iceland. The second play, Glanni Glæpur í Latabæ (Robbie Rotten in LazyTown), introduced the character of Robbie Rotten. These plays were very popular in Iceland.
After the success of the stage shows, the creator, Magnús Scheving, decided to turn LazyTown into a TV show. Work on the TV series began in 2000. In 2003, a pilot episode was shown to Nickelodeon, and they decided to produce the show.
Most episodes feature only Sportacus, Stephanie, and Robbie Rotten as real-life actors. The other characters are puppets, made by special studios. The show was filmed in a large studio near Reykjavík, Iceland. This studio had one of the biggest green screens in the world. Each episode cost about US$1 million to make, which was a lot for a children's TV show at the time.
The show used special computer technology called XRGen4, based on Unreal Engine 3, to create its virtual backgrounds. This allowed the directors to see the real actors and puppets combined with the computer-generated sets in real time. For seasons 3 and 4, the special effects were created by Turner Studios in Atlanta.
The Future of LazyTown
On May 16, 2024, Magnús Scheving got the rights for LazyTown back from Warner Bros. Discovery. Scheving has expressed interest in bringing the show back in some way. He mentioned that LazyTown is still very popular, especially with many views on YouTube. He believes LazyTown still has an important message to share with the world.
Where LazyTown Was Shown
In the United States, LazyTown first aired on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block from August 16, 2004, to October 15, 2007. It also appeared on CBS as part of the Nick Jr. on CBS Saturday morning block. Later, PBS Kids Sprout (now Universal Kids) acquired the rights, showing the series from September 5, 2011, to September 26, 2016. It also aired on NBC Kids.
LazyTown was broadcast in many countries around the world. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it aired on Nick Jr. UK, Noggin, Boomerang, and CBeebies. The newer seasons (3 and 4) premiered on Turner's Cartoonito and later on Viacom's Channel 5.
The show was dubbed into many languages. A Spanish version aired on V-me and Telemundo in the US. An Arabic version aired on Cartoon Network Arabia. In Brazil, it was shown on SBT, Discovery Kids, and Cartoon Network. It was also broadcast in Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Portugal. In total, LazyTown has been dubbed into 32 different languages! The original actors, Magnús Scheving (Sportacus), Guðmundur Þór Kárason (Ziggy), and Stefán Karl Stefánsson (Robbie Rotten), even dubbed their own characters in the Icelandic version.
LazyTown Extra
On September 15, 2008, a spin-off show called LazyTown Extra started in the United Kingdom on CBeebies. This show was made for younger children (3 to 6 years old). It featured characters from LazyTown in short, fun sketches. There were 26 episodes of LazyTown Extra, each lasting about 11 to 15 minutes.
LazyTown Toys and Products
In February 2005, Nickelodeon showed off a collection of LazyTown products at a big toy fair. Fisher-Price worked with Nickelodeon to create these toys and merchandise. All these products were designed to encourage kids to be active and play.
LazyTown Live Shows and Events
LazyTown also had many live events and stage shows. From June to August 2005, Stephanie hosted the "Nick Jr. Power Play Summer" event on TV. This campaign encouraged young viewers to exercise and eat healthy.
A stage show called LazyTown Live! started in 2005. A different version toured the United Kingdom and Ireland between October 2007 and August 2008. Spanish-speaking versions of the live show premiered in Mexico in 2008 and later toured other countries. A Brazilian version also started in 2008.
Another live stage show, LazyTown Live! The Pirate Adventure, toured the UK and Ireland from 2009. In 2016, a UK production called LazyTown Live On Stage also ran, featuring the popular song "We Are Number One".
LazyTown in Schools was a live show that toured schools in Australia in 2012. It promoted healthy eating and fitness to children.
See Also
In Spanish: LazyTown para niños
- List of Internet phenomena
- Television in Iceland
