''Seven Little Monsters'', or ''7 Little Monsters'', is an animated
television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...
about a family of seven monsters and their mother.
The series, based on the book
of the same name, was created by
Maurice Sendak and directed by
Neil Affleck
Neil Affleck is a Canadian animator, director, and actor. He has worked as an animator on ''The Simpsons'' and '' Family Guy''. As an actor, he appeared in the 1981 film ''Scanners'' and had a leading role in the 1981 film '' My Bloody Valentine ...
, Lynn Reist, and Glenn Sylvester. Each monster is named after a different
number
A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The original examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth. Numbers can be represented in language with number words. More universally, individual numbers c ...
from one to seven, and each has unique physical characteristics.
Overview
The series aired on
PBS Kids, as part of the ''
PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch
The PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch was a preschool television block produced by Canada-based animation studio Nelvana Limited (now Nelvana Enterprises) that aired on PBS from September 30, 2000 to September 5, 2004. It typically aired on weekend mornings ...
'' from 2000–2002, and made an individual PBS debut in 2003 along with ''
George Shrinks'' and
''The Berenstain Bears'', also was shown from 2002–2005 on
YTV, and reruns of the show on
Qubo
Qubo ( ; stylized as qubo) was an American television network for children between the ages of 5 and 14. Owned by Ion Media, it consisted of a 24-hour free-to-air television network often mentioned as the "Qubo channel" (available as a digital ...
aired from October 1, 2011 to January 2, 2015. The series was produced by
Wild Things Productions (uncredited),
Nelvana,
Suzhou Hong Ying Animation Corporation Limited for the first two seasons and
Philippine Animation Studio
Filipino cartoon and animation, also known as Pinoy cartoon and animation, is a body of original cultural and artistic works and styles applied to conventional Filipino storytelling, combined with talent and the appropriate application of classic ...
for the third season from 2000–2002, in association with
Treehouse TV
Treehouse TV is a Canadian English-language specialty channel for preschoolers aged 2 to 5 that was launched in 1997. Its name comes from YTV's former preschool block, " The Treehouse". The channel is owned by YTV Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of ...
and
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
.
The 40-episode series debuted in 2000, aired its final episode in 2003. On
PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch
The PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch was a preschool television block produced by Canada-based animation studio Nelvana Limited (now Nelvana Enterprises) that aired on PBS from September 30, 2000 to September 5, 2004. It typically aired on weekend mornings ...
, Season 2 continued reruns of its episodes until Sept. 5, 2004. However, with its own weekday slot on
PBS Kids, beginning in Sept 5, 2004, some select member
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
stations, including the PBS Kids Channel, continued to air the series with ''The Berenstain Bears'' until early 2005. The series aired reruns, but only from the third and fourth seasons. In early 2005, ''The Berenstain Bears'' became a half hour show and the show (Seven Little Monsters) was dropped altogether. The UK version (dubbed with British voice actors replacing the original American soundtrack), which debuted on
Channel 5 in January 2004, as part of the ''
Milkshake!
''Milkshake!'' (stylised as milkshake!) is a British children's television programming block on Channel 5 and is currently aimed at children aged 3–7.
History
The block debuted on Channel 5's first full day on air, at 7.30am on 31 March 1 ...
'' strand.
The theme song was performed by the Canadian band
Barenaked Ladies, also known for performing the theme to
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
’ ''
The Big Bang Theory
''The Big Bang Theory'' is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom served as executive producers on the series, along with Steven Molaro, all of whom also served as head writers. It premiered on C ...
''.
Characters
* One (
Joanne Vannicola
Jo Vannicola (born 20 April 1968), formerly known as Joanne Vannicola, is a Canadian actor. They are most noted for their roles as Dr. Naadiah in ''Being Erica'', Dr. Mia Stone in ''PSI Factor'', Jerri in ''Love and Human Remains'', Sam in '' S ...
) is the oldest and the only monster who can fly. She is a
tomboy
A tomboy is a term for a girl or a young woman with masculine qualities. It can include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and actively engage in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. W ...
, a natural athlete who loves sports, and somewhat of a tattletale, often getting her siblings into trouble, but still cares deeply for them.
* Two (
Colin Mochrie) is the most helpful of the monsters and has a prominent nose which he often "sticks in where it doesn't belong".
* Three (
Dwayne Hill
Dwayne Hill (born June 5, 1966) is a Canadian voice actor. In 2009, he was nominated for two Gemini awards, one in the solo category for '' Grossology'', the other, which he won, was for best ensemble in '' Atomic Betty''. Overall, he has voiced ...
) is a dramatic monster who takes on a different personality and voice in every episode, often to the dismay of others.
* Four (
Seán Cullen
Seán Cullen (born August 29, 1965) is a Canadian actor and stand-up comedian. He is known for combining improvisation with mimicry and music. He is known for providing voices of characters in shows like ''Best Ed'', ''Seven Little Monsters,'' ...
) is always bad-tempered and grumpy. He is usually seen with his younger brother Five.
* Five (Seán Cullen) is the biggest and most childlike of the monsters who speaks few words with a thick speech impediment. He has an enormous tongue and a voracious appetite.
* Six (
Michele Scarabelli
Michele Scarabelli (born April 11, 1955) is a Canadian actress. She is probably best known for her role as Tenctonese Newcomer Susan Francisco on the Fox Network science fiction series '' Alien Nation'' and the five television movies that follow ...
) is the resident
ballerina
A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on ye ...
of the group who thinks she is the most beautiful of the monsters. Unlike her sister One, she has more feminine interests. She wears a purple leotard & a white
tutu and holds a star
wand
A wand is a thin, light-weight rod that is held with one hand, and is traditionally made of wood, but may also be made of other materials, such as metal or plastic.
Long versions of wands are often styled in forms of staves or sceptres, which ...
, and speaks with a
Queens
Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...
accent.
* Seven (Seán Cullen) is the youngest who has the ability to unscrew his head. He is the most gentle and timid monster and is afraid of bugs, and speaks in a
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film '' Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established ...
-esque voice.
* Mom (
Debra McGrath
Debra McGrath (born July 5, 1954) is a Canadian actress and comedian.
Education
Debra McGrath was born in Toronto in 1954. She studied theatre at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University).
Career
McGrath first sta ...
) is the mother of the seven monsters. A kindly,
babushka-wearing witch, she is much smaller than her children and speaks with a Polish accent.
* Mary is the monsters'
hippie neighbor and good friend. She is the leader of a club called the Purple Pixies, which consists of other club members: Wendy (the only one who talks beside Mary), Angela, and Kate, who dislikes Six, and, always has a gloomy angry look.
* Sam is Five's pet turtle.
* Belinda is the monster family's pet cow.
* Freddie is Mary's pet dog.
Episodes
Season 1 (2000)
All episodes in this season are directed by Glenn Sylvester.
Season 2 (2001–02)
All episodes in this season are directed by Neil Affleck.
Season 3 (2003)
''Note: In the United States, All the episodes in Season 3 (except for episodes 37 & 40) aired with
''The Berenstain Bears'' on
PBS Kids.
References
External links
*
{{Maurice Sendak
2000s Canadian animated television series
2000s Canadian children's television series
2000 Canadian television series debuts
2000 Chinese television series debuts
2003 Philippine television series debuts
2004 Canadian television series endings
2002 Chinese television series endings
2004 Philippine television series endings
Canadian children's animated comedy television series
Canadian children's animated fantasy television series
Canadian children's animated supernatural television series
Chinese children's animated comedy television series
Chinese children's animated fantasy television series
Philippine animated television series
Philippine supernatural television series
Canadian preschool education television series
Canadian television shows based on children's books
Animated preschool education television series
2000s preschool education television series
Adaptations of works by Maurice Sendak
English-language television shows
PBS Kids shows
YTV (Canadian TV channel) original programming
Animated television series about monsters
Television series about cattle
Television series by Nelvana
Television shows set in New York City