Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000 TV series)

Clifford the Big Red Dogis ananimatededucationalchildren's television series, based uponNorman Bridwell'schildren's book series of the same name.Produced byScholastic Productionsin association withMike Young Productions, it was originally aired onPBS Kidsfrom September 4, 2000, to February 25, 2003.A UK version (dubbed with British voice actors replacing the original American soundtrack) originally aired onBBC Twoin April 2002.
Internationally, German-basedTV-Loonland AGhandled broadcast rights to the series, whileEntertainment Rightsheld merchandising and home media rights.
John RittervoicedCliffordin every episode. By the time the series ended production and the subsequent filmClifford's Really Big Moviewere completed, Ritter was back onABC'sprime timeschedule, starring in8 Simple Rules. Ritter's death on September 11, 2003, came ten days after the debut ofClifford's Puppy Days(it is often mistakenly cited as the reason the spin-off was created in lieu of a third season).
Though production ofCliffordended before Ritter's death, voice actors for the main characters have reprised some of their roles for theReady to LearnPBS Kids PSAs.Clifford's Really Big Movieserved as the series finale,Clifford's Puppy Daysstill continued to air until its cancellation in 2006.
On May 16, 2018,Scholasticannounced areboot of the series, which was announced on December 5, 2019 to be released on December 6, 2019, onAmazon Prime Videoand December 7, 2019, onPBS Kids, starring Adam Sanders as the new voice of Clifford.PBS Kidscontinued to air reruns of the 2000 series on some PBS stations until 2022. Select PBS member stations still continue to carry the show.
As of 2021, the show is currently distributed worldwide by9 Story Media Group.
Two stories made up each half-hour episode. Usually, one story featured Clifford and his canine friends, Cleo, T-Bone, and Mac among them; the other story would focus on Clifford's owner, Emily Elizabeth and her friends, Jetta, Vaz, and Charley. During scenes focusing on the dogs' perspective, human speech would replace barking to show the storyline from the dogs' point of view.
The series was produced by Mike Young Productions andScholastic Studioswith animation produced byHong Ying Universe Company LimitedinTaipei, Taiwan and Hosem Animation Studio, aShanghai-based outlet in China who did the uncredited work.
The TV series takes place in thefictional islandof Birdwell Island, where Clifford lives. The name is inspired byNorman Bridwell, the author of the books (who otherwise was not involved in the production of the series) but the letters I and R are switched. Birdwell Island was inspired byMartha's VineyardinMassachusetts, where Bridwell lived.
Emily Elizabeth used to live in an apartment inNew York City, but she moved away with her parents and Clifford to Birdwell Island because Caroline told her that a small apartment is no place for a big dog like Clifford.
The series has at least 4 segments in the show.
In the UK version, only one story is shown, with either the Storytime with Speckle or the Clifford's Big Ideas segments at the end, shortening the show to about 15 minutes.
Clifford the Big Red Doghas received generally positive reviews from television critics and parents of young children. Lynne Heffley ofLos Angeles Timeswrote, "Clifford: The Big Red Dogfocuses on positive messages with a fantasy approach. Based on the classic children's books by Norman Bridwell, this animated series is about a red dog who is the size of a jumbo jet to match the outsized love that his owner, a little girl named Emily, has for him."
Clifford the Big Red Dogwas shown onCBeebiesandTiny Popin the United Kingdom, and in Latin America onDiscovery Kids.It aired in the Republic of Ireland onTG4from 6 February 2001.It aired in Australia onNetwork Tenand in New Zealand onTV2.
On May 16, 2018, Scholastic announced a reboot of the series, which premiered on December 6, 2019, for both Amazon Prime Video and PBS Kids.Scholastic, 100 Chickens,9 Story Media GroupandBrown Bag Filmsproduce the series.Excepting Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and Birdwell Island, the new series is a complete departure from the predecessor show's character base.
In 1988, before the television series, sixdirect-to-videoepisodes based on theCliffordseries (Clifford's Fun with Letters,Clifford's Fun with Sounds,Clifford's Fun with Rhymes,Clifford's Fun with Opposites,Clifford's Fun with NumbersandClifford's Fun with Shapes) were produced byNelvana LimitedforScholastic Media, and  released on videocassette byFamily Home Entertainment.Brent Titcombvoiced Clifford andAlyson Courtvoiced Emily Elizabeth.
In 2004, Warner Bros. Pictures distributed a feature-length animated film based on the show,Clifford's Really Big Movie. In the film, Clifford, Cleo and T-Bone join an animal show to win a lifetime supply of dog food to provide for Clifford. This was one of John Ritter's last films as he died on September 11, 2003, after completing voice work for the film.Clifford's Really Big Moviewas released posthomously and dedicated to his memory.The movie also starsWayne Bradyas Shackleford the Ferret,Judge Reinholdas Amazing Larry,John Goodmanas George Wolfsbottom, andJenna Elfmanas Dorothy the Cow. Due to Ritter's death, the film also serves as the series finale, as no new episodes were produced after the film was released, until the reboot premiered onPBS Kidsin 2019.