''Esme & Roy'' is an

animated Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most ani ...

children's television series Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television programs designed for children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run during the early evenin ...

created by Dustin Ferrer and Amy Steinberg. The series is produced by Canada-based animation studio

Nelvana Nelvana Enterprises, Inc. (; previously known as Nelvana Limited, sometimes known as Nelvana Animation and simply Nelvana or Nelvana Communications) is a Canadian animation studio and entertainment company owned by Corus Entertainment. Founded ...

and ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000 ...

'' creator

Sesame Workshop Sesame Workshop (SW), originally known as the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), is an American nonprofit organization that has been responsible for the production of several educational children's programs—including its first and best-know ...

, in association with

Corus Entertainment Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian mass media company. Formed in 1999 as a spin-off from Shaw Communications, it has prominent holdings in the radio, publishing, and television industries. It is headquartered at Corus Quay in Toronto, Ont ...

. The series focuses a young girl named Esme and her best friend, a monster named Roy, who care for all kinds of creatures when their regular guardians need aid. ''Esme and Roy'' was broadcast simultaneously on HBO in the United States and

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 ...

in Canada on August 18, 2018. On May 6, 2019, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season. and would also air as part of the Family Night block on

PBS Kids PBS Kids is the brand for most of the children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) in the United States. Some public television children's programs are not produced by PBS member stations or transmitted by PBS. Inste ...

' 24/7 channel in the summer. In September 2019, it was announced new episodes of the show would be moving from HBO to

HBO Max HBO Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in the United States on May 27, 2020, the service is built around the libraries of HBO, Warner Bros., Cartoon Ne ...

, starting with the second season. The second season premiered on June 25, 2020. A holiday-themed episode was released on December 10, 2020. The second season premiered on PBS Kids on Saturday, March 6, 2021. The show was removed from HBO Max in August 2022.

Plot

''Esme & Roy'' follows a young girl named Esme and her best monster friend, Roy, the most in-demand "monster sitters" in Monsterdale, a town populated mostly by colorful monsters. The duo set out to solve big problems by playing and helping out the young monsters with their problems.

Episodes

Characters

Main

* Esmeralda "Esme" (voiced by

Millie Davis Millie Davis (born 6 December 2006) is a Canadian actress who plays Ms. O / Big O in the TVOKids/PBS Kids series ''Odd Squad'', Riley in the television show '' Dino Dana'', Summer in ''Wonder'', and Gemma Hendrix in ''Orphan Black.'' She was nomi ...

) is a 9-year-old African-American girl and a monster sitter, and she has a skill for inventing activities to fix the monsters' problems, with the help of the MonsterCase, a suitcase full of fun and games that encourages the monsters to play their problems away and turns into a motorized scooter when taking Esme and Roy to where their monstersitting service is needed. Esme only went through a Monster Sitter Meltdown in "Party Time", but like what she does for the little monsters she and Roy watch, Roy helps her feel better by singing the "Belly Breathing" song, which is normally sung by Esme. In "Stroller Derby", it's revealed that Esme goes to a school that's different from the one the little monsters go to. * Roy (voiced by Patrick McKenna) is Esme's best friend and a yellow monster. He is a lovable silly monster who knows everything about monsters with his Monster Fact book. He loves to eat meatballs. Roy went through a Monster Sitter Meltdown in 3 episodes which they are: "Two Can Play That Game", "Sing Out, Roy", & "Training Day", but Esme, along with the little monsters, helped him feel better by singing the "Belly Breathing" song, which is normally sung by Esme doing it solo. But, Esme did help him feel better by singing the "Belly Breathing" song solo in two episodes only. * Dumpling is Esme and Roy's pet monster. She can roll herself up into a ball and loves to dance. * Hugo Ooga (voiced by Shayle Simons) is a theatrical 4-year-old winged monster. He loves to be the star of the show and creates his own spotlight by clapping his hands. * Fig Ooga (voiced by Elle Simon) is Hugo's 1-year-old baby sister. Unlike her brother, she has no wings. While small, she has super strength and loves to pick up Roy to demonstrate it. She shrinks if she smells a Sludgeflower. * Tillie Plink (voiced by Abigail Oliver) is an active 3-year-old monster with pink fur, blue eyes, and red hair tied into pigtails with a pair of blue hairbows. She has a need for speed and loves cars and playing rough-and-tumble games and she spins a lot really fast like a

dervish Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from fa, درویش, ''Darvīsh'') in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity (''tariqah''), or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. The latter usage i ...

when she's sad, for fun, or for dancing. Sometimes, she refers to herself in third-person, much like Elmo from ''

''. * Snugs Muzzywump (voiced by Benjamin Hum) is an adorable 3-year-old monster who loves to hug and snuggle with people and monsters alike. He puffs up when he gets scared, but is easily calmable. He is frightened by thunder. * Simon Swoozle (voiced by Jacob Soley) is a 8-year-old six-tentacled green monster with yellow hair, brown eyes and blue glasses. He loves enforcing routine and order. He has a big heart, is very artistic and he is very smart. * Sid Hoozlewoo & Lucy Hoozlewoo (voiced by Christian Corrao &

Hattie Kragten Hattie Kragten is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles in ''Snoopy in Space ''Snoopy in Space'' is an animated television series inspired by the ''Peanuts'' comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. Developed by Mark Evestaff and Betsy ...

) appear in "Imitation Frustration", "Don't Bug Me", & "Warm and Fuzzy Day". They can change colors, copy what they do and bounce around on their springy tails. * Frank Bleederblop & Franny Bleederblop (voiced by Justin Paul Kelly & Lilly Bartlam) appear in "Two Can Play That Game". They are twin dragon-like monsters. * Mom and Dad: Esme's parents are, so far, only glimpsed during the opening theme of the show. They live in the house next to the garage where Esme and Roy usually hang out when they're not on their monstersitting duties and are shown waving goodbye to Esme and Roy as they set off to where they're needed. Aside from Esme, they appear to be the only human residents of Monsterdale.

Recurring

* Mr. Plink (voiced by

Zachary Bennett Zachary Bennett is a Canadian actor and musician, who is known for playing Felix King in ''Road to Avonlea''. He also co-starred in the 2006 TV film '' Jekyll + Hyde'' and for voicing Coach Clydesdale on '' Corn & Peg''. He also currently voices ...

) is Tillie's father. * Grammy Swoozle (voiced by

Jayne Eastwood Jayne Eastwood (born December 17, 1946), also credited as Jane Easton or Jane Eastwood, is a Canadian actress and comedian. She is best known for her film roles as Anna-Marie Biddlecoff in the comedy film '' Finders Keepers'' (1984), Judy the Wa ...

) is Simon's grandmother * Willie (voiced by Richard Binsley) is Simon and Grammy Swoozle's pet. * Mrs. Muzzywump (voiced by Denise Oliver) is Snugs' mother. * Mr. Bleederblop (voiced by Jamie Watson) is the father of Frank and Franny. * Mr. Ooga (voiced by Martin Roach) is Hugo and Fig's father. * Mrs. Ooga (voiced by

Melissa Altro Melissa Altro (born May 16, 1982) is a Canadian voice actress and voiceover coach from Montreal, Quebec. Biography Prior to having a career to voice acting, Altro guest-starred on a 1994 episode of the YTV/Nickelodeon horror anthology ser ...

is Hugo and Fig's mother. * Mrs. Hoozlewoo (voiced by Kylee Evans) is Sid and Lucy's mother. * Lottie (voiced by Lilly Bartlam) is introduced in "Monster's Little Helper". She wants to learn to be a Monster Sitter from Esme and Roy. She has yellow fur and flies with wings. She returns and makes a minor part in "Game Plan" to help monsters prepare for Camp Monsterdale. * Norm (voiced by Patrick McKenna) appears in "Supermarket Match". He is a blue monster with tentacles, blue hair, and green eyes and speaks like a teenager. He appears to be a monster of all trades, as he has a different job in every episode.

Production

Nelvana ordered 52 11-minute segments, equal to 26 half-hours, of each season of ''Esme & Roy'', for 104 11-minute segments (two of which comprise the 22-minute special episode) in total.

Broadcast

''Esme & Roy'' premiered on

in Canada and HBO on August 18, 2018, and

on August 31, 2019 to June 27, 2021, in the United States. The show began international broadcast following its U.S. and Canadian premieres. The show began airing on the Cartoonito preschool block on

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, ...

and

on September 18, 2021 in the United States. Esme and Roy was premiered on Disney Junior Asia from August 12, 2019 until April 2021 before being moved to

Cartoon Network Asia Cartoon Network is a pan-Asian pay television channel that primarily broadcasts animated series. Operated by Warner Bros. Discovery under its International division, the channel is broadcast from its headquarters in Singapore and Jakarta, Ind ...

in 2022 as part of the Cartoonito block.

Reception

Critical

''Esme & Roy'' has been met with mostly positive reception. Emily Ashby of

Common Sense Media Common Sense Media (CSM) is an organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children.

rated ''Esme & Roy'' a total of 5 out of 5 stars, stating that Esme & Roy's "thoughtful approach to self-awareness and mindful behavior makes it an excellent tool for families and caretakers to use in teaching similar skills to kids," and that the broader emotions will relate to a child's experiences.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* *' at

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Esme and Roy 2010s American animated television series 2020s American animated television series 2010s American black cartoons 2020s American black cartoons 2010s American children's comedy television series 2020s American children's comedy television series 2010s Canadian animated television series 2020s Canadian animated television series 2010s Canadian black cartoons 2020s Canadian black cartoons 2010s Canadian children's television series 2020s Canadian children's television series 2018 American television series debuts 2021 American television series endings 2018 Canadian television series debuts 2021 Canadian television series endings 2010s preschool education television series 2020s preschool education television series American children's animated adventure television series American children's animated comedy television series American children's animated fantasy television series American children's animated musical television series American preschool education television series Animated duos Animated television series about children Canadian children's animated adventure television series Canadian children's animated comedy television series Canadian children's animated fantasy television series Canadian children's animated musical television series Cartoon Network original programming Cartoonito original programming Canadian preschool education television series Animated preschool education television series English-language television shows Fictional duos HBO original programming HBO Max original programming PBS Kids shows PBS original programming Television series by Corus Entertainment Television series by Sesame Workshop Television series by Nelvana Animated television series about monsters Treehouse TV original programming