Bubble Guppies

Bubble Guppies is a Canadian-American children's television series produced for Nickelodeon and created by Jonny Belt and Robert Scull.[2] The series is a combination of the sketch comedy, edutainment and musical genres, and revolves around the underwater adventures of a group of merperson preschoolers named Molly, Gil, Goby, Deema, Oona, Nonny, and Zooli.[3] The program premiered on Nickelodeon on January 24, 2011 and originally concluded on October 21, 2016. The series is produced using Autodesk Maya 3D software.

Bubble Guppies
Genre	Educational Musical Sketch comedy (Seasons 1-4) Fantasy (Season 5-present)
Created by	Jonny Belt Robert Scull
Presented by	Zachary Gordon (2011) Jacob Bertrand (2011-2013) Taylor Kaplan (2019-present) Quinn Breslin (2019-present) Frank Welker Tino Insana (2011-2016) Fred Tatasciore (2012-present)
Voices of	Brianna Gentilella Taylor Kaplan Zachary Gordon Jacob Bertrand Quinn Breslin Jelani Imani Caleb Clarke Angelina Wahler Selena Ann Gonzalez Grace Kaufman Reyna Shaskan Eamon Pirruccello Jet Jurgensmyer AJ Kane Hayden Hunter Abriella Bierer Lauren Reichwald Lewis Dillon Harriet Perring Will Matthews Andy Turvey Emma Tate John Campbell Amba Bierer Edward Cross Megan North Sam Brown Frank Welker Tino Insana Fred Tatasciore Chris Phillips Ozzy Osbourne
Narrated by	Chris Phillips
Theme music composer	Terry Fryer
Opening theme	"Bubble Guppies Theme Song"
Ending theme	various ending themes
Composer(s)	Nick Balaban Michael Rubin John Angier
Country of origin	Canada United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	89 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Jonny Belt Robert Scull
Running time	22–23 minutes
Production company(s)	WildBrain Entertainment (Season 1) Nelvana (Seasons 2–4) Jam Filled Toronto (Season 5–present) Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Distributor	ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks
Release
Original network	Nickelodeon Nick Jr.
Picture format	SDTV (season 1) HDTV (1080i) (season 2–present)
Audio format	Dolby Digital 5.1 (NTSC)
Original release	January 24, 2011 (2011-01-24) – October 21, 2016 (2016-10-21) (original run) September 27, 2019 (2019-09-27) – present (revived run)[1]
External links
Website

The series was revived for a fifth season on June 4, 2019, almost three years after the last episode of the fourth season had aired. The fifth season debuted on September 27, 2019.[4][5] On February 19, 2020, the show was renewed for a sixth season.[6]

Format

All episodes follow a similar format. The episode starts with the show logo in a room and it is filling with water. Then the Little Fish break the fourth wall by saying the title of the show to the audience. Then it's starts with an introduction by Molly, saying 'Hi, it's me, Molly, and it's time for—' only to be stopped by Gil performing an act related to the episode's subject. One or both of the two then state 'It's time for Bubble Guppies!', and the theme song plays. After the theme song, the Little Fish say the episode's name.

An event may occur when one or more characters is on the way to school. For example, Avi breaks his tail in "Call a Clambulance!" when Oona is on the way to school. A guppy tells Mr. Grouper about the earlier experience. He suggests, "Let's think about it," and the characters discuss the theme. A song follows, focusing on the episode's main theme. Usually, Molly or Gil sing this song, but there are episodes where Deema or Mr. Grouper sing it instead.

One of the guppies may go to a shop that mostly focuses on the theme (example: a doctor's office in "Call a Clambulance!"). The owner of the shop (usually played by Deema) will ask questions about what he or she needs. Jokes and silly responses will eventually lead to the correct necessity. Mr. Grouper often ends this segment by asking, "Excuse me, what time is it?" in a call-and-response pattern, with the guppies responding, "It's time for lunch!" three times.

At lunch, three of the characters make a food pun about the subject of the episode; usually done by Nonny. After lunch, another Gil and Molly sketch is shown.

After the sketch, some classroom activity is shown further reinforcing that episode's topic, or Mr. Grouper talks more about the theme. This is usually ended when Mr. Grouper says, "Line up everybody, it's time to go outside!" followed by the "outside song". Outside the classroom, the guppies act out a story about the theme, interfused with Adobe Flash-animated graphics. Once back inside, a second song is typically performed. Afterward, Gil and Molly do another sketch.

The guppies may then go on a field trip that focuses on the theme. They yell out, "FIELD TRIP!" This may focus on a problem shown earlier and involves the key characters. The episode concludes with a final sketch by Gil and Molly, followed by a shorter version of the theme song. The credits then roll which include a song played earlier in that episode.

Season 5 introduced a new series format which has the story segment take up the majority of the episode, and incorporates the shop and lunch segments into the narrative. Gil and Molly simply introduce themselves before the theme song with no opening gag, the show cuts right to school after the theme, and the dance songs and field trips were removed. Gil and Molly's sketches were removed as well, instead having Mr. Grouper wave goodbye to the viewer as the guppies go back inside.

A significant contribution to the show's popularity is its two-level humor track. Minor characters include a police officer named Miranda and a winged serpent named Pretzel-coatl. Heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne guest starred as Sid Fishy in the 2015 episode Super Guppies,[7] while actor George Takei guest starred in a tour de force sci-fi mashup which pitted him as a Darth Vader-like armored villain against starship captain Gil and his first officer, Mr. Smart (Nonny). Any grownup who has ever seen Monty Python's Meaning of Life will instantly recognize recurring character Mr. Grumpfish, while the episode The Puppy & The Ring makes in-jokes ranging from JRR Tolkien to L Frank Baum.

Main characters

• Gil (voiced by Zachary Gordon (Seasons 1), Jacob Bertrand (Season 2), Jay Gragnani (Season 3-4) and Quinn Breslin (Season 5) (speaking voice), Teddy Walsh (singing voice) (Seasons 1-4) in US, Hayden Hunter in series 1–3, John Campbell in series 3, and Sam Brown in series 3-4 in UK) is a human guppy boy with a silly personality. He is the co-host of the show with Molly.[8] Gil gets scared easily, and appears alongside Molly in the transitional segments. In those segments, he often attempts to do something but with unexpected results.
• Molly (voiced by Brianna Gentilella (Seasons 1-2) (singing voice) (Seasons 1-5), Bailey Gambertoglio (Seasons 3-4), and Taylor Kaplan (Season 5) (speaking voice) in US, and Abriella Bierer in series 1-5, in UK) is the co-host of the show with Gil.[8][9] Molly appears alongside Gil in the transitional segments, where she aids Gil in hopes that problems won't arise.
• Bubble Puppy (voiced by Frank Welker) is Gil's pet puppy and best friend.[8] He has orange and white fur and a green collar with a yellow fish license.
• Goby (voiced by Jelani Imani (Seasons 1), Christopher Borger (singing for Season 1-2), Marleik "Mar Mar" Walker (Season 2), Johntae Limpscomb (singing for Season 3-4), Issac Ryan Brown (Season 3-4) and Caleb Clark (Season 5) in US, and Lewis Dillon series 1-3, and Edward Cross in series 3-4, in UK) is a human guppy boy with an imaginative personality.[8]
• Deema (voiced by Angelina Wahler (Seasons 1-2), Selena Gonzalez (singing for Season 1-2), Grace Kaufman (Seasons 3-4) and Catherine Bradley (Season 5) in US, and Lauren Reichwald in series 1–3 and Megan North in series 4, in UK) has a wild imagination and often plays the role of shopkeeper in the "store" segments.
• Oona (voiced by Reyna Shaskan (Seasons 1-2) and Tori Feinstein (Seasons 3-4) and Colby Kipnes (Season 5) in US, Harriet Perring in series 1-2 and Amba Bierer in series 3-5, in UK) is a human guppy girl with a sweet personality.[8]
• Nonny (voiced by Eamon Pirruccello (Seasons 1-2), and Jet Jurgensmeyer (Season 3-4) and AJ Kane (Season 5) and Eason Rytter (singing for Season 3-4 in US, Will Matthews, in series 1-4, in UK) is an intelligent human guppy boy.[8] Despite not smiling a lot, he is the most polite and mature member of the group. He is smart and helps Deema pronounce words and helps his friends answer their questions.
• Zooli (voiced by Leah Janvier in US, and unknown in UK) is a human guppy girl introduced in Season 5. She is an animal expert.[10]
• Mr. Grouper (voiced by Tino Insana in 2011-2020, Fred Tatasciore in 2012-2015 present (speaking voice), and Chris Phillips (singing voice) in US, and Andy Turvey in the UK) is the guppies' teacher. Mr. Grouper respects the kids' imaginations, ideas, and suggestions. He can also change his skin into different colors.
• Little Fish (voiced by Skai Jackson (seasons 1-2), Mia Vavasseur (seasons 3), Kayla Erickson (seasons 4), and Jordan Friedman (season 5) in US, Harriet Perring in series 1–2 and Amba Bierer in series 3-present) in UK) are a group of small goldfish who appear throughout each episode as guides for the viewers. They announce the episode's name and shout out the answers to viewer-response questions, as well as provide commentary in some scenes.

Production

Although it began in 2011, the show started production in 2009.

The voice cast is based in New York and California and the dialogue is recorded at New York-based Dubway Studios and Rhumba Recorders and Burbank-based Nickelodeon Animation Studio.

Broadcast

The series first premiered on January 24, 2011, the second season then premiering on November 4 of the same year. Season 3 premiered on August 12, 2013, with an episode entitled, Bubble Guppies: Get Ready for School.[11][12] Season 4 premiered on May 21, 2015. The series was then canceled on October 21, 2016,[13] but was then revived for a fifth season on June 4, 2019,[14] which premiered on September 27, 2019.[1]

Episodes

Main article: List of Bubble Guppies episodes

Season		Episodes		Originally aired
				First aired	Last aired
	1	20		January 24, 2011 (2011-01-24)	October 21, 2011 (2011-10-21)
	2	20		November 7, 2011 (2011-11-07)	May 1, 2013 (2013-05-01)
	3	26		August 12, 2013 (2013-08-12)	June 15, 2015 (2015-06-15)
	4	14[15]		May 21, 2015 (2015-05-21)	October 21, 2016 (2016-10-21)[16]
	5	TBA		September 27, 2019 (2019-09-27)	TBA

Home releases

DVD title		Season(s)	Episode count	Release date	Episodes
	Bubble Guppies	1–2	4	May 1, 2012	108 ("Bubble Puppy!"), 114 ("Bubble Bites!") & 204/205 ("Bubble Puppy Fintastic Fairytale")
	On the Job		6	February 5, 2013	106 ("Call a Clambulance!"), 103 ("Build Me a Building!"), 104 ("The Grumpfish Special!"), 102 ("Fishketball!"), 206 ("Firefighter Gil to the Rescue!") & 209 ("A Tooth on the Looth!")
	Sunny Day			May 28, 2013	107 ("The Legend of Pinkfoot!"), 119 ("Gup, Gup and Away!"), 210 ("The Beach Ball!"), 211 ("The Sizzling Scampinis!"), 217 ("Bubble Duckies!") & 216 ("Bring on the Bugs!")
	Animals Everywhere	1–3		March 11, 2014 [17]	117 ("Ducks in a Row!"), 120 ("Boy Meets Squirrel!"), 203 ("The Lonely Rhino"), 306 ("The Elephant Trunk-a-Dunk!"), 309 ("The Arctic Life!") & 310 ("Puppy Love!")
	Get Ready For School!			July 29, 2014	118 ("The Moon Rocks!"), 219 ("Check It Out!"), 212 ("Construction Psyched!"), 220 ("Good Hair Day!"), 304 ("Get Ready for School!") & 303 ("Good Morning, Mr. Grumpfish!")
	The Puppy & The Ring	2–3	5	June 2, 2015	214 ("Bubble Cadabra!"), 213 ("Sir Nonny the Nice!"), 308 ("The Wizard of Oz-tralia!") & 301/302 ("The Puppy & the Ring")
	Fun on the Farm	1–3		May 10, 2016	113 ("The Spring Chicken is Coming!"), 111 ("Have a Cow!"), 207 ("The Cowgirl Parade!"), 317 ("The Bubble Bee-athalon!") & 322 ("Bubble Kitty!")
	Super Guppies			May 16, 2017	115 ("Haunted House Party!"), 201 ("X Marks the Spot!"), 305 ("The Police Cop Etition!"), 314 ("The Unidentified Flying Orchestra!") & 326 ("Super Guppies!")
	Bubble Puppy Awesome Adventures	3–4		May 8, 2018	308 ("The Wizard of Oz-tralia!"), 322 ("Bubble Kitty!"), 401 ("The New Doghouse!"), 407 ("The Temple of the Lost Puppy!") & 411 ("Sheep Doggy!")
	We Totally Rock!	1, 3–4	4	May 14, 2019	105 (“We Totally Rock!”), 110 (“Super Shrimptennial Celebration!”), 313 (“Party at Sea!”), & 404/405 (“Guppy Style!)

References

1. "Shows A-Z - bubble guppies on nickelodeon | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com.
2. Genzlinger, Neil (January 23, 2011). "Splish Splash: Fantastical Fish Tales". The New York Times.
3. Bryson, Carey. "Bubble Guppies – TV Show Review for Parents". About.com:Kids, Movies & TV. About.com. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
4. "Nickelodeon Renews Four Hit Series from Its Powerhouse Preschool Portfolio". The Futon Critic. June 4, 2019.
5. "Nickelodeon's Hit Preschool Series "Bubble Guppies" Makes a Splash with Season Premiere's Brand-New Guppy, Friday, Sept. 27, at 12 P.M. (ET/PT)" (Press release). New York, NY: Viacom International Inc. September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019 – via The Futon Critic.
6. Patrick Hipes (February 19, 2020). "'Are You Afraid Of The Dark?', 'All That', 'Top Elf,' 'Blue's Clues', The Casagrandes' & 'PAW Patrol' Among Slew Of Nickelodeon Renewals". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
7. "Ozzy Osbourne Will Play 'Sid Fishy' in New Show 'Bubble Guppies' – Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
8. "About the Cast". Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
9. "Character Descriptions". Bubble Guppies Press Site. Viacom International, Inc. Archived from the original on November 30, 2014.
10. Bubble Guppies Season 5 Episode 1 "The New Guppy!"
11. "Bubble Guppies – Bubble Guppies Printables, Crafts, Recipes, & Games – Nick Jr". nickjr.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
12. "Bubble Guppies - Show page - TV Listing - Zap2it.com". Zap2it. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
13. "Shows A-Z - bubble guppies on nickelodeon.com". thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
14. "Nickelodeon Renews Four Hit Series from Its Powerhouse Preschool Portfolio" (Press release). New York, NY: Viacom International Inc. June 4, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019 – via The Futon Critic.
15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 28, 2015. Retrieved 2016-12-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
16. "Shows A-Z – bubble guppies on nickelodeon". thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
17. https://www.amazon.com/Bubble-Guppies-Animals-Everywhere/dp/B00H7BJ1B4/ref=sr_1_11?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1541731483&sr=1-11&keywords=bubble+guppies+dvd

External links

• Official Website
• Bubble Guppies on IMDb