Codename: Kids Next Door

Codename: Kids Next Door
Genre	Comedy Action/Adventure[1]
Created by	Tom Warburton
Written by	Tom Warburton Mo Willems Andy Rheingold Alison Wilgus
Directed by	Tom Warburton
Voices of	Benjamin Diskin Lauren Tom Dee Bradley Baker Cree Summer Tom Kenny Grey DeLisle Tara Strong Jeff Bennett Maurice LaMarche Jennifer Hale Frank Welker Rachael MacFarlane Daran Norris
Composer(s)	Stephen Rucker Thomas Chase Jones
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	78 (141 segments) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Tom Warburton Steve Oakes David Starr Richard Winkler Jonathan Paley
Producer(s)	Bruce Knapp
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	Curious Pictures Hanna-Barbera (only in "Kenny and the Chimp") Cartoon Network Studios (only in "No P in the OOL" & "The Grim Adventures of the KND")
Distributor	Cartoon Network
Release
Original network	Cartoon Network
Original release	December 6, 2002 – January 21, 2008
External links
Website
Production website

Codename: Kids Next Door, also known as Kids Next Door or by its initials KND, is an American animated television series created by Tom Warburton for Cartoon Network, and the thirteenth of the network's Cartoon Cartoons. The series debuted on Cartoon Network on December 6, 2002. The series came about as the result of a viewer's poll by Cartoon Network.^[2] The series centers on the adventures of five children who operate from a high-tech tree house, fighting against adult tyranny. They use advanced 2×4 technology to battle evil adult villains. Using their codenames (Numbuh 1, Numbuh 2, Numbuh 3, Numbuh 4 and Numbuh 5), they are Sector V, part of a global organization called The Kids Next Door. The series had also broadcast two television films, Operation: Z.E.R.O.^[3][4] in August 2006 and the series finale, Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S. in January 2008.

Overview

From left to right: Numbuh 2, Numbuh 4, Numbuh 3, Numbuh 1 and Numbuh 5

Premise

The show revolves around the main home operatives of Sector V — Numbuh One (Nigel Uno), Numbuh Two (Hoagie P. Gilligan, Jr.), Numbuh Three (Kuki Sanban), Numbuh Four (Wallabee Beatles) and Numbuh Five (Abigail Lincoln). Their mission is to fight crimes against kids, such as homework and flossing, committed by adults, senior citizens, teenagers, and other "evil" children. They make up what is known as Sector V of a worldwide organization called the Kids Next Door.

Production history

Warburton created a pilot episode for another show, Kenny and the Chimp. Originally, there was a group of children who called themselves "The Kids Next Door" among the recurring characters, and would often get Kenny into trouble. The plot-line was then changed to focus on the group of kids alone, and later, the kids battling adulthood.^[5] In 2001, the show's pilot episode, "No P in the OOL", won a Cartoon Network viewer's poll, and as a result, Codename: Kids Next Door was greenlit to become a series.^[6]

Storylines

The episodes are titled as the Kids Next Door's missions, denoted as "Operation:" followed by an acronym which often gives viewers clues as to what the episode is about. The episodes have little continuity, although occasionally missions make a reference to earlier episodes or lead to consequences in another. Season Five's "Operation: O.U.T.B.R.E.A.K." is the only episode that is a direct continuation of another episode ("Operation: V.I.R.U.S.").

Stories in the earlier episodes were often about typical childhood problems, but magnified and exaggerated; as the series progressed, a more complex storyline developed.

The show frequently contains references to films, especially in the later seasons, such as Dragon Ball Z (after Funimation concluded their partnership with Saban and Pioneer), The Pink Panther (which The Pink Panther in: Pink at First Sight is the only produced by Marvel), Planet of the Apes, Jaws, Jurassic Park, King Kong, The Terminator, Resident Evil, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, X-Men, James Bond, Stargate franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Indiana Jones film series.

KND Organization

The Kids Next Door Organization is a worldwide group comprising thousands of kids joined in mutual struggle against teenager/adult tyranny. They fight villains that embody specific menaces to children overall (such as dental hygiene or school lunch). For every member of Kids Next Door, upon following a period of training, they then choose a number or alphanumerical code (deliberately spelled "numbuh") and sent to a "sector", that is a tree house of ludicrous proportions. The main headquarters of the Kids Next Door is a tree house Moon Base. Kids follow their oath of protecting other kids as well as battling adulthood until the age of 13, when they are "decommissioned", a process of wiping their memories of any past KND activity and warping their minds. Such a practice has inevitably led to the creation of many KND villains who escaped decommissioning (notably Cree, formerly Numbuh 11 and Numbuh 5's older sister, and Chad, formerly Numbuh 274 and supreme commander of the Kids Next Door).

The practice of strict decommissioning at age 13 was later on revealed to be subject to exceptions: kids who have proved to be exceptional agents are offered the chance to carry on in KND as spies infiltrating the teen organization.^[7] Decommissioning has also proved reversible due to a "re-commissioning" module used twice in the series.

Technology

KND agents utilize a vast array of mechanical, electronic gadgets and machinery, collectively referred to as 2x4 (two-by-four) technology. The KND 2x4 technology was originally conceived as an assortment of common household objects, being put to use in combat situation; a theme that their weapons continued to adhere to. However, as the series progressed, the complexity of their defensive weaponry and transportation advanced to such absurd levels as to be considered science fiction, despite all of it still being constructed with nothing but household materials. In addition to the technology, many KND operatives also wear helmets similar to kabuto or samurai helmets — an example being Supreme Leader Numbuh 362.

A common theme of the show is the introduction of a new never-before-seen device, complete with its own acronym, in a sidebar screen that temporarily interrupts the storyline. It is interesting to note that many of these devices require military-level driving or piloting skills, in order for them to operate effectively. However, not all of the technology is made of other items.

Episodes

Codename: Kids Next Door series overview

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
	Pilot episodes	2	November 6, 1998	July 20, 2001
	1	13	December 6, 2002	March 7, 2003
	2		October 3, 2003	June 4, 2004
	3		June 11, 2004	November 12, 2004
	4		November 19, 2004	July 22, 2005
	5		September 30, 2005	August 11, 2006
	6		August 25, 2006	December 7, 2007
	TV Movies		August 11, 2006	January 21, 2008
	Special		November 11, 2007

There are six seasons, each with 13 episodes (two half-length episodes counting as one), adding up to 78 episodes altogether. There have been two TV movies, the first taking place between the second and third episodes of season 6 (Operation: Z.E.R.O.),^[8][9] and the second at the end of season 6 (Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S.).

Reception

Common Sense Media wrote that the "silly cartoon is too violent for youngest viewers."^[10]

Awards and nominations

In 2005, The series won The Best Television Series for Children Award at The Ottawa International Animation Festival for "Operation: A.R.C.H.I.V.E.", which was written by Tom Warburton and storyboarded by Guy Moore.^[11] The following year, "Operation: L.I.C.O.R.I.C.E." won the Festival's Collideascope Award for Television Animation for Children.

Other media

DVD releases

Two DVDs in two volumes were released of Codename: Kids Next Door, totaling 16 episodes.

Title	Episodes	Release date			Description
		Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
Sooper Hugest Missions: File One	9	October 26, 2004[12]	May 15, 2006[13]	February 13, 2008[14]	Includes the episodes "Operation: I.-S.C.R.E.A.M.", "Operation: P.I.R.A.T.E.", "Operation: L.I.C.E.", "Operation: L.I.Z.Z.I.E.", "Operation: T.H.E.-F.L.Y.", "Operation: C.A.T.S.", "Operation: S.P.A.N.K.", "Operation: S.U.P.P.O.R.T.", and "Operation: G.R.O.W.-U.P." as well as a bonus Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends cartoon, 2x4 technology profiles, and game tips for Operation: S.O.D.A.
Sooper Hugest Missions: File Two	7	August 23, 2005[15]	N/A	N/A	Includes the episodes "Operation: C.A.N.N.O.N.", "Operation: C.A.M.P.", "Operation: C.H.A.D.", "Operation: S.H.A.V.E.", "Operation: T.R.I.P.", "Operation: T.R.A.I.N.I.N.G.", and "Operation: D.A.T.E." as well as a bonus The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy episode and game tips for Operation: V.I.D.E.O.G.A.M.E..

Episodes were also featured in other DVD releases by Cartoon Network

• Scooby-Doo and the Toon Tour of Mysteries—"Operation: T.E.E.T.H.", "Operation: P.O.I.N.T.", "Operation: I-S.C.R.E.A.M."
• Cartoon Network Halloween 2—"Operation: T.R.I.C.K.Y."
• Cartoon Network Christmas 2—"Operation: P.I.A.N.O."
• Cartoon Network Halloween 3—"Operation: J.E.W.E.L.S."
• Cartoon Network Christmas 3—"Operation: N.A.U.G.H.T.Y."
• Toon Foolery — Laugh Your 'Ed Off!—"Operation: C.A.K.E.D"
• Cartoon Network Hall of Fame Vol. 2" (4 disc set featuring Sooper Hugest Missions: File One as one of the discs)

In other series or works

On an episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy entitled "Sickly Sweet", a scene depicts Grim watching Codename: Kids Next Door. Also, in Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure, Numbuh Three makes a cameo as Grim's replacement. Also, in the MAD episode "Taking Nemo / Once Upon a Toon", Numbuh One cameos as one of the cartoon characters who has forgotten his identity. The show was also referenced in the New Boyz song "Tough Kids."^[16] In the 2004 film Sideways, the show is playing on Miles's mother's television set.

Publications

Stories featuring the Kids Next Door have been featured in the comic series Cartoon Cartoons, Cartoon Network Block Party, and Cartoon Network Action Pack. The characters are also featured in the books 2x4 Technology Handbook and Sooper Secrets and Boomerang Bloopers, both by Alison Wilgus.

Trading cards

A trading card game based on the series was launched by Wizards of the Coast in July 2005.

Video games

Two video games were released for the series: Operation: S.O.D.A. in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance and Operation: V.I.D.E.O.G.A.M.E. in 2005 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. Several browser games were also released on the Cartoon Network website. The MMORPG style game Operation B.E.S.T. was playable for a brief time in 2005, but was soon shut down forever.

In Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, Numbuhs One through Five, and villains Father, Toiletnator, and Stickybeard appear as non-playable characters. KNDefense armor and 2x4 Tech weapons are available for players, Sector V's treehouse can be explored, and KND S.C.A.M.P.E.R.s can be used for transport. In Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion, Father and Numbuh 1 are playable, Sector V Treehouse and the C.O.O.L.-B.U.S. are arenas, and Numbuh 2 and Stickybeard are assist characters. In the console versions, Toiletnator is a playable character, Numbuh 4 is an assist character, and KND Moonbase is an arena.

References

1. "Codename: Kids Next Door". Metacritic.
2. "'Total Immersion Cartoon' Events Take Control at Cartoon Network". Time Warner. February 21, 2001. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
3. Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation ZERO - EpGuides.com
4. "Local listings, news, recaps, photos, clips and more". msn.com.
5. "Audio Interview: Tom Warburton". Frederatorblogs.com. November 9, 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
6. Ball, Ryan (December 5, 2002). "Codename: Kids Next Door Goes Into Action". Animationmagazine.net. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
7. "Operation: M.A.U.R.I.C.E.". Codename: Kids Next Door. Season 4. Episode 11. 2005-07-08.
8. "Kids Next Door Movie Debuts Friday". Animation Magazine. August 7, 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
9. Bynum, Aaron H. (August 8, 2006). "Begin Operation Z.E.R.O.". Animation Insider. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
10. "Codename: Kids Next Door". commonsensemedia.org.
11. "2005 Ottawa International Animation Festival Awards". animationfestival.com. Retrieved March 2013.
12. "Codename Kids Next Door - Sooper Hugest Missions File One (2002)". Amazon.com. ASIN B0002MFGAK.
13. "Codename - Kids Next Door: Sooper Hugest Missions - File 1 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. ASIN B000FFL1N0.
14. "Codename: Kids Next Door: Sooper Hugest Missions File 1". Madman Entertainment. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
15. "Codename: Kids Next Door - File 2". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
16. "New Boyz - Tough Kids Lyrics".

External links

• Official website
• Codename: Kids Next Door at Curious Pictures
• Codename: Kids Next Door at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• Codename: Kids Next Door at the Internet Movie Database
• Codename: Kids Next Door at TV.com