''1001 Nights'' is a Canadian animated television series developed and produced at
Big Bad Boo Big Bad Boo is a Canadian production company that specializes in animated series for television as well as games, apps, websites and curriculum development. Popular TV series are 16 Hudson, based on the miniseries Lili & Lola and musical series AB ...
Studios in Vancouver, based on stories from ''
One Thousand and One Nights''. The show is created and co-directed by
Shabnam Rezaei
Shabnam Rezaei is a Kids TV show creator, director, producer and co-founder of Big Bad Boo Studios and VOD service Oznoz. She is the director and producer of Hulu Original series '' The Bravest Knight'', the first children's series with an LGB ...
and Aly Jetha.
Borrowing from the original premise of the classical tales of ''One Thousand and One Nights'', the TV series features
Scheherazade
Scheherazade () is a major female character and the storyteller in the frame narrative of the Middle Eastern collection of tales known as the '' One Thousand and One Nights''.
Name
According to modern scholarship, the name ''Scheherazade'' de ...
, the storyteller, in a Persian court with her sister
Donyazad, King
Shahryar, Prince Shahzaman and a playful monkey named Maymoon. The show premiered on
Teletoon
Teletoon (stylized as TELETOON) is a Canadian English-language specialty channel owned by Teletoon Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. Its name is a portmanteau of "television" and "cartoon". The channel primarily broadcasts an ...
in Canada on December 25, 2011 and on
Radio Canada
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (french: Société Radio-Canada), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a federal Crown corporation that receives funding from the government ...
in French-speaking Canada. In the United States, the show premiered on
Disney Channel on January 2, 2012. This is the first time a media company has serialized the books of ''One Thousand and One Nights'' into an animated TV series for children.
Premise
Another day at King Shahryar's court and another problem presents itself. Does Shahryar have a toothache? Is Maymoon "borrowing" Shahzaman's pistachios? Scheherazade always has a delightful story that will entertain and teach everyone a great lesson. She will often use the court characters in her stories. There are also a number of recurring characters such as
Sinbad and Dina, Mujab and Samir and
Harun al-Rashid
Abu Ja'far Harun ibn Muhammad al-Mahdi ( ar
, أبو جعفر هارون ابن محمد المهدي) or Harun ibn al-Mahdi (; or 766 – 24 March 809), famously known as Harun al-Rashid ( ar, هَارُون الرَشِيد, translit=Hārūn ...
. A red herring is presented in each episode such as a flying carpet which leaves room for the stories to continue.
Episodes
Season 1
Season 2
Characters
Scheherazade
Voiced by
Nicole Oliver
Nicole Lyn Oliver (born February 22, 1970) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her roles as Princess Celestia and Cheerilee in '' My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' and Zoe Trent in '' Littlest Pet Shop''.
Early life
Oliver was born ...
Confident and older than her years, Scheherazade is savvy, quick-witted, and no nonsense in her dealings with Donyazad and Shahzaman. She is the wife of King Shahryar. She serves the role of mother, educator and peace-keeper and it is through her that we are told many captivating stories. Scheherazade lives in the palace and is the daughter of Majid, Shahryar's vizier.
Shahryar
Voiced by Colin Murdock
Shahryar is slightly older than his wife Scheherazade, and has little experience or knowledge of what it takes to make a good king. He is unintentionally selfish, arrogant, pompous, and spoiled. He is also innocent and childlike because he is a prince who has been catered to his entire life. He says whatever is on his mind, no matter how bumbling or stupid it might sound. Often when Scheherazade is telling a story to the kids, Shahryar is listening in and will draw the wrong message.
Donyazad
Voiced by
Tabitha St. Germain
Donyazad is Scheherazade's younger sister. She is ten years old, bright, independent, and feisty. She loves and respects her older sister who has essentially become her mother figure. Donyazad often tussles with Shahazman. Although they are not related, they have a typical brother-sister relationship. They are close to one another but are often at odds. Of the two, Donyazad is the smarter. She's also more sensitive and aware.
Shahzaman
Voiced by
Cathy Weseluck
Cathy Weseluck is a Canadian actress and comedian who frequently works with Ocean Productions in Vancouver, British Columbia and is known for her roles as Near in ''Death Note'', Cybersix/Adrian Seidelman in ''Cybersix'', and Spike in '' My Lit ...
Shahzaman is Shahryar's eleven-year-old brother and therefore, he is a prince. He is a younger version of Shahryar, i.e. spoiled with a sense of entitlement. Even though he's a prince, he is like any other boy who loves sports, games, sweets, and play time. He gets into mischief and he endlessly teases Donyazad. He's a practical joker and often insensitive to other people's feelings. Still, he's loveable and when faced with issues, he and Donyazad make a good team.
Majid
Voiced by
Peter Kelamis
Peter Kelamis (born December 11, 1967) is an Australian-Canadian actor, stand-up comedian and impressionist. He is known for playing Tail Terrier in ''Krypto the Superdog'', Dr. Adam Brody in ''Stargate Universe'', Goku in Ocean's English dubs ...
Majid is Shahryar's vizier, i.e. high counselor. He is also Scheherazade's father. He is about fifty years old and supposedly the wise and learned man of the court. Majid frequently finds himself trying to calm Shahryar down when the king is throwing a temper tantrum. He is sycophantic towards Shahryar whereas Scheherazade is smarter and subtler in her approach. She's often able to change Shahryar's behavior just by telling him a story. Whereas Majid is often afraid of his
son-in-law
Son-in-Law (22 April 1911 – 15 May 1941) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire, especially for sport horses.
The National Horseracing Museum says Son-in-Law is "probably the best and most distinguished stayer this co ...
, Scheherazade has no trouble standing up to him.
Maymoon
Voiced by
Scott McNeil
Scott McNeil is an Australian-born Canadian actor. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. One of the best-known Canadian voice actors of all time, McNeil has provided voices to many characters in animated shows, most notabl ...
Maymoon is a mischievous pet monkey who belongs to Shahzaman. He is playful and loving and is a regular member of the court. He often outwits Shahryar and like all the other characters is used often as a character in Scheherazade's stories.
Production history
The idea for the show came to co-creator
Shabnam Rezaei
Shabnam Rezaei is a Kids TV show creator, director, producer and co-founder of Big Bad Boo Studios and VOD service Oznoz. She is the director and producer of Hulu Original series '' The Bravest Knight'', the first children's series with an LGB ...
in a dream. Her father read stories from ''
One Thousand and One Nights'' in her native country
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. Together with partner Aly Jetha, Series and Creative Director
Chad Van De Keere, story editor Randy Rogel as well as the
Big Bad Boo Big Bad Boo is a Canadian production company that specializes in animated series for television as well as games, apps, websites and curriculum development. Popular TV series are 16 Hudson, based on the miniseries Lili & Lola and musical series AB ...
team, they formulated the ''1001 Nights'' TV series, which would be appropriate for a modern audience.
Reception
''1001 Nights'' came in the # 1 show at the 2011 at the Mip Junior awards among 1027 other children's properties. It was a finalist in the 2010 Mip Junior Licensing Challenge and # 6 in the Top 30 that year.
Awards and nominations (2010)
''1001 Nights'' was nominated for four awards in 2010.
Awards and nominations (2011)
''1001 Nights'' was nominated for two awards in 2011.
Awards and nominations (2012)
''1001 Nights'' was nominated and won three Leo Awards in 2012.
Awards and nominations (2013)
''1001 Nights'' was nominated for two Leo Awards and won one in 2013.
Leo Awards Winners List 2013
Leo Awards Official Website. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
References
External links
''1001 Nights'' TV series website
Big Bad Boo 1001 Nights Property Page
*
{{One Thousand and One Nights
2010s Canadian animated television series
2011 Canadian television series debuts
Television series based on books
Canadian flash animated television series
Canadian children's animated fantasy television series
Epic television series
Works based on One Thousand and One Nights
English-language television shows