The Smoggies

The Smoggies is a 1988-1991 French-Canadian animated children's television show by Cinar, which reached the United States in 1991.[1]

For the north east England regional name, see Smoggie.

The Smoggies
Created by	Colin Thibert Gerald Potterton
Developed by	Cinar
Country of origin	Canada, France
No. of episodes	52
Production
Executive producer(s)	Christine Larocque Jean Cazes Lila Cazès Micheline Charest Ronald A. Weinberg
Running time	22 minutes
Release
Original network	Antenne 2 Radio-Canada
Original release	3 October 1988 – 21 April 1991

The show took place on or around the fictional Coral Island, and revolved around a group of island-dwelling people called Suntots and a trio of polluting treasure hunters called the Smoggies. The Suntots spent much of their time defending their island paradise from the Smoggies, who polluted everything around them and lived on a coal fired steam ship, the SS Stinky Poo, which polluted the water and air around the island. The Smoggies constantly tried to destroy the Suntots' home for their own benefits.[2]

Almost every episode had the environmentalist Suntots outsmarting the Smoggies latest scheme, after which the Smoggies invariably hatched another scheme. Thus, the show also explains the importance of protecting the environment.

A recurring theme was their attempt to steal the island's "magic coral" (which the Smoggies believed granted eternal youth), or find some alternative way to maintain youth. The show often implied that the magic coral did not actually exist, however, and were just manifestations of the Smoggies' (mainly Emma's) greed and vanity.

In 1994, the show was rerun on HBO in the United States under the name Stop the Smoggies.[3] and in France, as SOS Polluards.[4] In Quebec, it was aired under the name Touftoufs et Polluards. The show was broadcast in Ireland on RTÉ2 and in the United Kingdom on the BBC under its original Canadian title.

Casting

• Stephanie Morgenstern: Emma, Princess Lila
• Rick Jones: Captain Clarence (voice 1), Uncle Boom (voice 1), Sport (voice 1), Scaredy (voice 1), Sailor (voice 1), Choo-Choo (voice 1), Tricks (voice 1), Cool (voice 1)
• Walter Massey: Polluto
• Terrence Scammell: Speed (voice 1), Gardener (voice 1)
• Teddy Lee Dillon: Chip, Additional voices
• Joan Orenstein: Miss Doctor
• Karen Marginson: Cookie, Little, Choosy, Additional voices
• Pier Paquette: Speed (voice 2), Gardener (voice 2), Sport (voice 2), Cool (voice 2),
• Harvey Berger: Captain Clarence (voice 2), Uncle Boom (voice 2), Scaredy (voice 2), Sailor (voice 2), Choo-Choo (voice 2), Tricks (voice 2)

Main characters

The Suntots

• Princess Lila: Somewhat taller than other Suntots, her body has more human-like dimensions, as opposed to the pudginess of her subjects. Her hairstyle is also entirely different from the other Suntots and she is the only one with red hair. The rest of the Suntots regard her as a leader. Emma considers her a thorn in her side, but Princess Lila keeps trying to convince Emma that the magic coral doesn’t exist.
• Speed: Somewhat daring, outspoken and headstrong for a Suntot, his fast-swimming ability earned him his name. He is usually the one to think of a solution to the Suntots' problems. He has bright blue hair, and he and Princess Lila are often partners in their adventures of solving problems; they are the real heroes of the series.
• Chip: The brilliant orange-haired engineer for the Suntots. Chip invents and builds various things, using environmentally friendly methods. A bit quieter than Speed or Princess Lila, he often joins them on their adventures, but is more of a sidekick, as he rarely takes charge of a situation.
• Uncle Boom: The oldest Suntot and only one with white hair. He is the self-appointed mayor of Suntot Town. He makes speeches whenever he gets the chance, but is rather absent-minded and bungling.

The Smoggies

• Emma: The self-appointed leader of the Smoggies, she has a short temper and a fear of growing old, and is always trying to think of a scheme to get her way. She always bosses her two cohorts around, and is obsessed with finding the magic coral, thinking that that is what keeps the Suntots young. Polluto calls her "Miss Emma." She is very determined to acquire what she believes allows The Suntots to stay young, the Magic Coral of Youth, and outright refuses to believe that it simply isn't real. She is also a bully and has no qualms about lying or being deceitful in getting her own way.
• Clarence: Emma's husband and the captain of a polluting coal fired ship called the Stinky-Poo. He is also an inventor and scientist, but his inventions rarely work the right way. Most of the time, he is spineless towards Emma and rarely temperamental, but he can get frustrated himself if things don’t work out. Polluto calls him "the Captain" or "Captain Clarence."
• Polluto: Clarence's only crewmate. He is rather dimwitted, as Emma always points out, but he is the Smoggie with most of the practical skills. He runs the engine room (for some reason, he eats coal and oil), and acts as cook, pilot, mechanic and custodian. He is often shown to have a warm heart, so his polluting tendencies are more related to ignorance and a desire to do his job. Sometimes he is friends with the Suntots but can just as quickly turn against them when ordered to chase them by Emma.

Supporting characters

• Other Suntots: Other recurring Suntots, besides Princess Lila, Speed, Chip and Uncle Boom, are minor or supporting characters, but most were the focus of one or more episodes. Each is named after one overbearing character trait (often related their job).
  • Sport: A yellow-haired all-around talented athlete who wears a sweatband and a number 8 shirt. He is also a bit of a show-off and occasionally acts before thinking. One episode he befriends a bird and ended up being kidnapped by the Smoggies and the Smoggies tied up Sport in a burlap sack. Later, Suntots rescue the bird and him.
  • Little: The youngest Suntot, with bluish-green hair. He is childish, playful, curious and short (even for a Suntot) and has a bit of an inferiority complex.
  • Cool: A laid-back hipster and musician who prefers to work on his songs than do other work. He has light blue hair and sunglasses, and is usually concerned as to whether something is "cool".
  • Miss Doctor: The Suntots' doctor, veterinarian and animal life expert. She is calm, logical, motherly and reserved, and has pale green hair and spectacles.
  • Gardener: The Suntots' resident plant life and farming expert. He has dark green hair and spends most of his time growing fruits and vegetables in his greenhouse or on his farm.
  • Cookie: She has pink hair, and all Suntots love anything she cooks. Her focus on her cooking sometimes makes her forget about other things.
  • Sailor: The Suntot who can sail a boat better than anyone. He has navy blue hair, a moustache, and speaks with stereotypical sailor slang and a thick accent.
  • Scaredy: The very easily frightened orange-haired Suntot. Deep down, however, he has hidden courage. He and Sport are best friends.
  • Choo-Choo: The orange-haired, sentimental driver of the steam locomotive "No. 9".
  • Tricks: The practical joker with orange hair who occasionally likes frightening Scaredy.
  • Choosy: The yellow-haired Suntot who can never make up her mind about anything.
  • Lumber: The Suntots' pink-haired forestry and conservation expert who can identify any kind of tree by its wood.
  • Hobo: Purple-haired Suntot who hates having baths. Apart from Sailor and Uncle Boom, he is the only other Suntot with facial hair.
  • Town Crier: The purple-haired Suntot whose only role is to say "Big meeting in the town square!"
• Turtle Tom: A sea turtle and a friend of the Suntots. He does not speak, but the top of his shell opens like a hatch so that Suntots can ride him above or below the water. He sometimes comes ashore if the Suntots need his strength to help move something.
• Pelican Pete: A pelican and another Suntot animal friend who provides air transportation when needed.
• Arnold: A great white shark with a friendly disposition. He sometimes helps the Suntots with transport and any tasks that require brute strength deep under water. Despite his pleasant nature, Polluto is terrified of him.
• Winston: A white sperm whale who communicates with sonar. His archenemy is a giant squid called Old One-Eye.
• Ralph Robin: Polluto’s pet bird (who, in spite of his name is not a robin, but a yellow bird) who rides on Polluto’s head and only speaks in warbles and squawks that Polluto seems able to understand.

Episodes

The following dates represent the first US broadcasts.

Season 1, Episode 1 – Aired: 9/9/1991 Leader of The Pack The Smoggies turn a pack of whales against the Suntots. When the whales beach themselves, the Suntots come to the rescue.

Season 1, Episode 2 – Aired: 9/10/1991 Don't Bug The Bugs Emma's spraying of chemical pesticide backfires as the bugs grow to gigantic size.

Season 1, Episode 3 – Aired: 9/11/1991 Hair-Raising Tale Clarence empties a hair-remover into the Suntots water supply, causing all the Suntots to go bald.

Season 1, Episode 4 – Aired: 9/12/1991 Size Isn't Everything Clarence invents a growing potion to be used on Little, but Polluto uses it instead and turns into a giant.

Season 1, Episode 5 – Aired: 9/13/1991 Double Talk Another of Clarence's failed experiments results in Emma switching voices with whoever she hears.

Season 1, Episode 6 – Aired: 9/16/1991 Coral Cup The Smoggies enter the Coral Cup race, and attempt to sabotage the other boats so they can win.

Season 1, Episode 7 – Aired: 9/17/1991 A Smoggies' Birthday Clarence tries to harvest the fur from Cuddleups to make a fur coat for Emma.

Season 1, Episode 8 – Aired: 9/18/1991 A Long Way From Home The Suntots find a lost kiwi, and the Smoggies kidnap it and Sport because there's a map home in its backpack.

Season 1, Episode 9 – Aired: 9/19/1991 Goodbye Engine Number Nine President Boom decides to retire Engine No. 9 for the new Zoom Train, but it runs away out of control. The train tunnel caves in trapping the Smoggies alive.

Season 1, Episode 10 – Aired: 9/20/1991 The Big Heat Polluto turns up the Stinky Poo's boilers to maximum, causing the temperature on Coral Island to skyrocket.

Season 1, Episode 11 – Aired: 9/23/1991 Emma's Green Thumb Emma finds a rare flower that turns into a monster when planted in garbage.

Season 1, Episode 12 – Aired: 9/24/1991 Which Is Witch Emma pretends to be a witch and sends the Belching Fire Beast (Polluto in disguise) to set fire to the island.

Season 1, Episode 13 – Aired: 9/25/1991 You Are What You Eat Smoggies throw garbage into the sea, making Arnold the Shark sick and cranky.

Season 1, Episode 14 – Aired: 9/26/1991 No Small Problem Chemicals in the rain cause the Smoggies to shrink to tiny size.

Season 1, Episode 15 – Aired: 9/27/1991 The Not-So-Freshman Polluto tries going to the Suntots' Nature School, but misinterprets his assignments.

Season 1, Episode 16 – Aired: 9/30/1991 Dr. Jekyll and Mister Polluto (also known as Polluto the Suntot) Clarence creates a smart potion to be used on Polluto, but instead it inverts his personality and causes him to care about nature.

Season 1, Episode 17 – Aired: 10/1/1991 Snow Show The Smoggies find a baby dinosaur in the mountains, feed it a growing potion and make it rampage on Coral Island.

Season 1, Episode 18 – Aired: 10/2/1991 The Sounds of Music Cool makes a giant harp, but the vibrations from it cause damage. The Smoggies make an even bigger harp and threaten to destroy Suntot Town unless they get the Magic Coral.

Season 1, Episode 19 – Aired: 10/3/1991 The Purple Tide Clarence's shark repellent pollutes the ocean and causes everyone to sing and dance non-stop.

Season 1, Episode 20 – Aired: 10/4/1991 Dust To Dust The Smoggies harvest the clumpy grass on Coral Island to make a youth potion. But without the clumpy grass, the wind causes erosion.

Season 1, Episode 21 – Aired: 10/7/1991 Zombies of Coral Island Sweet Fruit Pies (made from contaminated fruit) cause the Suntots to turn into zombies and do whatever Emma says.

Season 1, Episode 22 – Aired: 10/8/1991 Ripe for the Picking Little gets sick, and the Suntots have to take some Sun Apples all the way around the island to ripen them so he can be cured.

Season 1, Episode 23 – Aired: 10/9/1991 Under The Rainbow The Suntots find a new kind of Rainbow Coral. Thinking it's the Magic Coral, Smoggies start harvesting it.

Season 1, Episode 24 – Aired: 10/10/1991 Turtle Trauma The turtles are due to lay their eggs on the Beach of the Whistling Sands. But Emma is feeling homesick, so Clarence builds her a replica city on the beach.

Season 1, Episode 25 – Aired: 10/11/1991 Never Cry Wolf Smoggies trick the Suntots into thinking Mt. Coral is about to erupt, hoping Princess Leela will take the Magic Coral with her when evacuating the town.

Season 1, Episode 26 – Aired: 10/14/1991 Bubble Mania Polluto likes blowing bubbles, so Clarence makes him a giant bubble machine. But these bubbles never pop, and endanger life on Coral Island...

Season 1, Episode 27 – Aired: 10/15/1991 President Boom The Suntots have an election for President of Coral Island. Emma also gets in the running.

Season 1, Episode 28 – Aired: 10/16/1991 Salt Story Clarence invents a machine to remove salt from sea water. But as the excess salt is dumped in Shark Bay, it endangers the wildlife.

Season 1, Episode 29 – Aired: 10/17/1991 Bee's Business Smoggies try to kidnap the bees on Coral Island so Emma can get the queen bee jelly.

Season 1, Episode 30 – Aired: 10/18/1991 Tot Trap The Smoggies trap all the Suntots at the beach, so they can look through Suntot Town for Magic Coral.

Season 1, Episode 31 – Aired: 10/21/1991 Wild Blue Yonder The Smoggies' refrigerator explodes making a hole in the Big Ozo. Aircraft get caught in an updraft and dangerous rays come through the hole from space.

Season 1, Episode 32 – Aired: 10/22/1991 Off To the Races Smoggies build a boat to enter the Suntot boat race. But the fumes from the boat poison the Suntots' fruit and Leela gets sick.

Season 1, Episode 33 – Aired: 10/23/1991 Magic Muddle Suntots have magic seeds that instantly grow trees. Meanwhile, Smoggies dam up the river to try to get the mud at the bottom.

Season 1, Episode 34 – Aired: 10/24/1991 A Trip To The Rain Forest The Smoggies cut down trees to make matchsticks, and inadvertently cause a forest fire.

Season 1, Episode 35 – Aired: 10/25/1991 Cool It The Smoggies dig up Star Sparkles, but in doing so also destroy the Cuddleups' home. They bribe Cool not to tell anyone by giving him a Star Sparkle.

Season 1, Episode 36 – Aired: 10/28/1991 A Feather In Her Cap Emma captures the plume birds to use their tail feathers for making hats.

Season 1, Episode 37 – Aired: 10/29/1991 Black Day In Suntot Town Clarence creates acid rain so he can sell umbrellas to the Suntots.

Season 1, Episode 38 – Aired: 10/30/1991 Seaweed Frenzy The Smoggies create belts out of the scales from radiant rainbow fish, and sell them to the Suntots. But without the fish to eat it, the seaweed starts growing out of control.

Season 1, Episode 39 – Aired: 10/31/1991 Anniversary Schmaltz Clarence harvests pearl oysters to make a necklace for Emma's anniversary.

Season 1, Episode 40 – Aired: 11/1/1991 Mushroom Menace The Smoggies accidentally release a cloud of fungal spores from an iceberg, causing an infestation of mushrooms on Coral Island.

Season 1, Episode 41 – Aired: 11/4/1991 Heat Wave Smoggies trick the Suntots into running on a treadmill to power an ice-making machine. Meanwhile, Emma hypnotizes Speed to try to get the Magic Coral.

Season 1, Episode 42 – Aired: 11/5/1991 Air Scare Smoggies try to create fuel oil from the rocks on Coral Island, but in doing so pollute the air. Anything exposed to the pollution becomes aggressive.

Season 1, Episode 43 – Aired: 11/6/1991 Dirty Soap The Smoggies fill the sea with soap causing the water to fog up and the underwater plants to overgrow so they can get the treasure Suntots were hunting. Meanwhile, Cookie tries to give Hobo a bath.

Season 1, Episode 44 – Aired: 11/7/1991 Polluto's Nightmare Speed and Leela sneak on board the Stinky Poo but are captured by Polluto. That evening, Polluto has nightmares about his past misdeeds...

Season 1, Episode 45 – Aired: 11/8/1991 Buried But Not Gone Polluto buries the waste fuel from Clarence's new machine on Coral Island. But the fuel emits rays that cause reversal sickness.

Season 1, Episode 46 – Aired: 11/11/1991 Target Practice Polluto discovers some old waste chemicals turn things to stone. He shoots animals with a water pistol to turn them into statues.

Season 1, Episode 47 – Aired: 11/12/1991 Cycles The Smoggies plant an orchard of cocoa trees using a super fertiliser. But the fertiliser causes the algae in the water to grow out of control.

Season 1, Episode 48 – Aired: 11/13/1991 Bouncy Briny Another of Clarence's failed youth potions causes the sea to turn to rubber. Suntots must save the stranded animals before they dry out.

Season 1, Episode 49 – Aired: 11/14/1991 Wave Goodbye The Smoggies' blasting for gold triggers a tidal wave that threatens to destroy Suntot Town.

Season 1, Episode 50 – Aired: 11/15/1991 Timber The Smoggies cut down an entire forest of trees to build Emma a house. But without the trees, rain washes mud into the water causing a flood.

Season 1, Episode 51 – Aired: 11/18/1991 Oil or Nothing Smoggies drill for oil on Coral Island, causing a huge oil slick and putting nature out of balance.

Season 1, Episode 52 – Aired: 11/19/1991 Deep Sleep The fumes from Clarence's new vehicle put Suntots and animals to sleep.

DVD release

On 26 September 2006, a DVD entitled Stop The Smoggies - Anti-Pollution Revolution DVD was released in Region 1. It contains the first four episodes of the series.

Opening credits

The main title theme in the English version was written by Joe Raposo, who also wrote themes for Sesame Street, Shining Time Station, Three's Company, and The Electric Company. This song was also composed by Judy Henderson, who also wrote themes for Arthur, Mona the Vampire, and Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat.

Notes

1. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 795. ISBN 978-1476665993.
2. "Smoggies!". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
3. "Kids Shows that Aim to Raise Awareness as Well as Entertain". LA Times. 1995-04-09. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
4. "The Smoggies". Retrieved 2009-06-28.

External links

• Retro Junk
• The Smoggies on IMDb
• TV.com episode guide