3-2-1 Penguins!

''3-2-1 Penguins!'' is an American science fiction computer-animated children's television series, initially launched on November 14, 2000, as a direct-to-video episode by Big Idea Entertainment with videos released between 2000 and 2003. The direct-to-video series held the top spot on the Soundscan kid video sales charts for its first 18 weeks of release, was the #1 seller on Christian Booksellers Association's video list in 2001, and had sold 1.5 million videos as of February 2009.

The television series aired on the Qubo blocks on NBC, Ion Television and Telemundo as well as the Qubo channel, and later on TBN and Smile of A Child. It ran for three seasons, with the first season consisting of television broadcasts of the six original home videos. Following its conclusion in 2008, it continued in reruns until 2014. The series was a top-ranked show on NBC's Qubo Saturday morning kids block in 2008.Kate Calder (July 2008). "Onward Christian Prodcos". ''KidScreen'', p.16.

Overview

Twin siblings Jason and Michelle are spending the summer with their British grandmother, who they call Grandmum, in Pennsylvania's Poconos region. She has a collection of kitschy ceramic figurines, the most prized of which is four penguins in a rocket ship, a honeymoon gift from her late husband. In the first video, the twins accidentally drop the ship; instead of breaking, it flies into the air and reveals the four penguin figurines are alive and are the crew of the spaceship. One of the twins is then pulled into the ship, using the crew's Galeezle (shrinking) device, and taken on a galactic adventure.

The ensuing adventure ties into the moral dilemma Jason and Michelle had struggled with in the opening scene. For example, in the debut episode, ''Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn'', the twins struggle with taking turns playing a new video game and looking through their Granddad's telescope before Jason is transported to a planet of alien vacuums who also have trouble taking turns.

Characters

Main

*Zidgel (voiced by Ron Wells (season 1) and John Payne (seasons 2–3) is the Rockhopper's captain, who resembles both James T. Kirk and Ted Baxter.
*Midgel (voiced by Greg Mills (season 1) and Paul Dobson (seasons 2–3) is the Rockhopper's engineer and pilot. He sometimes shouts "Banzai!" and pulls out a bonsai tree to trim a branch before driving the ship.
*Fidgel (voiced by Page H. Hearn (season 1) and Lee Tockar (seasons 2–3) is the doctor and scientist of the Rockhopper's crew. Many of his inventions are odd, but can also be useful, such as the Galeezle. As shown in photos in the first episode, he physically resembles Grandmum's deceased husband.
*Kevin (voiced by Ron Smith (season 1) and Michael Donovan (seasons 2–3): Although he does not have a specific job on the ship other than cleaning, he is always ready to help when needed. He also sometimes answers questions or solves problems without realizing.
*Jason T. Conrad (voiced by Mark Marten (season 1) and Quinn Lord (seasons 2–3)) is a 7-year-old boy and Michelle's twin brother, who goes on adventures with the penguins.
*Michelle Frances Conrad (voiced by Melissa Peterson (season 1) and Claire Corlett (seasons 2–3) is a 7-year-old girl and Jason's twin sister, who also goes on adventures with the penguins. She is five minutes older than him.
*Grandmum (voiced by Pamela Thomas (2000), Annie Walker-Bright (2001), Kymberly Mellen (2001–2003), and Ellen Kennedy (seasons 2–3)) is Jason and Michelle's British grandmother, who often gives them advice from "The Good Book".

Recurring

*Baron von Cavitus (voiced by Garry Chalk): Originally known as Bert Bertman, he was a classmate of Fidgel when they were students at the academy and is the inventor of the Galeezle. After others made fun of him for being a hamster, he turned evil and attempted to take over the academy. Some time later, he built himself a robot suit and attempted to take over the galaxy.
*Admiral Strap (voiced by Dale Wilson) is the Penguin's commanding officer. Despite seeming strict and militaristic, he has a soft spot for Michelle. In the original six videos, he is never seen and communicates to the penguins via fax machine. In the series, he interacts via speakerphone with the Penguins to give them their missions.
*Sol (voiced by Garry Chalk) is a wise old bartender at the Comet Lounge and a friend of Jason, Michelle, and the penguins, whom he also advises.

Episodes

Season 1 (2000–03)

The first season was broadcast on Qubo from September 9, 2006 to December 2, 2006 and consisted of televising the direct-to-video shows that were originally released from November 14, 2000 to July 1, 2003. At the end, each episode, with the exception of the first episode, has the Penguins perform at the Comet Lounge, singing a song related to the moral lesson of the episode.

Special (2006)

Season 2 (2007–2008)

After airing the original videos in Season 1, Big Idea released new stories that were first aired on television for Season 2 and 3.

Season 3 (2008)

Broadcast

After originally being released exclusively on direct-to-home videos, ''3-2-1 Penguins'' first aired on the Qubo blocks on NBC, Ion Television, and Telemundo, as well as on the Qubo channel with the airing of the original videos. This was soon followed with new episodes that premiered on television. The show also aired on TBN and its children's block Smile of a Child on Saturdays until 2018. It also airs on DreamWorks Channel in select countries.

As of July 2020, the entire series was made available to watch for free on Peacock following its launch. And 25 episodes on Yippee since June 2022.

Home media

The first six videos were released in direct-to-video format from November 14, 2000, to July 1, 2003, prior to airing on Qubo.

The first DVD compilation of the TV series ''Save the Planets!'' was released on September 1, 2008, including three episodes from the second season: "The Green-eyed Monster", "More is More" and "Give and Let Give". The second DVD compilation ''Blast in Space!'' was released on February 1, 2009, including three episodes from the second season: "Wiki Tiki", "Lazy Daze" and "Compassion Crashin'". The third compilation, ''Escape from Planet Hold-A-Grudge!'' was released on October 20, 2009, including three episodes from the third and final season: "Do Unto Brothers", "Oh, Mercy!" and "Between an Asteroid and a Hard Place".

The first video, "Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn", was released as a bonus episode in the two ''VeggieTales'' DVD re-issues of ''Lyle the Kindly Viking Special Edition'' and ''Where's God When I'm S-Scared? 15th Anniversary Collector's Edition''. The fourth video, "Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt", was also released in the re-issue of ''King George and the Ducky Special Edition''.

On September 18, 2012, a two-disc complete DVD set contained the first three season-one episodes and the first ten season-two episodes, for a total of 13 episodes.

Reception

Critical reception

Series had received mildly positive reviews from critics. KJ Dell Antonia of Rotten Tomatoes gave 3 out of 5 stars; writing "That said, 3-2-1 Penguins is hardly subtle in the way it delivers a lesson at the end of each episode."

Common Sense Media gave the show a 3 out of 5 stars; saying that "series carries clear moral messages and comes from a Christian perspective (the main characters say their bedtime prayers at the end of each episode). The messages themselves -- such as the virtue of patience -- are hard to argue with no matter what your religious bent."

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 1114703

2000s American animated comedy television series
2000s American children's comedy television series
2000 American animated television series debuts
2008 American television series endings
2000s American science fiction television series
American children's animated comic science fiction television series
American children's animated education television series
American children's animated science fantasy television series
American children's animated space adventure television series
American computer-animated television series
Animated television series about penguins
Big Idea Entertainment television series
Christian animation
Christian children's television series
Direct-to-video television series
DreamWorks Classics
NBC animated television series
Television series about size change
Television series by Universal Television
Qubo
Animated television series about twins
Television shows set in Pennsylvania