Higglytown Heroes

''Higglytown Heroes'' is an American CGI-animated children's television series produced by Wild Brain that aired on the Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel in the United States. The show's characters are shaped like Russian nesting dolls. In the show, children Eubie, Wayne, Twinkle, Kip and their best friend, Fran the Squirrel, learn about all of the important jobs that people do in Higglytown. 65 episodes were produced.

The theme song of the show, ''Here in Higglytown'', is performed by They Might Be Giants, which was also released on their second children's album ''Here Come the ABCs''. After its series finale originally aired on January 7, 2008, reruns aired on Playhouse Disney until March 29, 2009. Disney Junior (the channel) then aired it in reruns from March 23, 2012 until May 16, 2014. The show was added to Disney+ in April 2021. The Higglytown Heroes TV series was made using Alias Maya which was used to design models and textures for the Higglytown Heroes characters, and Photoshop which was used to create the 2D backgrounds and 2D props. The lyrics to the first "Hero" song were written by Kent Redeker, one of the show's executive producers. The song was composed and produced by Mark Harrison, the show's senior songwriter.

Hero Song

Each episode contains two songs. An initial "dilemma" song which sets up the "problem" which needs to be solved followed by the "I'm a Higglytown Hero" song which introduces the hero who solves the problem, some of the heroes would later appear in later episodes.

While every hero song has the same basic melody as the initial hero song, it was performed and produced each song with different lyrics and instrumentation to fit the episode's specific hero. It starts with the hero introducing themselves, explaining their duties, the children bringing up nonsensical rhyming hypothetical situations and that their duties would cover these situations as well, that they work hard to serve and that they should work hard to be a hero "just like you" ic

Brad Mossman, the other principal songwriter, composed lyrics and music for a number of dilemma songs in many episodes as well.

This show was re-dubbed in the UK sometime between 2005 and 2010, which aired in the UK on Playhouse Disney on April 11, 2005. In the UK dub, Fran is voiced by veteran actress Sue Johnston, Eubie is voiced by Jonathan Bee and Joe Cooper, Wayne is voiced by Africa Nile, Twinkle is voiced by Amira McCarthy, and Kip was voiced by Matthew Thomas Davies, this also included most of the character cast in the show who ware voiced by the majority of the actors in the UK. Pizza Guy is called Pizza Man instead, causing minor lip-sync issues, most of which would probably not be noticed by the show's target audience.

Characters

*Eubie (voiced by Taylor Masamitsu) is a male nesting doll with blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin with freckles. He wears a red shirt with yellow stripes, a matching bottom part and a dark red collar. His pants are also dark brown with silver buttons.
*Wayne (voiced by Frankie Ryan Manriquez) is a male nesting doll with dark brown hair, tan skin and green eyes. He wears glasses with black edges, a light green shirt and a matching dark green overalls. He is Twinkle's older brother.
*Twinkle (voiced by Liliana Mumy) is a female nesting doll with dark brown hair tied in puffy pigtails and blue eyes. She wears a pink headband with pink stars and a small pink bow, a light pink shirt with glitter and a pink duck hatching from an egg in the middle and magenta skirt with purple stripes. She is Wayne's younger sister. She tends to thin of grand ideas.
*Kip (voiced by Rory Thost) is a male nesting doll with blue hair, brown eyes and fair skin. He wears a light blue T-Shirt with a blue robot on it, a dark blue zipper hoodie and blue matching pants, which look like jeans.
*Fran (voiced by Edie McClurg) is a female nesting doll who is a squirrel with red fur and is the pet of Kip. She speaks with an Upper Midwest accent.
*Pizza Guy (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) is a male nesting doll who is the local pizza delivery man, as well as close friend of the Higgly Kids.
*Ms. Fern (voiced by Jamie-Lynn Sigler) is a female nesting doll who serves as a teacher.

Cast

Main voices

*Taylor Masamitsu – Eubie
*Frankie Ryan Manriquez – Wayne
*Liliana Mumy – Twinkle
*Rory Thost – Kip
*Edie McClurg – Fran
*Dee Bradley Baker – Pizza Guy
*Jamie-Lynn Sigler – Ms. Fern

Supporting voices

*Alanna Ubach - Plunkie, Mrs. Whiskers
*Kevin Michael Richardson - Uncle Lemmo, Twinkle and Wayne’s uncle
*Mindy Sterling - Eubie’s Aunt Mellie
*Dee Bradley Baker - Grandpop Krank, Eubie’s grandfather, Eubie’s Uncle Zooter
*Valyn Hall - Wiki & Tini (Season 1 Only) Kip’s big sisters
*Lara Jill Miller - Wiki & Tini (Seasons 2 And 3) Kip’s big sisters, Pookie (Season 2 Only) Kip’s baby sister
*Jim Wise - Fripp, Kip’s dad
*Rachel York - Bitty, Kip’s mom
*Betty White - Grandmama, Kip’s grandmother
*David Jeremiah - Grandpapa, Kip’s grandfather
* Cicely Tyson – Great Aunt Shirley

Guest voices

* Donald Faison – Firefighter Hero
* Kathie Lee Gifford – Mail Carrier Hero (Post Carrier Hero in UK dub)
* Camryn Manheim – Handy Plumber Hero
* Steven Weber – Gardener Hero
* Katey Sagal – Policewoman Hero
* Frances Conroy – Veterinarian Hero
* Katrin Petersen - School Principal Hero
* Mark Therrell - Construction Worker Hero
* Jimmy Hayward - Military Career Hero
* Lance Bass – Electrician Hero
* John Michael Higgins – Tow Truck Driver Hero
* Tim Curry – Librarian Hero, Higgsquatch
* Cyndi Lauper – Telephone Operator Hero
* Jim Wise – Sanitation Worker Hero, Tour Guide Hero
* Susan Lucci – Weathergirl Hero
* Miguel Sandoval – Painter Hero
* Travis Tritt – Farmer Hero
* Ed McMahon – Tugboat Captain Hero
* Smokey Robinson – Grocery Clerk Hero
* Ricki Lake – Carpenter Hero (Alice)
* Stuart Pankin – Bus Driver Hero, Captain Steve
* Wally Kurth – The Eye Doctor Hero
* John Astin – Santa Claus
* Sean Astin – Pix the Elf
* Sharon Stone – Nicki the Blind Art Teacher
* Anne Heche – Gloria the Waitress
* Dee Bradley Baker – Egg Farmer Hero
* Matt Cavenaugh – Tailor Hero
* Raven-Symoné – Playground Monitor Hero
* Jesse Corti – Jax, Submarine Captain Hero
* Nathalia Hencker – Translator Hero
* David Naughton – Orchestra Conductor Hero
* Rocco DiSpirito – Baker Hero
* Steve Harris – Sports Coach Hero
* Marissa Jaret Winokur – Taxi Driver Hero
* Carlos Alazraqui – Shelter Worker Hero
* Irene Bedard – Forest Ranger Hero
* Henry Dittman – Detective Hero, Gardener, Sign Language Interpreter Hero, Higglytown Coast Guard Hero
* Erik Estrada – Ambulance Driver, Paramedic Hero
* Kevin Michael Richardson – Uncle Lemmo
* Rob Paulsen – Barber Hero
* Mindy Sterling – Mrs. Barber, Musician Hero #2
* Diedrich Bader – Crane Operator Hero, Mr. Librarian
* Masasa – Judge Hero
* Trace Adkins – Cowboy Hero
* Serena Williams – Snow Plow Driver Hero
* Thomas F. Wilson – Truck Driver Hero
* Phil LaMarr – Lifeguard Hero
* Gwendoline Yeo – Dentist Hero
* Wayne Brady – Doctor Hero
* Farrah Fawcett – School Nurse Hero
* Stacey Hendrickson - Pharmacist Hero
* Kate Pierson – Beekeeper Hero
* Maggie Wheeler – Street Sweeper Hero
* Alyson Reed – Zookeeper Hero
* Debbie Allen – Dance Instructor Hero
* Gregory Jbara – Tree Trimmer Hero
* Mo Collins – Science Fair Judge, Paleontologist Hero
* Simon Templeman – Banker Hero
* Philip Anthony-Rodriguez – Furnace Repairman Hero (Boiler Repairman Hero in UK dub)
* Jentle Phoenix – Environmentalist Hero
* Rain Pryor – Dr. Ferguson the Pediatrician Hero (Paediatrician Hero in UK dub)
* Wally Wingert – Waiter Hero, Hector the Donkey Guide Hero
* Dave Wittenberg – Mr. Baker, Sled Dog Musher
* Michael T. Weiss – Mountain Rescue Squad Hero
* Matthew St. Patrick – Police Man Hero
* Jane Kaczmarek – Astronaut Hero
* Jorge Garcia – Dog Trainer Hero
* Debi Mae West – Lighthouse Keeper Hero, Physical Therapist Hero
* Nicole Parker – Window Washer Hero
* Pete Siragusa – Ice Resurfacer Hero
* Roberto Alcaraz – Air Traffic Controller Hero
* Kimberly Brooks – Photographer Hero
* Matthew Kaminsky – Drawbridge Operator Hero
* Matt Nolte - Caveman Hero
* David Jolliffe – Radiographer Hero
* Henry Winkler – Printer Hero
* Neil Kaplan – Mover Hero
* Joey Fatone – Bulldozer Operator Hero
* Jessica Walter – Motel Manager Hero
* Wilmer Valderrama – Helicopter Pilot Hero
* Leanza Cornett – Airplane Pilot Hero
* Gayla Goehl – Sheep Shearer Hero
* Frank Welker - Sheriff Hero
* Alanna Ubach – Babysitter Hero
* Jonathan Adams – Road Worker Hero
* Aisha Tyler – Museum Curator Hero
* Stephnie Weir – Animal Control Officer Hero
* Jess Harnell – Laundry Worker Hero
* Leslie Boone – Mechanic Hero, Bessy the Cow, Farmer Lulu, Dump Truck Driver Hero
* Meghan Strange – Camp Counselor Hero
* Bill Farmer – Janitor Hero Jay (Caretaker Hero Craig in UK dub)
* Billy Vera – Ferry Boat Captain Hero
* Charlie Schlatter – Receptionist Hero
* David Jeremiah- Mapmaker Hero
* Catero Colbert – Camel Rider
* Tom Kenny – Reporter Hero
* Dee Bradley Baker, Mindy Sterling, & Alanna Ubach – Musician Heroes
* Jeff Bennett – Auctioneer Hero
* Michael T. Weiss – Veterinarian Hero
* Julianne Grossman – Roofer Hero
* Jon Curry – Allergist Hero
* J. Grant Albrecht – Locksmith Hero
* J. P. Manoux – Bike Repair Hero
* Camryn Manheim – Plumber Hero
* Scott McShane – Bridge Builder Hero
* Leslie Boone – Dump Truck Driver Hero
* Jo Anne Worley – Customer Service Clerk Hero
* John O'Hurley – Freight Train Engineer Hero
* Bobby Holiday – House Painter Hero
* Kevin Michael Richardson – Uncle Lemmo the Short-Order Cook Hero
* Charlie Janasz – Photographer Hero
* Kimberly Brooks – Ski Patrol Hero
* Jeffrey Tambor – Radio Announcer
* Wes Brown – Phone Repairman Hero
* Debra Wilson Skelton – Marine Biologist Hero
* Chris Carmack – Referee Hero
* Joey Gian – Stan the Bricklayer Man Hero
* They Might Be Giants – The Supertasters
* Shawn King – Usher Hero
* Ruth Williamson - Cafeteria Lady Hero
* Anna Maria Perez de Tagle – Shelby the Safety Patroller Hero

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2004–2005)

Season 2 (2005–2006)

Season 3 (2006–2008)

References

Cited works

* Victor C. Strasburger and Edward Donnerstein, 1999. "Children, Adolescents, and the Media: Issues and Solutions," Pediatrics, volume 103, number 1: pp. 129–139
Open Access Copy

External links

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{{Playhouse Disney

2000s American animated television series
2004 American television series debuts
2008 American television series endings
American children's animated adventure television series
American children's animated fantasy television series
American children's animated musical television series
American computer-animated television series
American preschool education television series
Animated television series about children
Animated television series about squirrels
Disney animated television series
Disney Channel original programming
Disney Junior original programming
English-language television shows
Television series by DHX Media
Television series by Disney
Animated preschool education television series
2000s preschool education television series