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Seven Little Monsters (TV series)

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Seven Little Monsters
GenreFantasy
Comedy
Based onSeven Little Monsters by Maurice Sendak
Directed byNeil Affleck
Lynn Reist
Glenn Sylvester
Voices ofJoanne Vannicola
Colin Mochrie
Dwayne Hill
Seán Cullen
Michele Scarabelli
Debra McGrath
Theme music composerBarenaked Ladies
Opening theme"Seven Little Monsters"
ComposerLesley Barber
Country of originCanada
China (S1–2)
Philippines (S3)
Original languagesEnglish
Chinese
Filipino
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes40
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Tracy Leach (S3)
  • Susie Grondin (S3)
Running time26 minutes
Production companiesNelvana Limited
Suzhou Hong Ying Animation Company Limited (S1–2)
Philippine Animation Studio Inc. (S3)
Original release
NetworkTreehouse TV (S1–2)
YTV (S3)
ReleaseSeptember 30, 2000 (2000-09-30) –
October 6, 2003 (2003-10-06)

Seven Little Monsters, or 7 Little Monsters, is a Canadian animated children's television series about a family of seven monsters and their mother.[1] It is based on the book of the same name by Maurice Sendak and directed by Neil Affleck, Lynn Reist, and Glenn Sylvester. It was co-produced by Nelvana Limited, Suzhou Hong Ying Animation Corporation Limited for the first two seasons and Philippine Animation Studio Inc. for the third season, in association with Treehouse TV and PBS.

Premise

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The show that focuses on seven monsters (Brothers Two, Three, Four, Five, and Seven and Sisters One and Six), each named after a different number from one to seven, and each has unique physical characteristics.

Characters

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  • One (voiced by Joanne Vannicola) is the oldest and the only monster who can fly. She is a tomboy, a natural athlete who loves sports, and somewhat of a tattletale. She often gets her siblings into trouble, but still cares deeply for them.
  • Two (voiced by Colin Mochrie) is the most helpful of the monsters and has a prominent nose which he often "sticks in where it doesn't belong".
  • Three (voiced by Dwayne Hill) is a dramatic monster who takes on a different personality and voice in every episode, often to the dismay of others.
  • Four (voiced by Seán Cullen) is always bad-tempered and grumpy. He is normally seen with his younger brother Five.
  • Five (voiced by Seán Cullen) is the biggest and most childlike of the monsters who speaks few words with a thick speech impediment. He has an enormous tongue and a voracious appetite.
  • Six (voiced by Michele Scarabelli) is the resident ballerina of the group who thinks she is the most beautiful of the monsters. Unlike her sister One, she has more feminine interests. She wears a purple leotard with a white tutu, has a star wand, and speaks with a US accent.
  • Seven (voiced by Seán Cullen) is the youngest who has the ability to unscrew his head. He is the most gentle and timid monster who is afraid of bugs and is fond of cheese, and speaks in a Boris Karloff-esque voice.
  • Mom (voiced by Debra McGrath) is the mother of the seven monsters. A kindly, babushka-wearing witch, she is much smaller than her children and speaks with a European accent.
  • Mary is the monsters' psychedelic neighbour and good friend. She is the leader of a club called the Purple Pixies, which consists of other club members: Wendy (the only one who talks beside Mary), Angela, and Kate, who dislikes Six, and, always has a gloomy angry look.
  • Sam is Five's pet turtle.
  • Belinda is the monster family's pet cow.
  • Freddie is Mary's pet dog.

Music

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The theme song was performed by the Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies, who also performed the theme to CBSThe Big Bang Theory.

Production and Broadcast

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The show initially started airing in the U.S. on PBS, as a segment on the weekend PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch block, on September 30, 2000.[2] The first season ended on December 23, 2000, with repeats of the first season continuing through October 2001. The second season ran from November 3, 2001 to January 26, 2002, again during the Bookworm Bunch block. Repeats of the second season continued until September 2004, when the Bookworm Bunch was discontinued.

The third season premiered on January 6, 2003 on PBS, and was paired with The Berenstain Bears in the same half-hour timeslot on weekdays; thus, new episodes were only 15 minutes in duration, as opposed to 30 minutes for the first two seasons.[3] The Berenstain Bears began filling the entire half-hour timeslot on most PBS member stations starting September 15, 2003,[4] resulting in some episodes of the third season of Seven Little Monsters never being broadcast on PBS. Some PBS stations continued airing episodes of the third season until August 2004.[5]

In Canada, it was aired on Treehouse TV from February 4, 2001 to February 3, 2002. The series was then moved to YTV from 2002 to 2005. In the United Kingdom, it was aired on Tiny Pop in 2004.[citation needed]

Episodes

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Season 1 (2000)

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All episodes in this season are directed by Glenn Sylvester. These episodes aired as segments on the PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleWritten byOriginal air date
11"Good Morning!"Jeph LoebSeptember 30, 2000 (2000-09-30)
The seven monsters are sent by Mom to buy some milk. However, this results in chaos when Six falls asleep on the bus and when Seven loses his head.
22"Good Night!"Jeph LoebOctober 7, 2000 (2000-10-07)
The seven monsters have a hard time getting some sleep, so Mom tells them a bedtime story.
33"The Mystery of the Missing Five"Seán CullenOctober 14, 2000 (2000-10-14)
Five goes around town to prove he's a good boy after Four hurt his feelings. Three goes detective to help the others find him.
44"Seven Monsters and a Baby"Matthew Daniel WeismanOctober 21, 2000 (2000-10-21)
The seven monsters take charge of chores in the house so Mama can have a restful nap. This gets complicated when they have to babysit Mrs. Mulligan's baby.
55"Are You My Family?"Ian WeirOctober 28, 2000 (2000-10-28)
Upset by One's hurtful remarks, Six goes away to find a new family. Meanwhile, the other monsters are in disarray without Six to help them prepare for Mother's Day.
66"Please Mr. Postman"Matthew Daniel WeismanNovember 4, 2000 (2000-11-04)
Two misses a trip to the park to wait for an important package. The monsters also need their picture taken, except that Seven's head is missing.
77"Doctor, Doctor!"John Pellatt and Kenn ScottNovember 11, 2000 (2000-11-11)
Two catches a cold, so the other monsters try to help him get better so he can come with them to the movies.
88"Along Came Mary"Seán CullenNovember 18, 2000 (2000-11-18)
Mary has moved in next door. The monsters compete to be her best friend, until she tells them they are equally nifty.
99"A Monster's Best Friend"Michael ThomaNovember 25, 2000 (2000-11-25)
The monsters bring home a puppy as a pet. They learn to train and love the puppy and win back Belinda's affections.
1010"Spooky"Matthew Daniel WeismanDecember 2, 2000 (2000-12-02)
The power goes out during a thunderstorm and the monsters are scared.
1111"Plooky"Seán CullenDecember 9, 2000 (2000-12-09)
When Mom wins a video camera, Four becomes a movie director and he orders the rest of the monsters to make a video with him.
1212"Fair Play"John Pellatt and Kenn ScottDecember 16, 2000 (2000-12-16)
Seven teaches all the monsters to work as a team to win the big soccer game.
1313"Lost and Found"Seán CullenDecember 23, 2000 (2000-12-23)
When Five finds a wallet with money at the park, the monsters find out that it's not their money. They learn that honesty is the best policy.

Season 2 (2001–02)

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All episodes in this season are directed by Neil Affleck.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleWritten byOriginal air date
141"Losing Sam"Seán CullenNovember 3, 2001 (2001-11-03)
Five wins a pet turtle called Sam. But when Sam goes missing, Five and the other monsters must cooperate with Sam's track.
152"Out of Sight"Michael ThomaNovember 10, 2001 (2001-11-10)
One can't see properly so the monsters go to the optometrist to help her educate and see properly.
163"All the Marbles"Jeph Loeb, John Pellatt and Kenn ScottNovember 17, 2001 (2001-11-17)
When Seven sees a Monster Marbles toy on television, he is fascinated with them and when the Monsters buy a birthday present for Mary, Seven buys the marbles.
174"The Whole Tooth"Seán CullenNovember 24, 2001 (2001-11-24)
Six is losing a baby tooth and she has to learn what loose teeth are.
185"My Fair One"Seán Cullen and Sheila DinsmoreDecember 1, 2001 (2001-12-01)
One plays baseball with Billy and Six must help One become a baseball player.
196"Splitting Hairs"Michael ThomaDecember 8, 2001 (2001-12-08)
Two is lacking in confidence prior to appearing as a contestant on his favourite game show when he fears getting a haircut.
207"Elephant!"David BoswellDecember 15, 2001 (2001-12-15)
Four meets an elephant named Wendy. When Four and Wendy come home from the zoo, Four learns that animals need friends.
218"A Day at the Firehouse"Seán CullenDecember 22, 2001 (2001-12-22)
The monsters visit Chief Lubomir to learn about fire safety which worries Seven.
229"Runaway Mom"Michael ThomaDecember 29, 2001 (2001-12-29)
After Mom was angry at her monsters for building a hot air balloon made out of pieces of the house and sent them to their room, the monsters think that Mom ran away.
2310"You are What You Eat"Seán CullenJanuary 5, 2002 (2002-01-05)
The County Fair is approaching and everyone is excited about the contest. Four trains Five for a pie eating contest until he becomes unhealthy.
2411"April Fools"Seán CullenJanuary 12, 2002 (2002-01-12)
The monsters write a play despite everyone's input, but Five and Four want comedy. They annoy the other monsters with practical jokes until they teach them a lesson.
2512"It's a Wonder-Four Life"Seán CullenJanuary 19, 2002 (2002-01-19)
Four wishes he was an only child but he is surprised that he learns that his wish comes true.
2613"The Adventures of Super Three"David Boswell and Matthew Daniel WeismanJanuary 26, 2002 (2002-01-26)
The monsters pretend that they are the superheroes and villains in this world and make a mess in the basement rather than cleaning.

Season 3 (2003)

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Note: In the U.S., All the episodes in Season 3 (except for episodes 37 and 40) aired with The Berenstain Bears on PBS Kids.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleWritten byDirected byOriginal air date
27a1a"All's Quiet on the Monster Front"Kim ThompsonNeil AffleckJanuary 8, 2003 (2003-01-08) (on PBS Kids)
Two is trying to write a song for a contest and needs peace and quiet.
27b1b"Nightmare on Chestnut Street"Seán CullenNeil AffleckJanuary 17, 2003 (2003-01-17) (on PBS Kids)
In trying to help Six get back to sleep after a scary dream, each monster shares their worst nightmare and soon they are all shaking with fear.
28a2a"Ear Spy"Johanna SteinLynn ReistJanuary 14, 2003 (2003-01-14) (on PBS Kids)
Seven passes off his eavesdropping as mind-reading. Impressed, the family arranges a big show for all the neighbourhood children.
28b2b"Bang! Zoom! To The Moon"Seán CullenLynn ReistJanuary 7, 2003 (2003-01-07) (on PBS Kids)
Four and his siblings try to build a rocket and go to the Moon.
29a3a"My Favorite Crustacean"Kim ThompsonNeil AffleckJanuary 23, 2003 (2003-01-23) (on PBS Kids)
One's insistence to keep a growing hermit crab from their beach trip slowly inconveniences her siblings.
29b3b"Pennies for Seven"Michael ThomaNeil AffleckJanuary 24, 2003 (2003-01-24) (on PBS Kids)
The monsters compete to raise the most money for Sing-Song the panda's new home at the zoo.
30a4a"The Nose Knows"Seán CullenLynn ReistJanuary 27, 2003 (2003-01-27) (on PBS Kids)
When Four and Five compares Two's nose to Pinocchio's, Two becomes insecure.
30b4b"Gone But Not Four-Gotten"Johanna SteinLynn ReistJanuary 28, 2003 (2003-01-28) (on PBS Kids)
31a5a"High Noon"Seán CullenNeil AffleckJanuary 15, 2003 (2003-01-15) (on PBS Kids)
The monsters wait impatiently for their cupcakes to finish baking, so they think of ways to pass the time.
31b5b"The Winning Streak"Seán CullenNeil AffleckJanuary 29, 2003 (2003-01-29) (on PBS Kids)
Spurred on by hopes of winning a trophy and creamed corn, Six competes in a bowling tournament.
32a6a"A Clean Sweep"Kim ThompsonLynn ReistJanuary 30, 2003 (2003-01-30) (on PBS Kids)
32b6b"The Two Who Cried Ouch!"Seán CullenLynn ReistJanuary 31, 2003 (2003-01-31) (on PBS Kids)
Two gets sick again. Enjoying the attention, he decides to fake being sick.
33a7a"The Monster Trash"Johanna SteinNeil AffleckFebruary 3, 2003 (2003-02-03) (on PBS Kids)
Six pawns off her promise to take out the trash onto the other monsters; all of whom take an "out of sight out of mind approach" to their duty.
33b7b"The Bad Hop"Seán CullenNeil AffleckFebruary 4, 2003 (2003-02-04) (on PBS Kids)
One's recent baseball injury makes her afraid to return and join the team.
34a8a"A Five-y Tale"Kim ThompsonLynn ReistFebruary 5, 2003 (2003-02-05) (on PBS Kids)
When Five is having trouble learning how to somersault, his siblings try to give him advice the same way Mom usually does - by telling a story.
34b8b"The Big Store"Seán CullenLynn ReistFebruary 6, 2003 (2003-02-06) (on PBS Kids)
Six gets lost on a shopping trip to a big department store after not paying attention to her mother's directions.
35a9a"Dinner for Breakfast"Michael ThomaNeil AffleckJanuary 21, 2003 (2003-01-21) (on PBS Kids)
Via a wish to the Plooky, the monsters' desire for everything being opposite to what it's supposed to be turns the world backwards.
35b9b"Drip, Drip, Drip!"Seán CullenNeil AffleckJanuary 10, 2003 (2003-01-10) (on PBS Kids)
Four's negligence in turning off the water at home causes a drought during a heatwave.
36a10a"I'm Telling"Johanna SteinLynn ReistJanuary 16, 2003 (2003-01-16) (on PBS Kids)
One's constant tattling on her siblings ruins their plans of a backyard camp out.
36b10b"Voyage To the Bottom Of the Cereal Box"Seán CullenLynn ReistJanuary 6, 2003 (2003-01-06) (on PBS Kids)
Three gets his hopes up waiting for a submarine from his favourite cereal.
37a11a"The Bad Word"Seán CullenNeil AffleckOctober 2, 2003 (2003-10-02) (on YTV)
When Two starts using curse words, Mom tells the monsters a story about a boy who also used curse words.
37b11b"Don't Pass Go"Seán CullenNeil AffleckOctober 3, 2003 (2003-10-03) (on YTV)
Seven wants to play a new board game but doesn't want to read the game's rules.
38a12a"Ahoy, Me Monsters"Kim ThompsonLynn ReistJanuary 13, 2003 (2003-01-13) (on PBS Kids)
A mysterious letter arrives for Pirate Captain Three, instructing him and his monster crew to solve a series of puzzles to find buried backyard treasure.
38b12b"A Pony Tale"Kim ThompsonLynn ReistJanuary 22, 2003 (2003-01-22) (on PBS Kids)
Six runs away after being pressured to give away her toy pony and later learns to give things away that she is too big for.
39a13a"No Place like Home"Michael ThomaNeil AffleckJanuary 20, 2003 (2003-01-20) (on PBS Kids)
When Uncle Schmooty offers to swap his mansion for the family home, One and the others learn that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better.
39b13b"Guys and Dolls"Seán CullenNeil AffleckJanuary 9, 2003 (2003-01-09) (on PBS Kids)
Upon catching Five playing with dolls, Four disastrously attempts to get his brother to pursue masculine pursuits.
40a14a"And Baby Makes Eight"Johanna SteinLynn ReistOctober 6, 2003 (2003-10-06) (on YTV)
Three disguises as a baby to get the attention he wants, but then realizes this means missing out on the meteor shower tonight.
40b14b"These Are Our Lives!"Seán CullenLynn ReistOctober 1, 2003 (2003-10-01) (on YTV)
A quarrelsome Four and Five consider disowning each other, until their mother tells them to clean out the garage together.

References

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  1. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 729–730. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  2. ^ Bedford, Karen E. "PBS debuts 'Bookworm Bunch,' 2000 - Current.org". Current.org. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  3. ^ "The Berenstain Bears(R) Bring 40 Years of Literary History to 'PBS KIDS' With Premiere of 15-Minute Animated TV Series" (Press release). Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Award-Winning PBS KIDS® Launches New Programming This Fall 2003" (Press release). Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  5. ^ "WGTE - TV 30 Schedule". August 17, 2004. Archived from the original on August 17, 2004. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
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