Ned's Newt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ned's Newt |
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Ned's Newt title screen
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| Created by |
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| Developed by |
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| Written by |
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| Voices of | See voice cast below |
| Country of origin | Canada Germany |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 39 (list of episodes) |
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| Executive producer(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Vince Commisso |
| Running time | 22 min (per episode) |
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| Release | |
| Original network | Teletoon |
| Original release | October 17, 1997 – December 31, 1999 |
Ned's Newt is a fun animated TV show from Canada and Germany. It was created by Andy Knight and Mike Burgess. The show was made by Nelvana and TMO Film GmbH. It first aired on October 17, 1997, and its last episode was on December 31, 1999.
Contents
Meet Ned and Newton
The story starts with a 9-year-old boy named Ned Flemkin. He finally saves enough money to buy a pet. At the pet store, the only animal he can afford is a newt. Ned names his new pet "Newton." But Newton just sits on a rock in his bowl and does nothing.
Ned tells the pet store owner that his newt is boring. The owner gives Ned a special pet food called "Zippo for Newt." He warns Ned not to give Newton too much. Ned gives Newton a little bit, but Newton still doesn't move. Ned leaves the can next to Newton's bowl and goes to bed.
Newton's Amazing Transformation
That night, Newton crawls out of his bowl. He eats a lot of the Zippo food. Just as the owner warned, Newton grows huge! He becomes 6 feet tall, can talk, and can even change his shape. Harland Williams was the voice of Newton for most of the show.
Ned soon realizes what happened. He and Newton become the best of friends. But there's a catch: the Zippo food's effects don't last forever. Newton often causes trouble for Ned. When the Zippo wears off, Newton shrinks back to his small newt form. This leaves Ned alone to face angry adults.
The series is all about Ned's funny adventures. He tries to live a normal life while keeping Newton's secret safe.
List of Ned's Newt episodes
Adventures and Themes
Each episode of Ned's Newt turns everyday tasks into wild adventures. For example, Ned might want to relive a fun weekend. Newton suggests building a time machine. This idea accidentally sends them to the age of dinosaurs! They even change the future.
In another episode, Ned's friend Doogle digs a hole for charity. He finds a secret race of underground trolls. These trolls are planning to take over cities around the world.
Keeping Newton's Secret Safe
Ned takes Newton everywhere he goes. He always carries some Zippo food with him. This is just in case Newton turns back into a normal newt. Newton's powers often make things worse. This is usually because he doesn't understand how human society works.
When Ned realizes they've made a big mistake, like giving away millions of dollars, he and Newton must fix it. They usually succeed in putting things right. But Newton almost always changes back to his small newt form just in time. This means Ned is left to get into trouble alone.
Pop Culture Fun
The show often made jokes about famous people and popular culture. This was thanks to Harland Williams's talent as a comedian. Newton would often change into "newt-versions" of celebrities. These included Arnold Schwarzenegger, Humphrey Bogart, and Clark Gable. This made for many funny moments.
Newton also often talked directly to the audience. This is called "breaking the fourth wall." In season three, he even joked about how his belly-button was drawn. He also wondered if newts should even have belly-buttons!
For the last four episodes of season three, Ron Pardo took over as the voice of Newton.
In one episode, "Rear Bus Window," Newton says his exact species name is vittercensis. This is not a real newt species.
Voice Cast
- Harland Williams as Newton (episodes 1–35)
- Ron Pardo as Newton (episodes 36–39)
- Tracey Moore as Ned Flemkin
- Carolyn Scott as Sharon "Mom" Flemkin/Miss Bunn
- Peter Keleghan as Eric "Dad" Flemkin
- Tracy Ryan as Linda Bliss
- Colin O'Meara as Doogle/Mr. Bliss
- Jim Milington as The Usual Guy/Pet Shop Owner
Where the Show Aired
The series aired on Teletoon in Canada from 1997 to 1999. Reruns were shown from 1999 to 2004. Later, on September 5, 2011, Teletoon Retro aired all 39 episodes again.
In the United States, the show was seen on Fox Kids. It started on February 7, 1998. It first aired on Saturday mornings, then moved to weekday mornings. Only the first season aired on Fox Kids.
Years later, Qubo aired the series. It ran from March 28, 2016, to July 27, 2018. It aired again from March 30, 2020, to July 24, 2020.
Around the world, Ned's Newt was shown on Cartoon Network, KidsCo, and Super RTL.
Home Video Releases
Each VHS tape of Ned's Newt had two pairs of episodes. The first three tapes were called "Home Alone with Newt," "Jurassic Joyride," and "Saturday Night Fervor." These were released in the United States by Paramount Home Entertainment on March 23, 1999.
In Canada, the series was released on VHS by Telegenic Entertainment.
See also
In Spanish: Ned's Newt para niños
