Where's Waldo? (2019 TV series)
Where's Waldo? (known outside North America as Where's Wally?) is an American animated children's television series with educational elements based on the North American variation of the Where's Wally? books by Martin Handford.[1] The series is produced by DreamWorks Animation Television and debuted on Universal Kids on July 20, 2019.[2] It moved to the streaming service Peacock for its second season on July 15, 2020.[3][4]
| Where's Waldo? | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Children's adventure Educational Mystery |
| Based on | Original characters created by Martin Handford |
| Developed by | Koyalee Chanda Lucas Mills |
| Voices of | Joshua Rush Haley Tju Eva Carlton Thomas Lennon Piotr Michael |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | F.M. De Marco John Tellegen |
| Production company(s) | DreamWorks Animation Television |
| Distributor | NBCUniversal Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | Universal Kids (season 1) Peacock (season 2–present) |
| First shown in | July 6, 2019 |
| Original release | July 20, 2019 – present |
Other media featuring the titular character include the 1991 animated television series and the series of books.
Premise
The series follows young members of the WorldWide Wanderer Society, Waldo and Wenda, who are sent on travel missions by their mentor, Wizard Whitebeard. Their rival, Odlulu, causes them trouble in their attempts to earn stripes and become wizard-level wanderers.[5]
Cast and characters
Main
- Joshua Rush as Waldo,[6] a 12-year-old Wanderer in-training.[7]
- Haley Tju as Wenda,[6] a junior-level Wanderer and Waldo's best friend.[7]
- Eva Carlton as Odlulu/Yllulu,[6] an Anti-Wanderer and the main villain who used to be in the WorldWide Wanderer Society.[7]
- Thomas Lennon as Wizard Whitebeard,[6] a wizard-level Wanderer and a mentor to Waldo and Wenda.[7]
- Piotr Michael as Fritz, Odlulu/Yllulu's ferret sidekick[7] / Arfolomew / Additional Voices
Recurring and guest
Confirmed guest actors for the series include Bobby Moynihan, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Retta, Carlos Alazraqui, Rachel Dratch, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Tom Kenny, Candi Milo, Oscar Nunez, Jerry O’Connell, and Hannah Simone.[6]
Episodes
Season 1 (2019)
| No. | Title | Location | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Little Trouble in Big China" | Beijing, China | Christo Stamboliev | F.M. De Marco | July 20, 2019 | |
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When Odlulu accidentally animates a stone dragon at Beijing's Lunar New Year, Waldo and Wenda team up with young Drummers Li and Liu to tame the dragon and save the celebration. Guest stars: Ian Inigo as Boy, Kristen Li as Li, Yuri Lowenthal as Zhang Wei, Hudson Yang as Liu
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| 2 | "A Wanderer in Paris" | Paris, France | Christo Stamboliev | Lucas Mills | July 21, 2019 | |
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Upon gaining a magical shrinking key, Odlulu sets her sights on winning the Tour de France; Waldo and Wenda end up helping racer Jacques after Odlulu shrinks his and everyone else's bikes. Guest stars: Ashley Bornancin as Camille, Tom Kenny as Shopkeeper, Yuri Lowenthal as Jacques / Official
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| 3 | "A Day in Turkey" | Istanbul, Turkey | Mark Sonntag | John Tellegen | July 23, 2019 | |
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Landing in Istanbul, Waldo and Wenda meet up with fellow Wanderer Yasemin and discovers that their rug is a map to a magic doubling key; Odlulu and Fritz learn of the treasure map, and the team must race to find it before the villains do. Guest stars: Sydney Bell as Yasemin
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| 4 | "The Big New Mexico Pepper Hunt" | New Mexico, U.S. | Christo Stamboliev | John Tellegen | July 27, 2019 | |
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When Odlulu challenges the Wanderers to win the best chilli (along with a magic key) at an annual chilli cook-off in New Mexico, Whitebeard pulls out his family recipe to save the day. The only problem is that they don't have the most important ingredient - a ghost pepper. Guest stars: Candi Milo as Chili Judge / Grandmother, Max Mittelman as Tarak
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| 5 | "Hang Ten in Tahiti" | Tahiti, French Polynesia | Mark Sonntag | Sam Cherington | August 3, 2019 | |
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Wizard Wavybeard has lost the Wave Key leading Waldo and Wenda to go to Tahiti. When Odlulu sees the key as her chance to win the local surf competition and earn a statue of herself on the beach, the Wanderers and Odlulu have a surf-off for the key. Guest stars: Ashley Bornancin as Surfing Instructor, Bobby Moynihan as Wizard Wavybeard
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| 6 | "Victoria Falls & Winters" | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | Lianne Hughes | John Tellegen | August 10, 2019 | |
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When the watering hole at a Zimbabwean animal park dries up, the Wanderers grab a rain production Weather Key and arrive to save the animals. Unfortunately, Odlulu and Fritz get a-hold of the key so that Odlulu can be a Mother Nature-like goddess, so the Wanderers form an alliance with fellow Wanderer Anesu and pursue her through rain, fog, and snow to get the key and save the animals. Guest stars: Nesta Cooper as Anesu, Isaac C. Singleton Jr. as Mr. Grouchy
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| 7 | "Vienna Voice-Versa" | Vienna, Austria | Christo Stamboliev | Lucas Mills | August 17, 2019 | |
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When Wizard Whitebeard attempts to magically enhance his voice for a singing duet with an old Wizard friend, he accidentally switches bodies with Arf, forcing Waldo and Wenda to undo the mistake before its too late. Guest stars: Tara Platt as Hostess, Retta as Wizard Nightingale
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| 8 | "Costa Rica...In Color" | Costa Rica, Central America | Lianne Hughes | Sam Cherington | August 24, 2019 | |
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Waldo and Wenda head to Costa Rica and team up with Wizard Featherbeard to investigate why all the beautiful birds of the forest are losing their color. Guest stars: Oscar Nunez as Wizard Featherbeard
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| 9 | "Yukon Do It" | Canada | Kelly Baigent | Sam Cherington | September 21, 2019 | |
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Arf gets a chance to run with sled dogs when he travels with Waldo and Wenda to wintry northern Canada to deliver an important package to Wizard Blizzardbeard. Guest stars: Tom Kenny as Wizard Blizzardbeard / Serve, Candace Kozak as Shila
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| 10 | "The Strength of Scotland" | Scotland, United Kingdom | Lianne Hughs | John Tellgen | September 28, 2019 | |
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Everyone heads to Scotland, where Odlulu is using the Strength Key to give her an advantage in the Highland Games. Guest stars: Grace Kaufman as Morna, Christian Lanz as Announcer, Yuri Lowenthal as Fergus / Yep
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| 11 | "Hit or Myth in Greece" | Acropolis of Athens | Lianne Hughs | F.M. De Marco | October 6, 2019 | |
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When Odlulu uses the Greek Myth Key to bring Greek myths to life so she can capture the Golden Fleece, the Wanderers embark on a legendary quest to restore order in modern Athens with the help of the mythic Jason of the Argo. Guest stars: Grey Griffin as Ticket Taker / Sirens, Jerry O'Connell as Jason, Isaac C. Singleton Jr. as Cyclops
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| 12 | "Venice the Menace" | Venice, Italy | Ricky Santana | Sam Cherington | October 12, 2019 | |
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Odlulu is in Venice, where she aims to become belle of the Venetian Carnival ball with the help of the Crystal Glass Key. Guest stars: Christian Lanz as Shopkeeper, Tara Platt as Elisabetta, Al Yankovic as Wizard Artbeard
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| 13 | "Australian Blunder Down Under" | Australia, Oceania | Murray Debus | Madison Bateman | October 19, 2019 | |
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When a mother kangaroo hops away with Waldo's hat on her head and Fritz in her pouch, Waldo, Wenda and Odlulu must work together to find them in the Australian outback. Guest stars: Eric Bauza as Koala / Dingo, Kerri Kenney-Silver as Wizard Lariat / Emu / Platypus, Candi Milo as Kookaburra, Mama Kangaroo
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| 14 | "Big in Japan" | Japan, Tokyo | Seth Kearsley | John Tellegen[8] | October 26, 2019 | |
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When Odlulu zaps Fritz with the Mega Mega Monster key, he grows to monstrous size and tries to eat all the noodles in the city; Waldo and Wenda travel to a kaiju festival in Tokyo. Guest stars: Ian Inigo as Reo, Ryan Potter as Koichi, Jennie Kwan & Yuri Lowenthal
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| 15 | "A New York Minute" | New York | Ricky Santana | Sam Cherington | November 2, 2019 | |
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Wizard Whitebeard trains for months for a marathon in New York City; when Odlulu schemes to win the race by slowing down all of the other runners, Waldo and Wenda use New York's various modes of transportation to pursue Odlulu and save the marathon. Guest stars: Raini Rodriguez as Maria, Jennie Kwan & Christian Lanz
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| 16 | "Bahama Drama" | The Bahamas | Lianne Hughes | Sam Cherington | November 9, 2019 | |
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When Odlulu uses the Bubble Key to raise a sunken pirate ship in the Bahamas in her quest for treasure, the Wanderers and Wizard Doubloon must take to the high seas to catch the bubble-wielding buccaneer before she makes off with the ship's booty. Guest stars: Danielle Pinnock as Wizard Doubloon, Dallas Young as Mateo
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| 17 | "Chilling Out in Antarctica" | Antarctica | Naz Ghodrati-Azadi | Lucas Mills | November 16, 2019 | |
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The Wanderers travel to Antarctica to witness the annual march of the emperor penguins; when Odlulu's new ice castle separates a waddle of penguins from their eggs, the Wanderers must find a way to reunite the parents with their chicks. Guest stars: Corina Boettegey as Hillary, Ely Henry as Edmund
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| 18 | "Mini Mayhem in Moscow" | Moscow, Russia | Naz Ghodrati-Azadi | FM De Marco | November 23, 2019 | |
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After Whitebeard uses the Grow Key to make himself 40 feet tall, the key breaks; the Wanderers take the key to Wizard Fix-It in Moscow; while mending the key, Fix-It accidentally makes Waldo, Wenda and herself 2 inches tall, then loses the key. Guest stars: Rachel Dratch as Wizard Fix-It, Tom Kenny as Cuckoo / Vendor
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| 19 | "The Swiss Mess" | Zermatt, Switzerland | Naz Ghodrati-Azadi | Mimi Hess | November 30, 2019 | |
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The Wanderers head to Switzerland to get chocolate for Whitebeard's chocolate fondue fountain. But Odlulu wants to create the largest chocolate sculpture in Switzerland, so she uses the Vacuum Key to suck up Zermatt's chocolate and create a mountain of cocoa-the Odlulu-horn. Waldo and Wenda must take to the slopes to save Switzerland's chocolate before it all melts. Guest stars: Yuri Lowenthal as Constable, Candi Milo as Kindly Woman, Tara Platt as Tour Guide, Wolfie Trausch as Sebastien
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| 20 | "A Wanderer Christmas" | Various | Seth Kearsley | FM De Marco & John Tellegen | December 7, 2019 | |
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Odlulu finds out she's on Santa's Naughty List, so she travels the globe and tries to spread holiday cheer. Guest stars: Chris Sullivan as Santa Claus, Cassandra Morris as Merry, Ethan Jones as Stefan, Michael-Leon Wooley as Tinsel, Nesta Cooper & Mark McKinney
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Season 2 (2020)
| No. | Title | Location | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "It’s on like Amazon" | Amazon River, Brazil | Murray Debus | Sam Cherington | July 15, 2020 | |
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Waldo, Wenda go on a mission to return the borrowed Quick Bloom Key to its owner, an Amazon-dwelling wizard named Vinebeard; Odlulu intercepts the key so she can use it for her Lemonade Stand. Guest Stars: Nathan Arenas as Apua, Carlos Alazraqui as Wizard Vinebeard
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| 2 | "Mumbai Dance Party" | Mumbai, India | Seung Cha, & Murray Debus | Sam Cherington | July 15, 2020 | |
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Waldo, Wenda, & Wizard Whitebeard visit a fellow wizard to take part in a big Bollywood dance number. Guest Stars: Zehra Fazal as Film Director, Hannah Simone as Wizard Odissi, Amir Talai as Ajay
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| 3 | "Riddle Me This, Egypt" | Egypt | Scooter Tidwell | Lucas Mills | July 15, 2020 | |
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Waldo and Wenda helps Wizard Dustybeard on his latest archaeology expedition to search for the Lost Chamber of Magic Keys; Odlulu is on their tail, and they have to navigate a hidden pyramid full of tricks and traps. Guest Stars: Phil LaMarr as Riddle Key, Cedric Yarbrough as Wizard Dustybeard
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| 4 | "Mad About Madagascar" | Madagascar | Lianne Hughes | Sam Cherington | July 15, 2020 | |
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The Wanderers travel to Madagascar to get fresh vanilla for Wizard Flambe; Woof playfully takes a key and starts a game of catch-me-if-you-can; They must stop him before he turns a whole Island into one bouncy place. Guest Stars: Sumalee Montano as Wizard Flambe, Danielle Pinnock as Cake Vendor
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| 5 | "Norway Out" | Oslo, Norway | Seth Kearsley | John Tellegen | July 15, 2020 | |
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Odlulu is on the hunt for the Wind Key so she can use it as the world's greatest hair dryer. However, the Wind Key is too powerful for her to handle, so Waldo, Wenda and Whitebeard head to Norway to locate the key before Odlulu can find it. Guest Stars: Grace Kaufman as Frida, Fred Tatasciore as Viking
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| 6 | "Shadows of Bali" | Bali, Indonesia | Scooter Tidwell | F.M De Marco | July 15, 2020 | |
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Odlulu uses the Shadow Puppet Key to createv her own living shadows; when her mischievous shadows run off with the key, Wanderers learn the only way to reattach the shadows is to touch them with the key. Guest Stars: Evan Kishiyama as Darma, Randall Park as Wizard Shadowbeard, Additional Voices: Jennie Kwan, & Yuri Lowenthal
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Production
In 2018, it was revealed Where's Waldo? was in the works as part of the expansion of DreamWorks Animation Television.[9] On April 5, 2019, it was announced the series would debut on Universal Kids along with 8 other DreamWorks Animation series previously available on Netflix.[10] The cast was announced on April 26[6] and its airdate was on May 23 before it was delayed to July 20[2]
References
- Destito, Deanna (April 26, 2019). "WHERE'S WALDO? Premieres In Its Newest Form This July". The Beat. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- Milligan, Mercedes (May 23, 2019). "Universal Kids Dates 'Where's Waldo?' & 'Norman Picklestripes' Premieres". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- https://deadline.com/feature/peacock-tv-nbc-universal-streaming-service-1202832718/
- https://www.youtube.com/yZe1o8Gg4nY
- Milligan, Mercedes (April 5, 2019). "Universal Kids Sets Sights on New 'Where's Waldo?' Toon from DreamWorks". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- Petski, Denise (April 26, 2019). "'Where's Waldo?': Joshua Rush, Haley Tju, Eva Carlton & Thomas Lennon Lead Voice Cast For Universal Kids Series From DreamWorks Animation". Deadline. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- "Meet the Wanderers". Universal Kids. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- https://www.rangerboard.com/showpost.php?p=5802865&postcount=1
- McLean, Thomas J. (June 28, 2018). "DreamWorks Animation Television Spreads its Wings". AWN. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- Whyte, Alexandra (April 5, 2019). "Universal Kids finds new Where's Waldo? series". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
External links
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