The Backyardigans

***The Backyardigans*** is a computer-animated musical children's TV series created by Janice Burgess. The series was written and recorded at Nickelodeon Animation Studio. The show centers on a group of five anthropomorphic best friends who use their imaginations to embark on fantastic adventures in their shared backyard. Each episode is set to a different musical genre and features at least four songs, composed by music director Evan Lurie with lyrics by McPaul Smith. The songs are performed by the characters with original dance choreography.

The series was based upon a live-action pilot titled *Me and My Friends*, which was filmed at Nickelodeon Studios Florida in 1998. The pilot featured life-sized mascot costumes and puppets who danced to songs on an indoor stage. In 2001, Nickelodeon Digital in New York retooled the concept into an animated pilot, using motion capture techniques to animate the dances. The newer pilot was greenlit, and the series entered production. Animation for the first season started at Nickelodeon Digital in New York, but as a cost-cutting measure, animation services were eventually relocated to Nelvana, Pipeline Studios, and Guru Studio. Nickelodeon called the show "a home-grown Nick Jr. property," as "the whole creative team... [had] been part of the Nick Jr. family for years."

A total of 80 episodes were produced across four seasons, each containing 20 episodes. The series first previewed on Treehouse TV in Canada on September 11, 2004, followed by its official debut on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block on October 11, 2004. The fourth season wrapped production in 2010 and finished airing on Nick Jr. on July 12, 2013.

Each episode follows a similar pattern and centers around a group of five animal friends: Uniqua, Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, and Austin. The characters introduce themselves in their backyard before imagining a new location to enter. The group is often presented with multiple dilemmas along the way to accomplishing a specific goal or priority or may be challenged with a significant single obstacle to defeat or problem to solve. After season one, there is usually a villain in the episode, mainly played by one of the Backyardigans (thus another Backyardigan plays the role of the hero), but the villain of the episode always reforms in the end. The program also follows a musical format. It features multiple musical numbers performed in the style of a different genre and sung throughout an episode regarding whatever imaginary predicament in which the characters have situated themselves or perhaps a challenge they have met, every episode opening and concluding with a particular song. The adventures get more advanced after the first season. When the Backyardigans have achieved their mission or defeated any disadvantages, the fantasy sequence fades, restoring actuality to the setting of the episodes as the closing song is sung, the characters scurrying to their houses for a snack after one or two’s stomach(s) growl. The main character or characters then opens the snack host's house door, fence, or around the corner, and shouts the main catchphrase for the last time and then closes the door. The picture then is lifeless, with some background bird noises often heard as iris closes, ending the episode before the credits roll.