Cyberchase

Cyberchase
Genre Educational[1]
Created by Sandra Sheppard
Directed by
  • Larry Jacobs
  • Jason Groh
Voices of
Theme music composer
  • David W. Shaw
  • Steve Pecile
Country of origin
  • United States
  • Canada

[2]

Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 10
No. of episodes 104 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Sandra Sheppard
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s)
Distributor PBS
Release
Original network PBS Kids
Picture format
Original release March 24, 2000[3] – present
External links
Official website

Cyberchase is an American–Canadian[2] animated television series on PBS Kids. The series focuses around three Earth kids, Jackie, Matt, and Inez, who are brought into Cyberspace, a digital universe, to protect it from the evil Hacker. Using math in application with problem-solving skills, environment and weather, they are able to prevent Hacker from causing any more harm. In Cyberspace, they meet Digit, a cybird that helps the kids on their mission.[4]

Cyberchase was created by Thirteen. It was first shown on WNET as a "sneak peek" on March 24, 2000, before making its official debut on January 21, 2002. In 2010, after the season eight finale, PBS put the series on hiatus, but it returned in 2013 for a ninth season,[5] followed by a tenth season in 2015.[6]

Premise

When three average Earth kids, Jackie, Matt, and Inez accidentally allow the Hacker access to Motherboard, the supreme ruler of Cyberspace, she becomes severely weakened by a virus. The kids are brought into Cyberspace in an effort to protect the world from the Hacker and his clumsy assistants Buzz and Delete until a cure is found. They join forces with Digit, and later many more Cybercitizens that turn out to be great friends who are willing to fight for Motherboard.

Characters

Main characters

Note: The Cybersquad is also known as "Earthlies" by Digit, and as "Earthbrats" by Hacker.[7]

"Cyberchase For Real" characters

Recurring characters: Team Motherboard

Minor characters and guest stars

Cyberchase has had many guest stars over the years, including Tony Hawk. These guest stars appear as citizens of Cybersites, villains, friends, or even rulers of the site.

Episodes

Season Episodes
First aired Last aired
1 26 March 24, 2000 July 10, 2002
2 14 February 14, 2003 October 31, 2003
3 12 May 3, 2004 December 31, 2004
4 10 April 15, 2005 October 7, 2005
5 10 October 31, 2006 September 3, 2007
6 10 November 7, 2007 October 27, 2008
7 7 April 21, 2009 October 6, 2009
8 5 June 25, 2010 July 23, 2010
9 5 November 4, 2013 April 15, 2014
10 5 November 9, 2015 November 13, 2015

Live action

Each Cyberchase episode is followed by Cyberchase For Real, a live-action educational supplement linking concepts learned in the show to real life experiences. The actors Bianca DeGroat and Harry Matthew A. Wilson are in their thirties, but amusingly act in a manner similar to the age of the target audience. For Real is produced by WNET in and around New York City after production is completed on the animated segments. These For Real segments are broadcast exclusively on PBS in the United States where the program runs longer and fills the time gap where there might be breaks for commercials. Some For Real segments can also be viewed online.[8] As of September 17, 2012, "Oh Noah", shorts that teach kids to speak Spanish, have been used instead of re-running the "For Real" segments.[9] The "For Real" segment returned in season nine, but only with Harry. He is now working, with other student leaders and his cousin Harley, for a student camp that teaches kids about the environment. It features progressive music with lots of synthesizers.

History and education philosophy

According to the website, Motherboard (sometimes referred to as "Mother B.") is the "Brain of the giant computer system that oversees all of Cyberspace.[10] Her technician computer scientist, Dr. Marbles, keeps her functioning properly. Dr. Marbles created Hacker as an assistant, but Hacker turned against Motherboard. Digit is the assistant to Hacker and witnessed Hacker stealing the Encryptor Chip. After Dr. Marbles drains Hacker's battery and banishes him to the Northern Frontier, Digit is able to escape Hacker. Eventually Hacker is able to find a way to recharge himself, build Buzz and Delete, and formulate a plan to launch a virus that attacks Motherboard. When the kids Jackie, Matt, and Inez meet by a random chance and interact with a library map, this opens up a door for Hacker to infect Motherboard with the virus.

Cyberchase aims to show kids that math is everywhere and everyone can be good at it. The series encourages viewers to see, think, and do mathematics in their world. The show and supporting activities have been designed to support math education and reflect the curriculum standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.[11] The show's philosophy is to foster enthusiasm for math, to model mathematic reasoning, to help children improve their problem-solving skills and to inspire all children to approach math with confidence and a "can-do" attitude.[12]

Cybersites

Cyberspace consists of plane-like bodies called Cybersites which are based on themes such as Ancient Egypt, the American Old West, Greek mythology, and amusement park. The Cybersquad travels to many of these locations in order to protect Cyberspace from Hacker. Each inhabited Cybersite has their own type of Cybercitizen. They are meant to represent the diversity of websites on the Internet, and reflect the many ecosystems and neighborhoods of today's world. For example, Gollywood is a Cyberspace representation of Hollywood, and Pefectamundo represent the 100% sustainable ecosystem of tomorrow.

Apps

There are two apps that Cyberchase has released to date:

  1. Cyberchase 3D Builder[13]
  2. Cyberchase Shape Quest[14]

Broadcast and production

Development[15]

Originally, Thirteen, in partnership with Nelvana, produced the show for PBS Kids. It aired on PBS Kids from 2002–04 and 2013–14, and on V-me, PBS, and on PBS Kids Go! from 2004–13. Cyberchase is animated (after season 5) by Pip Animation Services Inc. Right Path Pictures does Post Production, and Curious Pictures did the original character design. Twelfth Root Music produces the sound track for Cyberchase. Thirteen/WNET New York and Nelvana produced the first five seasons, while Thirteen, in association with Title Entertainment, Inc. and WNET.ORG, produced seasons six through nine.[16]

Executive producers

Reception

Critical response

On the site Common Sense Media, the show was for ages 5 and up and rated four out of five stars. The reviewer, Joly Herman, commented that "the adventures aren't scary, violent, or sexually inappropriate" but "require fortitude and brain power". Proposed discussion points sprouting from the series include "Can your child take the skills learned in each episode and figure out how to apply it to everyday life?" Herman noted that the only downside was that the adventures did not take place in the "real world" but added that the "For Real" segments solved this problem. The show was given a rating of three out of five smiley faces under the "The Good Stuff" section.[1]

Carey Bryson of About.com gave the show a rating of four out of five stars. Bryson noted that the series' explanations of "simple mathematical idea[s]" are "usually explained well and woven throughout the story in a fun and interesting way". The review commended the series for its accessibility: "Children can easily learn from the example in the cartoon story" and praised the "Cyberchase For Real segment that follows each episode". Citing an example from the series using codes, Bryson explained how the show could be used to expand upon the curriculum: "Not only did [her five-year-old] learn about codes, but she also got in a ton of spelling practice". Bryson commended the series: "Educationally, Cyberchase delivers".[17]

Awards

Cyberchase has been nominated for five Daytime Emmys and won in 2007 in the Outstanding Broadband Program category.[18] Cyberchase also won a CINE Golden Eagle in 2006.[19]

Year Category Recipient(s) Result
2007 Outstanding Broadband Program – Children's See below Won
2008 Outstanding New Approaches – Children's See below Nominated
Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program[20] Christopher Lloyd Nominated
2009 Outstanding New Approaches – Daytime Children's See below Nominated
2012 Outstanding New Approaches – Daytime Children's See below Nominated

^2007 Outstanding Broadband Program nominees : Frances Nankin, Sandra Sheppard, Ellen Doherty, Jill Peters, Bob Morris, Suzanne Rose, Michelle Chen, Elizabeth Hummer, Arash Hoda, Anthony Chapman, David Hirmes, Bianca DeGroat, Matthew A. Wilson, George Arthur Bloom[18]
^2008 Outstanding New Approaches nominees : Sandra Sheppard, Frances Nankin, Ellen Doherty, Jill Peters, David Hirmes, Kelly Lafferty, Michelle Chen, Tanner Vea, Bob Morris, Matthew A. Wilson[21]
^2009 Outstanding New Approaches nominees : Sandra Sheppard, Frances Nankin, Ellen Doherty, David Hirmes, Tanner Vea, Denyse Ouellette, Gilbert Gottfried, Phil Williams, Robert Tinkler[22]
^2012 Outstanding New Approaches nominees : Frances Nankin, Sandra Sheppard, Jill Peters, Marj Kleinman, Ellen Doherty, Kristin DiQuollo, Michelle Chen[23]

References

  1. 1 2 Herman, Joly. "Cyberchase". common sense media. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  2. 1 2 http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=57&ti=1,57&Search_Arg=Cyberchase&Search_Code=TALL&CNT=100&PID=m6MyDBvX_zGZEM6ZLkhcxrK-v8&SEQ=20150505123006&SID=1
  3. http://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/MCG_2002_Cyberchase_YoungChildren.pdf
  4. pbs.org
  5. "Cyberchase – Timeline Photos – Facebook". facebook.com. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  6. "Cyberchase | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  7. "Cyberchase. Meet the CyberSquad – PBS KIDS". pbskids.org. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  8. "Cyberchase Videos". Thirteen. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  9. Miramar-Garcia, Gabriel (September 17, 2012). "PBS to broadcast Oh Noah! with Cyberchase for Hispanic Heritage month". Rapid TV News. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  10. "Cyberchase How it all Started".
  11. "National Council of Teachers of Mathematics". Nctm.org. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  12. "Cyberchase Learning Goals". Pbs.org. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  13. "Cyberchase 3D Builder Mobile Downloads – PBS KIDS". pbskids.org. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  14. "Cyberchase Shape Quest Mobile Downloads – PBS KIDS". pbskids.org. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  15. http://www.pbs.org/parents/cyberchase/
  16. "About Cyberchase". Pbs.org. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  17. Bryson, Carey. "Cyberchase – TV Show Review". About.com. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  18. 1 2 "34th Annual Creative Arts & Entertainment Emmy Awards Presented At Star-Studded Hollywood Gala". The Emmy Awards. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  19. "2006 Winner Directory" (PDF). Cine Golden Eagle Film & Video Competition. p. 1. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  20. "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces the 35th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". The Emmy Awards. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  21. Awards for "Cyberchase". The Internet Movie Database. Accessed September 24, 2012.
  22. "Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards: 36th Annual Nominations Announcement". The Emmy Awards. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  23. "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". The Emmy Awards. Retrieved October 14, 2012.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, April 30, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.