Almost Naked Animals
| Almost Naked Animals | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre |
Comedy Surrealism |
| Created by | Noah Z. Jones |
| Developed by |
Doug Hadders Adam Rotstein |
| Directed by | Brad Ferguson |
| Voices of |
Rob Tinkler Howard Jerome Emilie-Claire Barlow David Berni Sean Cullen Linda Kash |
| Opening theme | "Almost Naked Animals!" |
| Ending theme | "Almost Naked Animals!" (instrumental) |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 52 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Noah Z. Jones Vince Commisso Steve Jarosz |
| Producer(s) |
Tristan Homer Mark Satterthwaite (creative producer) |
| Running time |
22 minutes (2 11-minute segments) |
| Production company(s) | 9 Story Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network |
Cartoon Network YTV |
| Picture format | 1080i (16:9 HDTV) |
| Original release | January 7, 2011 – May 22, 2013 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Almost Naked Animals is a Canadian animated series that was produced for Cartoon Network and YTV. The series premiered on January 7, 2011 on YTV. The series was created by Noah Z. Jones, who is also the creator of the Disney Channel animated series Fish Hooks and the Disney XD animated series Pickle and Peanut. The series ended on May 22, 2013.
The show was based upon an art website that Noah Z. Jones created in 2005.[1]
Premise
The cartoon is set inside a tropical resort called the Banana Cabana.[2] All of the cabana's staff members and residents are funny animals who have shaved off their fur and wear only underclothes. A dog named Howie is the manager and leader of the cabana. Each episode follows Howie and his "misfit" crew having unusual adventures in the Banana Cabana.
Production
The series is produced by 9 Story Media Group who produced it for Cartoon Network and YTV.[3] Noah Z. Jones is the creator of the series, while Brad Ferguson is the director.[4] Executive producers includes Vince Commisso, Steve Jarosz, and Noah Z. Jones. Other staff for the series includes Tristan Homer as producer and Mark Satterthwaite as creative producer.
Development for the series started as early as 2006.[4]
On October 16, 2009, Aaron H. Bynum, news editor of Animation Insider, announced that the series entered production.[5] Vince Commisso, president and CEO of 9 Story Entertainment was pleasantly surprised and charmed for the production of Almost Naked Animals and said: "We are very excited to be commencing production on Almost Naked Animals,". "We spent a great deal of time in development, ensuring the characters, the pacing and the tone of the show was [sic] precise. It is extremely gratifying to see our work come to fruition and the end result is this high-quality, curiously funny animated property."[5]
Characters
- Howie (voiced by Rob Tinkler) is a pale-yellow dog and manager of the Banana Cabana. He is hyperactive, very dim witted and impulsive, he's almost always cheerful. He is also completely oblivious to his sister's evil nature.
- Octo (voiced by Howard Jerome) is an overly cautious blue octopus and the desk clerk. He is Howie's best friend.
- Bunny (voiced by Emilie-Claire Barlow) is a short-tempered yellow rabbit and activity planner with a sugary personality (subject to mood swings).
- Duck (voiced by David Berni) is a Tan-colored duck who does every random job and tries anything to get it done. It was revealed in "The Sun Howie Always Wanted", and "Mini Howies" that his full name is Archibald William Nightindale Duck III. As a running gag Duck often appears during a problem with a funny non sequitur.
- Piggy (voiced by Seán Cullen) is a pale pink pig who is a ninja-trained master chef with a Bulgarian accent. He speaks broken English.
- Narwhal (voiced by Seán Cullen) is a self centered, periwinkle-colored narwhal that loves to sing (he is the lounge performer.)
- Sloth (voiced by Linda Kash) is a peach-colored sloth and the bellhop of the Banana Cabana. She has a crush on Howie. She also does everything slowly. She moves around using her luggage cart.
- Poodle (voiced by Alyson Court) Howie's older evil sister who owns a rival hotel called the Chateau Chattoo. She always tries to ruin Howie's fun and tries to take over Howie's hotel.
- Batty (voiced by Julie Lemieux) Poodle's evil minion who is also Howie's long-lost cousin.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | First airdate | Last airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | January 7, 2011 | December 7, 2011 | |
| 2 | 14 | February 4, 2012 | July 7, 2012 | |
| 3 | 12 | April 15, 2013 | May 22, 2013 | |
Distribution
Broadcast
The show aired YTV and Nickelodeon Canada. It aired on Cartoon Network and Boomerang in the United States. Other broadcasters includes CITV in the UK, ABC3 in Australia, RTÉjr in Ireland and Super RTL in Germany.
Home media
Episodes of Almost Naked Animals are available for digital download through the iTunes Music Store, which are split into two volumes.[6] Roadshow Home Entertainment released a 95-minute Region 4 DVD of the show on December 1, 2011.[7] In 2012 NCircle Entertainment has released videos on DVD for Canada and the US. In the UK Abbey Home Media released episodes on DVD.
Toys and merchandising
The Licensing Shop has signed products in the US market for Almost Naked Animals. Freeze has secured rights for t-shirts, fashion tops and hoodies in all sizes while ABG Accessories will be making cold weather accessories, spring and summer headwear and rainwear including umbrellas and slickers for the show.[8] In 2012 Cafepress agreed to make Almost Naked Animals plushies, water bottles, tshirts, and more merchandise is being made.
Online game
In January 2012 it was announced that 9 Story and Game Pill were creating an Almost Naked Animals online game entitled "Cabana Craze." The game was released on September 25, 2012 and can be found at CabanaCraze.com.
Critical reception
In June 2011, Almost Naked Animals was picked as one of People Magazine's top children's shows to watch in the US. Common Sense Media rated the show 3 stars out of 5, with the review stating that "The show's writing is smart enough that adults will get some laughs right alongside their kids".[9]
During the week of November 21, 2011, the show has been receiving high ratings on CITV in the UK and has been the most watched afterschool children's program amongst kids aged 4–9.[10]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Gemini Awards | Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series — "Better Safe and Sorry", written by Seán Cullen[11] |
Nominated |
| 2013 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Animated Program or Series[12] | Nominated |
| 2013 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Direction in an Animated Program or Series — "The Green Banana", directed by Brad Ferguson[12] |
Nominated |
| 2013 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Performance in an Animated Program or Series— "Horn Swoggled", Seán Cullen as Narwhal & Piggy[12] |
Won |
References
- ↑ "Almost Naked Animals". Web.archive.org. 2005-11-26. Archived from the original on 2005-11-26. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- ↑ Ramin Zahed (2011-05-02). "'Almost Naked Animals' Frolick on CiTV". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
- 1 2 "9 Story Outfits YTV With Almost Naked Animals | Cold Hard Flash: Flash Animation News, Videos and Links". Cold Hard Flash. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ↑ "Almost Naked Animals". DVD Warehouse. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- ↑ "Archive » Almost Naked Animals names new agent, licensees". Kidscreen.com. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- ↑ "Almost Naked Animals TV Review". Commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
- ↑ "Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series". Gemini Awards. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- 1 2 3 "2013 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS Television Nominations" (PDF). Canadian Screen Awards. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2012.