Boo! (TV series)

Boo! is a British pre-school animated children's television series created by Will Brenton and Iain Lauchlan, and produced through their company Tell-Tale Productions for CBeebies with Universal Pictures handling co-funding and worldwide television distribution, home video and consumer product rights. The series aired for a total of 104 episodes and one Christmas special; it was nominated for the British Academy Children's Award for Pre-School Animation in 2003.
The series centres on the titular character, Boo, who plays a game entitled "Boo!", which is similar to hide and seek. He plays with his friends in a variety of settings and locations. The commentary is performed by adult male and female narrators and a chorus of children.
During the game, three key objects and Boo's friends are located. After Boo is found three times, the children go over the key objects that were found. Boo and his friends come together, then a song is sung, usually about matching characters or objects to their shapes or colours. Following the song, Boo's friends notice he's hiding again and the episode ends.
The visual style of Boo! is very distinctive, using 3D computer-generated imagery with rounded shapes and cel shading. The music and songs are generally in an early-1970s funk or R&B style.
Other characters, both human and animal vary from one episode to another. The people who have speaking roles in this show are the artists, Chatty Hairdresser, Helpful Nurse, Caring Doctor, Helpful Teacher (an ice skater), Helpful Waitress, Happy Customers (one man and one woman), Busy Chef, the woman on high stilts, the ringmaster, Careful Grownup, Smiling Santa, Graceful Teacher (a ballet dancer), Friendly Police Officers, Strong Lumberjack, Gentle Vet, Show Singers, and Cheering Dad. The Blue Squawking Parakeet (actually a cockatoo) with a red crest) appears in a birdcage (being taken home by a customer) in the episode 'Veterinarian'.
(Waving Sea Anemone, Stretching Starfish, and Creeping Crab)
(Waving Girl, Smiling Lady, and Checkout Man)
(Jumping Frog, Amazing Pond Skater, and Hovering Dragonflies)
(Smiling Portrait, Pretty Finger-painting, and Swirly Painting)
(Chewing Camel, Skipping Rat, and Lazy Lizard)
(Chugging Fishing Boat, Speedy Speedboat, and Slow Rowing Boat)
(Sausage Dog, Cozy Cat, and Comfy Bunny Slippers)
(Stamping Diplodocus, Flapping Pterodactyl, and Scuttling Scutellosaurus)
(Musical Orchestra, Tap Dancers, and Show Singers)
(Flying Flamingo, Snapping Crocodile, and Yawning Hippo)
(Crawling Toad, Scuttling Spider, and Flapping Bat)
(Hiding Clownfish, Wobbling Jellyfish, and Gliding Lionfish)
(Talking Ticket Seller, Clever Train Driver, and Waving Guard)
(Gnawing Beaver, Fishing Bear, and Bending Heron)
(Bathing Elephant, Swaying Cobra, and Prowling Tiger)
(Busy Chef, Friendly Waitress, and Happy Customer)
(Leaping Dolphin, Speedy Shark, and Flapping Manta Ray)
(Brave Knight, Busy Servant, and Dancing Queen)
(Tall Giraffe, Stripy Zebra, and Enormous Elephant)
(Handy Oven Glove, Chilly Fridge, and Drying Tea Towel)
(Big Polar Bear, Wrinkly Walrus, and Furry Arctic Fox)
(Turning Teacup, Bumping Bumper Car, and Golden Horse)
(Gigantic Planet, Twinkling Star, and Smiling Moon)
(Scampering Squirrel, Wriggling Worm, and Fluttering Butterflies)
(Poorly Patient, Helpful Nurse, and Caring Doctor)
(Fluttering Moth, Snuffling Badger, and Hooting Owl)
(Noisy Book, Pop-Up Book, and Talking Book)
(Creeping Cougar, Munching Moose, and Climbing Bighorn Sheep)
(Laughing Kookaburra, Climbing Koala, and Jumping Kangaroo)
(Floating Crocodile, Spouting Whale, and Sliding Snake)
(Hurrying Centipede, Slimy Slug, and Flying Ladybug)
(Balancing Ballerina, Amazing Acrobat, and Juggling Clown)
(Hiding Turtle, Smiling Crocodile, and Climbing Raccoon)
(Disappearing Armchair, Laughing Picture, and Funny Ghost)
(Happy Girl, Busy Playleader, and Helpful Dad)
(Sliding Penguin, Enormous Whale, and Swimming Seal)
(Careful Skier, Jumping Skier, and Racing Skier)
(Chattering Monkey, Sliding Snake, and Squawking Parakeets)
(Mooing Cow, Baaing Sheep, and Clucking Chicken)
(Careful Grownup, Soapy Sponge, and Brushing Toothbrush)
(Hopping Sparrow, Waddling Duck, and Strutting Pigeon)
(Trumpeting Elephant, Chattering Chimp, and Roaring Lion)
(Plopping Water Vole, Sliding Otter, Gliding Swans)
(Neighing Horse, Mooing Cow, and Lassoing Cowboy)
(Golden Monkey, Red Panda, and Giant Panda)
(Grunting Bison, Rattling Rattlesnake, and Barking Prairie Dog)
(Climbing Girl, Jumping Boy, and Crawling Baby)
(Buzzing Bumblebee, Twitching Mouse, and Hopping Grasshopper)
(Laughing Hornbill, Swinging Orangutan, and Emerald Lizard)
(Hungry Fox, Spiky Hedgehog, and Cool Cat)
(Busy Pirates, Bossy Captain, and Talking Parrot)
(Hungry Goat, Gentle Pony, and Hopping Rabbit)
(Twinkling Tree, Pretty Present, Hanging Stocking, Gentle Reindeer, Busy Elves, and Smiling Santa)
(Brave Firefighter, Noisy Fire Engine, and Long Ladder)
(Waiting Girl, Friendly Dentist, and Special Chair)
(Flying Plane, Hovering Helicopter and Clever Pilot)
(Bird Kite, Fish Kite and Dragon Kite)
(Graceful Teacher, Ballet Dancer, and Jolly Pianist)
(Hopping Rabbits, Dotty Dog, and Gentle Vet)
(Cheerful Checker, Fast Fitter, and Spraying Robots)
(Turning Wheel, Jolly Potter, and Stripy Pot)
(Careful Carpenter, Scratching Saw, and Tapping Hammer)
(Balancing Boy, Whistling Teacher, and Cheerful Dad)
(Yellow Cheese, Cheese Porter, and Long Barrow)
(Tennis Player, Tennis Racquet and Tennis Coach)
(Beautiful Rangoli Pattern, Twinkling Divas, and Dancing Shadow Puppet)
(Hardworking Fisherman, Screeching Seagulls, and Bobbing Boat)
(Laughing Customer, Silly Assistant, and Fancy Dressmaker)
(Digging Gardener, Gigantic Goldfish, and Nodding Gnome)
(Friendly Police Officer, Shiny Police Car, and Noisy Police Radio)
(Cool Guitarist, Dazzling Drummer, and Jazzy Keyboard Player)
(Dipping Crane, Fantastic Fish, and Mandarin Duck)
(Tea Plants, Tea Picker and Tea Taster)
(Bouncing Ball, High Hoop, and Leaping Player)
(Wriggling Boy, Chatting Hairdresser, and Busy Assistant)
(Graceful Skater, Wobbly Beginner, and Helpful Teacher)
(Funny Juggler, Shouting Stallholder, and Strumming Street Entertainer)
(Stretchy Dough, Crusty Loaf, and Busy Baker)
(Orange Digger, Expert Builder, and Perfect Painter)
(Crouching Catcher, Swinging Batter, and Posing Pitcher)
(Giggling Guest, Birthday Boy, and Clever Magician)
(Fast Footballer, Whistling Referee, and Jumping Goalie)
(Quick Mechanic, Chequered Flag, and Racing Driver)
(Beautiful Mosaic, Marble Statue, and Pretty Pots)
(Silly Simon, Sweet Daisy, and Happy Jack)
(Steep Steps, Zigzag Clown, and Helter Skelter)
(Tall Tree, Strong Lumberjack, and Careful Forrester)
(Beautiful Lei Queen, Ukulele Player, and Hula Dancer)
(Curly Wallpaper, Big Paste Brush, and Expert Decorator)
(Bouncy Beach Ball, Shiny Shells, and Slippery Seaweed)
(Smiley Pumpkin Lantern, Giggling Ghost, and Rolling Robot)
(Happy Camper, Campervan, and Tiny Tent)
(Smart Actor, Helpful Director, and Camera Operator)
(Red Robin, Rolling Snowball, and Smiling Snowman)
(Blue Bird of Paradise, Yellow Bird of Paradise, and Red Bird of Paradise)
(Giant Tortoise, Still Sea Iguana, and Dancing Booby Bird)
The show was created by Will Brenton and Iain Lauchlan, who have created and produced Fun Song Factory, BB3B, and Jim Jam and Sunny in addition to Tweenies. Brenton also designed the characters.
On July 26, 2002, the BBC picked up the UK broadcasting rights to Boo! for a broadcast in September 2003. On September 1, it was announced that Universal Pictures had acquired worldwide distribution, home video and consumer product rights to the series in exchange for providing co-funding.
On May 22, 2003, the show was announced to premiere on June 4 on the CBeebies on BBC Two block.
On April 7, 2004, Boo! was renewed for a second series.
"Boo!" can be seen in the United Kingdom on CBeebies (formerly on CBeebies on BBC Two), reruns from 2007-2012 in the United States on the digital channel Qubo (with two episodes in a half-hour format), Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Australia's ABC. "Boo!" is also available in Canada on the French educational public broadcaster TFO, alongside HOP! in Israel, and Baraem in Qatar.
"Where’s Boo? (Can You Find Boo?)" "Show Us a Shape" "The Counting Song" "We’re Looking for a Colour" "Do the Same As Me" "Odd One Out" "Everybody Do This Sound" "What’s Missing?" "Snap!" "Can You Guess?" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
VHS, DVD and VCD releases of the series were handled by Universal Pictures Video in all regions.