Super Why!
| Super Why! | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Preschool Superhero Educational |
| Created by | Angela C. Santomero |
| Voices of |
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| Theme music composer | Steve D'Angelo Terry Tompkins |
| Opening theme | "Who's Got the Power?" |
| Ending theme | "Hip Hip Hooray" (Instrumental, S1-2) "Super Readers to the Rescue" (Instrumental, S3) |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United States Canada |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 103 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Running time | 26 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | September 3, 2007 – May 12, 2016 |
Super Why! is an animated superhero preschool educational television series created by Angela C. Santomero and developed by Santomero and Samantha Freeman Alpert for PBS Kids. Santomero and Alpert additionally serve as executive producers alongside Steven DeNure and Anne Loi. The series was produced by Santomero and Alpert's New York City-based production company Out of the Blue Enterprises in co-production with Decode Entertainment for the first season and DHX Studios Halifax for the second and third seasons. Animation was by Toronto-based C.O.R.E. Toons (season 1), Gallus Entertainment (season 2) and DHX Media (originally through its Decode Entertainment division). The opening and closing theme songs were written by composers and lyricists Steve D'Angelo and Terry Tompkins, with D'Angelo also providing lead vocals for both. The background score for seasons 2 and 3 was composed by Lorenzo Castelli and Jeff Morrow.
The show was originally created as a stop motion pilot episode in 1999 by Cuppa Coffee Animation that was pitched to Nickelodeon/Nick Jr.[1] It was later featured at the 2000 Annecy Film Festival.[2] Nickelodeon ultimately opted not to pick up the show. Instead, Curious Pictures pitched another pilot to PBS Kids sometime in 2006, and PBS Kids further developed the series with funds from the United States Department of Education's Ready to Learn grant[3][4] and aired the premiere episode on September 3, 2007.[5] The original run ended on May 12, 2016 with a total of 103 episodes across three seasons.[6]
Characters
[change | change source]- Whyatt Beanstalk becomes Super Why
- Littlest Pig becomes Alpha Pig
- Little Red Riding Hood becomes Wonder Red
- Princess Pea becomes Princess Presto
- Puppy becomes Woofster
Episodes list
[change | change source]Season 1 (2007–10)
[change | change source]| Episode number | Title | Director | Writer | Storyboard | Super Story Answer | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Three Little Pigs" | Angela C. Santomero | Angela C. Santomero | Ruth Ramirez | Friend | September 3, 2007 |
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Pig is mad at Jill for knocking down his buildings. The Super Readers then jump into the Three Little Pigs book, where they meet the Big Bad Wolf, who is blowing down the pigs' houses. Alphabet Power: Wolf Word Power: Wall/Ball Spelling Power: Big | ||||||
| 2 | "Hansel and Gretel" | Samantha Freeman Alpert | Angela C. Santomero and Jennifer Hamburg | Wayne Lee Pack | Ask First | September 4, 2007 |
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Peter Piper is upset at Red for eating one of his pickled peppers without asking first. The Super Readers then jump into the Hansel and Gretel book, where a witch gets mad at Hansel and Gretel for eating cookies from her gingerbread cookie house. Alphabet Power: Track the Trails A-Z Word Power: N/A Spelling Power: Raft, Fix | ||||||
| 3 | "Humpty Dumpty" | Steven DeNure | Angela C. Santomero and Alex Breen | Ruth Martinez | Cheer | September 5, 2007 |
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Pig has to the slide in his backyard, but, he's to afraid to come down. The Super Readers then jump into the Humpty Dumpty book, where an egg does not wait to fall. Alphabet Power: Apple, Lettuce, Radish Word Power: N/A Spelling Power: Ladder | ||||||
| 4 | "Jack and the Beanstalk" | Samantha Freeman Alpert | Angela C. Santomero and Jennifer Hamburg | Wayne Lee Pack | Music | September 6, 2007 |
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Whyatt's baby sister, Joy, is crying and won't stop having a tantrum. The Super Readers then jump into the Jack and the Beanstalk book, where a giant also won't stop having a tantrum. Alphabet Power: Climb up the Beanstalk Word Power: N/A Spelling Power: Open | ||||||
| 5 | "The Tortoise and the Hare" | Jennifer Hamburg | Troy Sullivan | Enjoy the Game | September 7, 2007 | |
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Red and Princess Pea team up in a potato sack race, but can't agree on how they should win. The Super Readers then jump into the Tortoise and the Hare book, where both Tortoise and the Hare want to win a race in different ways. Alphabet Power: Go Word Power: N/A Spelling Power: Bell | ||||||
| 6 | "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" | Angela C. Santomero | Wayne Lee Pack | Clean Up | September 14, 2007 | |
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When Whyatt entered his older brother Jack's room he messed it up. The Super Readers then jump into the Goldilocks and the Three Bears book, where a girl made a mess. Alphabet Power: Chair Word Power: Stair Spelling Power: N/A | ||||||
| 7 | "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" | Ratha McCann | Wayne Lee Pack | Trust | September 17, 2007 | |
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Whyatt hears Baby Joy say her first word, but nobody believes him. The Super Readers then jump into the Boy Who Cried Wolf book, where a boy sees a wolf, but nobody believes him. Alphabet Power: Bridge Word Power: N/A Spelling Power: Party | ||||||
| 8 | "Rapunzel" | Angela C. Santomero and Eva Steele-Saccio | Troy Sullivan | Teamwork | September 18, 2007 | |
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Princess Pea's kitten gets stuck in a tree. The Super Readers then jump into the Rapunzel book, where Rapunzel is stuck in the tower. Alphabet Power: Castle Word Power: N/A Spelling Power: Grow | ||||||
| 9 | "The Ugly Duckling" | Angela C. Santomero, Jennifer Hamburg and Pammy Salmon | Frank Ramirez | Keep Trying | September 25, 2007 | |
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Princess Pea is having trouble dancing in ballet. The Super readers then jump into the Ugly Duckling book where a duckling is having trouble with learning how to swim. Alphabet Power: Duck Word Power: N/A Spelling Power: Kick | ||||||
| 10 | "The Elves and the Shoemaker" | Angela C. Santomero and Michael Smith | Wayne Lee Pack | Playdate | September 26, 2007 | |
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Whyatt receives a letter from a secret friend. The Super Readers then jump into the Elves and the Shoemaker book, where a shoemaker doesn't know anything about his secret elf friends. Alphabet Power: Moon Word Power: Sun Spelling Power: N/A | ||||||
| 11 | "Little Miss Muffet" | Angela C. Santomero, Jennifer Hamburg and Sandy Damashek | Ruth Martinez | Nice | September 27, 2007 | |
| Red wants to play with Little Boy Blue, but he keeps running away because he is scared. The Super Readers then jump into the Little Miss Muffet book, where a spider wants to play with a girl. | ||||||
| 12 | "Cinderella" | Brian Perkins and Angela C. Santomero | Troy Sullivan | Be Yourself | September 28, 2007 | |
| Red is worried about fitting in at Sleeping Beauty's princess party. The Super Readers then jump into the Cinderella book, where they meet Cinderella, who is also worried about fitting in at the party in the prince's castle. | ||||||
| 13 | "The Ant and the Grasshopper" | Ratha McCann | Frank Ramirez | Get Ready | October 17, 2007 | |
| Because Pig goofed off instead of preparing for a picnic, he forgot his lunch at home. The Super Readers then jump into the Ant and the Grasshopper book, where they help Grasshopper in getting ready for winter. | ||||||
| 14 | "The Little Red Hen" | Sandy Damashek | Ruth Ramirez | Tell Why | October 18, 2007 | |
| Red needs help by making applesauce cookies, but all her friends are too busy. The Super readers then jump into the Little Red Hen book, where a little hen wants to bake cornbread for her baby chicks, but none of her friends want to help her. | ||||||
| 15 | "The Frog Prince" | Alana Sanko, Angela C. Santomero and Jennifer Hamburg | Wayne Lee Pack | Take Turns | October 19, 2007 | |
| Princess Pea and Spider want to do different things: Princess Pea wants to do ballet, while Spider wants to spin webs. The Super Readers then jump into the Frog Prince book, where they meet a frog who wants to jump, and a princess who wants to play with her wands. | ||||||
| 16 | "The Princess and the Pea" | Jennifer Hamburg | Troy Sullivan | Smart | November 20, 2007 | |
| Princess Pea is worried that she won't pass her puzzle test. The Super Readers then jump into the Princess and the Pea book. | ||||||
| 17 | "Little Red Riding Hood" | Angela C. Santomero | Ralphwood Lighthill | Stop | November 21, 2007 | |
| Wolfy keeps tricking and scaring Pig. The Super Readers then jump into the Little Red Riding Hood book, and meet a wolf tricking them. | ||||||
| 18 | "Tom Thumb" | Pammy Salmon | Ruth Ramirez | Family | November 22, 2007 | |
| Pig wants to go on an adventure himself, but he's too young to go alone. The Super Readers then jump into the Tom Thumb book. | ||||||
| 19 | "Little Bo Peep" | Ratha McCann | Wayne Lee Pack | Clues | January 21, 2008 | |
| Whyatt's pet lizard sneaks away. The Super Readers then jump into the Little Bo Peep book, where a little girl named Bo Peep has lost her sheep. | ||||||
| 20 | "The Emperor's New Clothes" | Sheila Dinsmore | Troy Sullivan | Speak Up | January 22, 2008 | |
| Pig feels embarrassed when Jill makes him wear a pail on his head. The Super Readers then jump into the Emperor's New Clothes book, where an Emperor was given invisible clothes and did not want to march a parade in his invisible clothes. | ||||||
| 21 | "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" | Jennifer Hamburg | Troy Sullivan | Surprise | April 7, 2008 | |
| It's the day before Whyatt's birthday and he's wondering why his family is being strangely sneaky. The Super Readers then jump to the "Twelve Dancing Princesses" book. | ||||||
| 22 | "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" | Brian Perkins | Ruth Ramirez | Manners | April 8, 2008 | |
| Red's grandmother won't let her cross the kitchen floor to have a piece of red velvet cake. The Super Readers then jump into the Three Billy Goats Gruff book, where three goats had to cross a bridge to get home. | ||||||
| 23 | "Thumbelina" | Jennifer Hamburg and Eva Stelle-Saccio | Wayne Lee Pack | Ask for Help | April 9, 2008 | |
| Pig can't find his stuffed animal Henry hippo. The Super Readers then jump into the Thumbelina book, where Thumbelina can't find her friend Thimble. | ||||||
| 24 | "Goldilocks and the Three Bears: The Mystery" | Betty Quan | Troy Sullivan | Prove It | April 10, 2008 | |
| Whyatt's brother, Jack, is frustrated because one of the strings on his guitar broke and he thinks that Wyatt is to blame, but he didn't do it. The Super Readers then jump into the Goldilocks and the Three Bears: The Mystery book, where the three bears thought that Goldilocks made the mess in their house, but she didn't do it. | ||||||
| 25 | "Tiddalick the Frog" | Sheila Dinsmore | John Flagg | Save Water | April 22, 2008 | |
| Whyatt's mom gets very upset with him for leaving the water on for too long. The Super Readers then jump into the Tiddalick the Frog book, where a frog named Tiddalick is wasting water. | ||||||
| 26 | "Beauty and the Beast" | Andrea Maywhort, Eric Saiet and Jennifer Hamburg | Frank Ramirez | Use your Words | May 19, 2008 | |
| During their playdate, Wolfy was so upset after his kite got stuck on a tree and Princess Pea doesn't understand why Wolfy is so upset. The Super Readers then jump into the Beauty and the Beast book, where Beast keeps roaring at the Beauty and she can't understand why he is mad. | ||||||
| 27 | "Rumpelstiltskin" | Brian Perkins | Frank Ramirez | Learn | May 20, 2008 | |
| Princess Pea needs help tying the laces on her roller skates. The Super Readers then jump into the Rumpelstiltskin book, where they meet a princess at a spinning wheel. | ||||||
| 28 | "Sleeping Beauty" | Claudia Silver | John Flagg | Try New Things | May 21, 2008 | |
| Princess Pea wants to have a tea party rather than play pirates with the three pigs. The Super Readers then jump into the Sleeping Beauty book. | ||||||
| 29 | "The Foolish Wishes" | Ratha McCann | Frank Ramirez | Choose Carefully | May 22, 2008 | |
| Whyatt can't decide between getting a racecar, bubble blower, or comic book at the gift shop. The Super Readers then jump into the Foolish Wishes book, where a farmer is making foolish wishes. | ||||||
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Portfolio". www.cuppacoffee.com:80. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ↑ "Film Index". www.annecy.org. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
- ↑ "Illustration, Concept Design, Visual [[:Template:As written]] Curious Pictures LLC - Current client since 01/2002". EEW Books. Archived from the original on March 24, 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ↑ "Research Proves Super Why! Helps Children Learn to Read". About PBS - Main. 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ "Literacy Takes the Lead on PBS Kids and PBS Kids Go!". About PBS - Main. 14 November 2007. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ "Will Super Why! Return For a Season 4 on PBS // Renewed or Canceled?". tvnextseason.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-22.