Bubble Guppies

Bubble Guppies is a CGI-animated children's television series produced for Nickelodeon and created by Jonny Belt and Robert Scull.[1] 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.[lower-alpha 1][2] The program premiered on Nickelodeon on January 24, 2011, and originally ran for four seasons until its conclusion on October 21, 2016. The series is produced using 3D software.

Bubble Guppies
Genre
Created by
  • Jonny Belt
  • Robert Scull
Voices of
Theme music composerTerry Fryer
Opening theme"Bubble Guppies Theme Song"
Ending themeVarious ending themes
Composers
Country of origin
  • Canada
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes129 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Jonny Belt
  • Robert Scull
Producers
  • Nancy Evelyn (season 1)
  • Lynne Warner (season 2)
  • Allie Strawbridge (season 3)
  • Melissa Graham (season 4)
  • Jain Dickson (seasons 5–6)
Running time22–23 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original network
Original releaseJanuary 24, 2011 (2011-01-24) –
present

Almost three years after the last episode of its original run, it was revived for a fifth season on June 4, 2019 with an order of 26 episodes. The fifth season premiered on September 27, 2019.[3][4] On February 19, 2020, the show was renewed for a sixth season, which premiered on October 19, 2021.[5]

Format

Two different formats were used for the show.

Season 1-4 Format

The episode starts with the show logo in a room and it is filling with water. Then the Little Fish breaks the fourth wall by saying the title of the show to the audience. The series 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 pop 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 they need. 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 dance song is typically performed. In Season 1, the dance song occurred before the story segment, and both were preceded by a second "Let's think about it" segment. After all that, Gil and Molly do another sketch.

The guppies may 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 5-6 Format

Season 5 introduced a new series format which keeps the initial format, but this time has the story segment take up the majority of the episode, and incorporates the shop and lunch segments into the narrative (basically with the new structure, the store and meal parts are now integrated into the story and the story section takes up the bulk of the show). 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. With the exception of select special episodes, Mr. Grouper's overall presence in the show was primarily reduced to the beginning class segments. Gil and Molly's sketches were removed as well, instead having Mr. Grouper wave goodbye to the viewer as the guppies goes back inside.

Two-level humor track

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!",[6] while actor George Takei guest starred in a sci-fi mashup which pitted him as a Darth Vader-like armored villain against starship captain Gil and his first officer, Mr. Smart (Nonny). Recurring character Mr. Grumpfish is a reference to Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, while the episode "The Puppy and the Ring" makes in-jokes ranging from J. R. R. Tolkien to L. Frank Baum.

Characters
  • Molly - A bubbly human guppy girl. She is the primary host of the show (along with Gil) and Gil’s best friend.[7][8] Molly appears alongside Gil in the transitional segments, where she aids Gil in hopes that problems won't arise. She has tan skin, long pink hair, and brown eyes. She wears a cadet and turquoise blue striped tail and bikini. Brianna Gentilella provides her singing voice in all seasons and her speaking voice in seasons 1–2 and season 6 episodes 2-13 and from episode 15. Her speaking voice is provided by Bailey Gambertoglio in seasons 3–4 and Taylor Kaplan in seasons 5–6.
  • Gil - A silly human guppy boy. He is the secondary host of the show (along with Molly) and Molly’s best friend.[7] 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. He has fair skin, blue sideswept hair, and blue eyes. He wears a green and forest green tail. He is voiced by Zachary Gordon in season 1–season 2 episode 2, Jacob Bertrand in season 2 episode 3–season 3, Jay Gragnani in season 4, and Quinn Breslin in seasons 5–6. His singing voice is provided by Teddy Walsh in season 2 episode 4–season 3, Nirvaan Pal in season 5 and Brody Bett in season 6.
  • Goby - A human guppy boy with an imaginative personality. He is also good friends with Gil. He has dark skin, curly navy blue hair, and brown eyes. He wears a blue and purple tail. [7] He is voiced by Jelani Imani in seasons 1–2, Marleik "Mar Mar" Walker in season 3, Issac Ryan Brown in season 4, Caleb Clark in season 5 episodes 1–24 and Josiah Gaffney in season 5 episode 25–season 6. His singing voice is provided by Christopher Borger in season 1 and Johntae Limpscomb in seasons 3–4.
  • Deema - A human guppy girl with a wild imagination and often plays the role of shopkeeper in the "store" segments. She has fair skin, large curly blonde hair, and blue eyes. She wears an orange tail and bikini with sunglow polka dots and orange earrings. She is voiced by Angelina Wahler in seasons 1–2, Grace Kaufman in seasons 3–4, Catherine Bradley in season 5 and Zoe Glick in season 6. Her singing voice is provided by Selena Gonzalez in season 1.
  • Oona - A human guppy girl with a sweet personality. She has pale skin, purple pigtailed hair, and brown eyes. She wears a purple and dark purple tail and a pink star clip in her hair.[7] She is voiced by Reyna Shaskan in seasons 1–2, Tori Feinstein in seasons 3–4, Colby Kipnes in seasons 5–6, and Mia Lynn Bangunan from season 6 episode 8.
  • Nonny - A human guppy boy with an intelligent personality.[7] Despite not smiling a lot, he is the most polite and mature member of the group. He is also Oona's best friend. He is smart and helps Deema pronounce words and helps his friends answer their questions. He has fair skin, short stubby orange hair, and green eyes. He wears a green and kiwi green striped tail and blue scuba glasses. He is voiced by Eamon Pirruccello in seasons 1–2, Jet Jurgensmeyer in seasons 3–4, and AJ Kane in seasons 5–6. His singing voice is provided by Eason Rytter in season 3.
  • Zooli - A human guppy girl introduced in season 5. She is an animal expert. She has dark skin, curly purple hair in a bun, and dark brown eyes. She wears a magenta and pink swirled tail and a blue seashell headband in her hair.[9] She is voiced by Leah Janvier.
  • Bubble Puppy - Gil's pet puppy and best friend.[7] He has orange and white fur and a green collar with a yellow fish license. He is voiced by Frank Welker.
  • Mr. Grouper - A big orange goldfish and the guppies' teacher. He respects the kids' imaginations, ideas, and suggestions. A prominent feature in seasons 1-4 is that he can also change his natural orange skin into a wide variety of different colors and patterns. He is voiced by Tino Insana from 2011 to 2016 and Fred Tatasciore since 2014. His singing voice is provided by Chris Phillips in seasons 1–4.
  • Little Fish - A group of small orange 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. They are voiced by Skai Jackson in seasons 1–2, Mia Vavasseur in season 3, Kayla Erickson in season 4, and Jordan Friedman in seasons 5–6.

UK cast

The revived series was not dubbed for UK release, and instead, the original airs. "The Jawsome Sharkventure!", however, used the British voices for the Baby Shark's Big Show! cast.[10]

  • Molly (voiced by Abriella Bierer in seasons 1–4)
  • Gil (voiced by Hayden Hunter in seasons 1–3, John Campbell in season 3, and Sam Brown in seasons 3–4)
  • Oona (voiced by Harriet Perring in seasons 1–2 and Amba Bierer in seasons 3–4)
  • Deema (voiced by Lauren Reichwald in seasons 1–3 and Megan North in season 4)
  • Goby (voiced by Lewis Dillon in seasons 1–3 and Edward Cross in seasons 3–4)
  • Nonny (voiced by Will Matthews in seasons 1–4)

Production

Although it premiered on Nickelodeon 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.

In addition to Nickelodeon Animation Studio, outsourced animation was provided by Wildbrain Entertainment for season 1, Nelvana for seasons 2 to 4, and Jam Filled Entertainment for seasons 5 to 6.

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, "Get Ready for School!".[11][12] Season 4 premiered on May 21, 2015. Season 5 premiered on September 27, 2019.[13] Season 6 premiered on October 19, 2021.

Episodes
Main article: List of Bubble Guppies episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
120January 24, 2011 (2011-01-24)October 24, 2011 (2011-10-24)
219November 4, 2011 (2011-11-04)May 1, 2013 (2013-05-01)
324August 12, 2013 (2013-08-12)May 19, 2015 (2015-05-19)
414May 21, 2015 (2015-05-21)October 21, 2016 (2016-10-21)
518September 27, 2019 (2019-09-27)March 5, 2021 (2021-03-05)
634October 19, 2021 (2021-10-19)June 30, 2023 (2023-06-30)

DVD releases
Title Season(s) Episode count Release date Episodes
Bubble Guppies 1–2 4 May 1, 2012 "Bubble Puppy!", "Bubble Bites!", and "Bubble Puppy's Fin-tastic Fairy Tale!"
On the Job! 6 February 5, 2013 "Call a Clambulance!", "Build Me a Building!", "The Grumpfish Special!", "Fishketball!", "Firefighter Gil to the Rescue!", and "A Tooth on the Looth!"
Sunny Days! May 28, 2013 "The Legend of Pinkfoot!", "Gup, Gup and Away!", "The Beach Ball!", "The Sizzling Scampinis!", "Bubble Duckies!", and "Bring on the Bugs!"
Animals Everywhere! 1–3 March 11, 2014[14] "Ducks in a Row!", "Boy Meets Squirrel!", "The Lonely Rhino", "The Elephant Trunk-a-Dunk!", "The Arctic Life!", and "Puppy Love!"
Get Ready for School! July 29, 2014 "The Moon Rocks!", "Check It Out!", "Construction Psyched!", "Good Hair Day!", "Get Ready for School!", and "Good Morning, Mr. Grumpfish!"
The Puppy and the Ring 2–3 5 June 2, 2015 "Bubble-Cadabra!", "Sir Nonny the Nice!", "The Wizard of Oz-tralia!", and "The Puppy and the Ring"
Fun on the Farm 1–3 May 10, 2016 "The Spring Chicken is Coming!", "Have a Cow!", "The Cowgirl Parade!", "The Bubble Bee-athalon!", and "Bubble Kitty!"
Super Guppies May 16, 2017 "Haunted House Party!", "X Marks the Spot!", "The Police Cop-etition!", "The Unidentified Flying Orchestra!", and "Super Guppies!"
Bubble Puppy's Awesome Adventures 3–4 May 8, 2018 "The Wizard of Oz-tralia!", "Bubble Kitty!", "The New Doghouse!", "The Temple of the Lost Puppy!", and "Sheep Doggy!"
We Totally Rock! 1, 3–4 4 May 14, 2019 "We Totally Rock!", "Super Shrimptennial Celebration!", "Party at Sea!", and "Guppy Style!"

Video game

A Bubble Guppies game was made for the Nintendo DS in 2012.[15] Common Sense Media gave the game 3 out of 5 stars.[16]

Notes
  1. Zooli was introduced in season 5.

References
  1. Genzlinger, Neil (January 23, 2011). "Splish Splash: Fantastical Fish Tales". The New York Times.
  2. Bryson, Carey. "Bubble Guppies – TV Show Review for Parents". About.com:Kids, Movies & TV. About.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  3. "Nickelodeon Renews Four Hit Series from Its Powerhouse Preschool Portfolio". The Futon Critic. June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  4. "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.
  5. Erik Pedersen (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. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  6. "Ozzy Osbourne Will Play 'Sid Fishy' in New Show 'Bubble Guppies' – Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  7. "About the Cast". Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  8. "Character Descriptions". Bubble Guppies Press Site. Viacom International, Inc. Archived from the original on November 30, 2014.
  9. "The New Guppy!". Bubble Guppies. Season 5. Episode 1. September 27, 2019. Nickelodeon.
  10. "Nick Jr. UK - Bubble Guppies - "The Jawsome Sharkventure!" promo (September 12, 2022)". YouTube. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  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. "Nickelodeon's Hit Preschool Series "Bubble Guppies" Makes a Splash with Season Premiere's Brand-New Guppy, Monday, Sept. 23, at 12 P.M. (ET/PT)" (Press release). Nickelodeon. September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019 – via The Futon Critic.
  14. "Bubble Guppies: Animals Everywhere". Amazon. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
  15. "Bubble Guppies". GameStop. August 4, 2019.
  16. "Bubble Guppies - Game Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
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