Poko (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Poko |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Children's television series |
| Created by | Jeff Rosen |
| Developed by | Jeff Rosen Cheryl Wagner Michael Donovan |
| Written by | Jeff Rosen Cheryl Wagner |
| Directed by | Chuck Rubin |
| Starring | Cory Bowles Cameron Davidson |
| Narrated by | Cory Bowles |
| Opening theme | "Poko Theme Song" |
| Ending theme | "Poko Theme Song" (instrumental) |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Michael Donovan Jeff Rosen |
| Producer(s) | Charles Bishop |
| Animator(s) | Thea Pratt |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Eraser Dog Prods. Salter Street Films Alliance Atlantis Halifax Film Company |
| Distributor | CBC |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBC Television |
| Picture format | 4:3 SDTV |
| Original release | December 1, 2003 – July 31, 2008 |
Poko is a fun Canadian TV show made using stop motion animation. It's all about a little boy named Poko, his playful dog, Minus, and his favorite toy monkey, Mr. Murphy. The show was created by Jeff Rosen and produced in Canada by the Halifax Film Company.
Poko first aired on December 1, 2003, and continued until July 31, 2008. It was broadcast in Canada on CBC Television as part of the Kids' CBC programming block. The show was very popular and won some cool awards, like the Gemini for Best Pre-school Program in 2004 and the Alliance for Children & Television (ACT) Grand Prize in 2007. The show is narrated by actor and dancer Cory Bowles.
Contents
Meet the Characters
- Poko (voiced by Cameron Davidson) is the main character, a curious little boy. He loves to play in his room or backyard. Poko has a special secret: a magic finger! When he says "Poko pippity pop!", he can draw anything in the air, and it becomes real. Sometimes Poko gets a bit grumpy or upset when things don't go his way, but an unseen narrator always helps him cheer up.
- Minus is Poko's pet dog. He's super playful and sometimes gets into funny trouble. Minus is named after the minus sign (–) because he can make Poko's drawings disappear with his nose, just like an eraser! Even though he's a dog, Minus often acts like a human, walking on two feet, playing soccer, or dancing. His silly actions often make Poko laugh and say, "Silly Minus!"
- Mr. Murphy is Poko's cuddly stuffed monkey. He usually just sits quietly, but sometimes you might see his hands move, like when he shrugs or covers his eyes. He's always there for Poko.
- Bibi is a young girl and Poko's good friend. She often comes over for playdates. Bibi has her own magic too! She uses a special sticker book. When she opens it to a sticker of an object, that object becomes real, just like Poko's drawings. Bibi first joined the fun in the second season of the show.
How the Show Works
Each episode of Poko follows a similar pattern, making it easy to know what's coming next!
- The show starts with the opening theme song.
- Poko wakes up and begins his day.
- There's an adventure inside Poko's house.
- A short "play sequence" happens.
- In Season One, Poko reads a "Mighty Murph" story. In Season Two, there's a "Poko's Playhouse" segment.
- Another "play sequence" follows.
- Then, Poko has an adventure outside in his garden.
- The last "play sequence" before the ending.
- The episode finishes with the closing theme song.
Episode Adventures
Every episode has two main parts: one takes place indoors after Poko wakes up, and the other is outdoors in the garden. In both parts, Poko faces a small problem. He usually figures out how to solve it by watching a smaller creature, like a bird or a ladybug, deal with a similar situation.
The narrator helps Poko understand his feelings, whether he's angry, sad, or frustrated. The show teaches kids healthy ways to deal with these feelings. For example, if Poko is angry at Minus, he might play his tuba loudly to let out his frustration. Another common solution is for Poko to give Mr. Murphy a big hug. They even sing a song: "hug a monkey...hug him tight...hug him till you feel alright." If Mr. Murphy isn't around, Poko might do a dance called "The Poko Polka" or spend some quiet time on his swing to feel better.
In the second season, a new part called "Poko's Playhouse" was added. In this segment, Poko, Minus, and Bibi put on a show for their stuffed toy audience on a special stage, with children singing along in the background.
Play Sequences
In each episode, there are two short, thirty-second "play sequences." In these fun clips, Poko, Minus, and Mr. Murphy play together against a colorful background. They might pretend to swim, surf, ride an imaginary Roller coaster, or even dress up like a ball!
Mighty Murph Stories
In the first season, Poko would read a "Mighty Murph" story in the middle of each show. These stories were like cartoons made with Macromedia Flash. They featured a baby Mr. Murphy who would face a problem, like being hungry or having nowhere to play. He would then imagine himself as Mighty Murph, a superhero who flies around trying to find a solution. In the end, he always realized that the best place to be was right where he was, with his mom. The narrator tells these stories.
Awards and Recognition
Poko has been recognized for being a great show for young children:
- Gemini - Best Pre-School Program (2004)
- ACT Award - Grand Prize (2007)
- ACT Award - Animation Age 3-5 (2007)
See also
In Spanish: Poko para niños
