Special Agent Oso

Special Agent Oso
Opening title logo
Voices of Sean Astin
Meghan Strange
Gary Anthony Williams
Phill Lewis
Amber Hood
Cam Clarke
Theme music composer Ford Riley and Mike Feltzenbaum
Composer(s) Mike Feltzenbaum and Michael Turner
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Spanish
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 60 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time 24 minutes (2 12-minute segments per episode, expect for episodes 35, 56, and 60)
Production company(s) Disney Television Animation
Sunwoo Entertainment
Release
Original network Disney Channel
Playhouse Disney (2009–11)
Disney Junior (2011–12)
Picture format 480i (4:3 SDTV)
1080i (16:9 HDTV)
Audio format Stereo
First shown in United States
Original release April 4, 2009 (2009-04-04) – May 17, 2012 (2012-05-17)
External links
Official website

Special Agent Oso (/oʊˈsoʊ/) is an interactive American CGI-animated series for pre-school audiences series created by Ford Riley.[1] The series premiered on April 4, 2009 as part of Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney block, and was one of the charter series that was part of the replacement Disney Junior block which started on February 14, 2011, and later, the Disney Junior channel.[2]

Premise

Each episode begins with Special Agent Oso in the midst of a training exercise, which he usually fails on his first try, causing him to say "It's all part of the plan—more or less" and Paw Pilot, his computerized assistant, which gives him a special alert. Invariably, during the exercise, at least one child is confronted with a simple task he/she have trouble completing it, which a "Shutterbug" drone notices. Oso is always assigned to the case, and his Paw Pilot, along with the unseen Mr. Dos, illustrate his client's plight and assign him a mission to help the child complete the task. To do so, the Paw Pilot provides Oso with "three special steps," a simplified step-by-step guide to completing the task. Oso is transported to the child's location and attempts to follow the steps; as the three special steps are, in and of themselves, usually too vague to complete the task properly, the Paw Pilot also gives further elaborations, including at least one helpful trick. On the third and final step, the Paw Pilot senses the time limit on the task (between 3–19 seconds) and begins counting down when the time limit is near; Oso and the child usually complete the task just as time is up.

Returning from the assignment, the helpful trick given during the assignment always turns out to be the same trick Oso needed to complete the interrupted training exercise, which he likewise completes and passes.

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
124April 4, 2009 (2009-04-04)April 17, 2010 (2010-04-17)
236July 10, 2010 (2010-07-10)May 17, 2012 (2012-05-17)

The show has 60 episodes; 24 in the first season and 36 in the second. The episode names are usually references to the names of James Bond films, such as Three Wheels Are Not Enough and The Boy with the Golden Gift. The first two seasons contain at least one episode title that parodies all 22 of the existing Bond films at the time (as Skyfall was released after Season 2 originally concluded, same with Spectre). Some episode titles also parody the Carly Simon song "Nobody Does it Better" which is the popular theme song to The Spy Who Loved Me.

Components

Each episode is composed of four components:

  • The Three Special Steps are the steps that Paw Pilot gives Oso to follow when he is on his special assignments. Oso has a matter of time to finish the three special steps. The third step is usually timed for 3–19 seconds.
  • The training exercises are Oso's training task assigned by Wolfie, Dotty or Bufo. Oso usually messes up on his first try, but in the course of doing the special assignments he refers to the mistake he made in his training exercise, thanks to the person he is helping. He then returns to his training exercise and does it right, then earns a "Digi-Medal.
  • Audience participation or interaction with Oso. Sometimes, Oso will ask the audience to help him find something hidden or missing on the screen. Other times, Oso will ask the audience to try something physically demanding that he is doing.
  • The special assignments are missions that Oso is requested to complete by the mysterious Mr. Dos, in order to help a child in need. Sometimes, Oso asks the audience to help him on his special assignments if it gets tricky and he needs some help. Oso tries to complete the Three Special Steps that Paw Pilot gives him. Then he earns a "Digi-Medal".

Three Healthy Steps

Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps is a short series that airs in the United States and the United Kingdom during the Disney Junior programming block. It encourages children to use "three healthy steps" regarding eating, being healthy and exercising.

Characters that are featured in the short series are Special Agent Oso, Paw Pilot, Special Agent Wolfie, Special Agent Dotty, and Professor Buffo.

Characters

Main

Character's name Voiced by in the English version Character description
Special Agent Oso Sean Astin The colorful special agent teddy bear who predominantly works on helping children perform tasks such as blowing bubbles, making a card or cleaning their rooms; he is the main character of the series. His name 'oso' is Spanish for 'bear'. He and his friends work for U.N.I.Q.U.E. (The United Network for the Investigation of Quite Unusual Events).[3]

The show was designed for encouraging and educational purposes.

Paw Pilot Meghan Strange Oso's computerized assistant who guides Oso through the "three special steps" he needs to accomplish his current mission. Her name is a reference to the Palm Pilot series of handheld computers.
Mr. Dos Gary Anthony Williams Oso's Siri like boss. He is a talking smartwatch that assigns Oso missions.
Special Agent Wolfie Phill Lewis A blue stuffed wolf; one of the special agent animals that regularly oversee Oso's training.
Special Agent Dotty Amber Hood A spotted orange stuffed fox with a Southern accent; the other special agent animal that regularly oversees Oso's training. It's hinted that she may have feelings for Oso.
Professor Buffo Brad Garrett, later voiced by Jess Harnell A slightly clumsy and excitable Italian-speaking bison who is the inventor of Oso's gadgets. Introduced in the Season 2 episode, "From China with Love".
Whirly Bird Cam Clarke Oso's talking bird-shaped autogyro, who takes Oso to wherever someone needs help. He doesn't hear very well and often misunderstands what Oso tells him, which usually leads to Oso's ejection at inopportune moments and places.
R.R. Rapide Oso's French-speaking train. Though his French accent would suggest a TGV, he is likely a reference to the Fastech 360, based on his shape and retractable speedbrake ears.
Special Agent Musa N/A A silent, dark brown squirrel ninja, the "master of stealth and speed." Introduced in the Season 2 episode, "Table Manners are Forever".
Shutterbug A ladybug-shaped robotic camera, who keeps an eye out for children who need help. She doesn't speak. Appears only in the English and Russian versions.

Guest voices

Additional voices

Broadcast

The first season of Special Agent Oso premiered in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2009, and aired through April 17, 2010; the second season premiered on July 9, 2010.The first two seasons of Special Agent Oso were airing on May 30, 2011 on Belevian Television Qatar And Belevia and Disney Junior Asia in 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  2. ↑ "Special Agent Oso". www.bcdb.com, May 13, 2012
  3. ↑ Special Agent Oso. Disney Junior Canada. . URL:http://www.disneyjunior.ca/en/shows/special-agent-oso. Accessed: 2014-05-11. (Archived URL:https://web.archive.org/web/20130306121009/http://www.disneyjunior.ca/en/shows/special-agent-oso)
Preceded by
Imagination Movers		 Playhouse Disney Shows
2009		 Succeeded by
Jungle Junction
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