Doc McStuffins | |
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![]() Doc McStuffins logo | |
Created by | Chris Nee |
Voices of | Kiara Muhammad Lara Jill Miller Robbie Rist Jess Harnell Loretta Devine Jaydon Betts Kimberly Brooks Gary Anthony Williams |
Composers | Mike Himelstein (score) Kay Hanley (songs) Michelle Lewis (songs) |
Country of origin | United States Ireland |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 72 (70 aired) (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Running time | approx. 25 minutes |
Production companies | Brown Bag Films Disney Junior |
Original release | |
Network | Disney Junior |
Release | March 17, 2012 (pilot) March 23, 2012 – present |
Doc McStuffins is an American-Irish animated children's television series produced by Brown Bag Films. It was created and executive produced by Chris Nee and premiered on March 23, 2012 on Disney Channel and Disney Junior. The series is about a girl who can "fix" toys, with help from her toy friends. It features songs written and composed by Kay Hanley and Michelle Lewis.
The series received positive reviews due to the show's concept and the main character, as well as its portrayal of African-Americans (Nee stated in 2013 that Doc is African-American, proposed by Disney during her initial pitch, Nee initially only knowing she wanted a girl doctor[1][2]) in a Disney series.[2][3] Chris Nee describes the series as "Cheers for Preschoolers."[4]
On April 14, 2015, the series was renewed for a fourth season by Disney Junior.[5]
The series chronicles freckled,[6] six-year-old (later seven[7]) Dottie "Doc" McStuffins[8] who decides she wants to become a doctor like her mother. She practices her dream by fixing toys and dolls.
When she activates her magic stethoscope (similar to an amulet or talisman), she can create a variety of supernatural effects, including traveling through time.[9] Her most regular use of it in the show is to cause toys, dolls, and stuffed animals come to life. They are able to move, speak, hear see and smell, and she can interact with them. With help from her stuffed friends – Stuffy the Dragon, Hallie the Hippo, Lambie the Lamb, and Chilly the Snowman – Doc helps toys recover, or "feel better", by giving them check-ups and diagnosing their illnesses with an encyclopedia called "The Big Book of Boo Boos".
Each 11-minute episode[citation needed] includes original songs. During ending credits in Season 1, Doc gives advice to viewers about staying healthy.[citation needed] Seasons 1, 2 and 3 have the original intro for the theme song, but the spoken line by Doc at the end of the theme song was re-recorded with Doc's new voice.[citation needed] In Season 3 Doc opens up a Veterinarian clinic for fixing toy pets[when?] in addition to the regular medical services that she provides for the other toys.
Humans:
Toys:
Main article: List of Doc McStuffins episodes |
In the United States, Doc McStuffins first premiered on March 23, 2012 on Disney-ABC networks Disney Channel and Disney Junior. On June 5, 2012, Disney Junior renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on September 6, 2013. On January 8, 2014, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on November 2, 2014.[24]
In Canada, the show started airing on the Canadian Disney Junior channel on April 8, 2012.[25] The show also is aired in many foreign countries and has been dubbed into several languages.
The series received positive reviews and criticisms after its release. Kia Morgan Smith of Cincomom.com said that "It truly warmed my heart and almost brought tears to my eyes when my 8-year-old, Mikaela, saw 'Doc McStuffins' for the first time and said, 'Wow, mommy — she's brown,'"[27] Myiesha Taylor of CoilyEmbrace.com said that "This program featuring a little African-American girl and her family is crucial to changing the future of this nation." Taylor also applauded the concept of its portrayal of a young black girl who wishes to follow in the footsteps of her mother as a doctor as the lead character, that inspired her to collect pictures of 131 doctors — all women of color — and publish a collage online under the heading, 'We Are Doc McStuffins.'"[28]
The program is also a ratings hit on Disney Junior. The series premiere attracted 1.08 million children ages 2 to 5, and the show has attracted an average of 918,000 viewers in the same demographic, leading AdWeek magazine to dub the show an "improbable ratings juggernaut".[29]
In 2013, $500 million worth of Doc McStuffins merchandise was sold,[30] something New York Times writers claimed industry experts said "seems to be setting a record" for a "toy line based on an African-American character". They also said the character had broad appeal and the toys sold well to all demographics.[31]
Awards | ||||
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Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
2014 | British Academy Children's Awards[32] | International | Norton Virgien, Theresa Mayer, Chris Nee | Nominated |
2015 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Children's Program | "Doc McStuffins" | Won |
2014 | 74th Annual Peabody Award | Peabody Award | "Doc McStuffins" | Won |
Collection | Included episodes | Release date |
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Friendship is the Best Medicine | "Engine Nine, Feelin' Fine!" and "The Right Stuff", "Caught Blue-Handed" and "To Squeak, or Not to Squeak", "Ben/Anna Split!" and "That's Just Claw-Ful", "The Rip Heard Round the World" and "Walkie-Talkie Time", "Dark Knight" and "Hallie Gets an Earful" | August 21, 2012 |
Time for Your Check Up | "Gulpy, Gulpy Gators!" amd "One Note Wonder", "Tea Party Tantrum" and "Blast Off!", "Arcade Escapade" and "Starry, Starry Night", "Bronto Boo-Boos" and "Brontosaurus Breath", "Doctoring The Doc" and "Hot Pursuit" | May 7, 2013 |
Mobile Clinic | "Doc McStuffins Goes McMobile" and "Chip Off the Ol' Box", "Doc to the Rescue" and "Don't Knock the Noggin", "Out of the Box" and "Run Down Race Car", "Rescue Ronda, Ready for Take off" and "All Washed Up", "Rest Your Rotors, Ronda!" and "Keep on Truckin'" | March 18, 2014 |
School of Medicine | "Chilly Gets Chilly" and "Through The Reading Glasses", "Hallie's Happy Birthday" and "Shark-Style Toothache", "Think Pink" and "You Foose, You Lose", "Disco Dress Up Daisy" and "The Glider Brothers", "Celestial Celeste" and "Run Doc, Run!" | September 9, 2014 |
Cuddle Me Lambie | "My Huggy Valentine" and "Dusty Bear", "Awesome Guy's Awesome Arm" and "Lamb in a Jam", "Kirby and the King" and "Bubble Monkey, Blow Your Nose!", "A Day Without Cuddles" and "Collide-o-scope", "Mirror, Mirror On My Penguin" and "Hide and Eek!" | February 3, 2015 |
"Doc McStuffins Pet Vet" was released on iOS and Android.[33]
There are a variety of games specifically focused on the series,[34] including: