January 7, 2011 (2011-01-07) – May 22, 2013 (2013-05-22)
Almost Naked Animals is a Canadiananimatedtelevision series produced by 9 Story Entertainment for YTV.[1] The series was created by Noah Z. Jones, and is based upon an art website that he created in 2005.[2] The series premiered on January 7, 2011 on YTV and ended on May 22, 2013. It also aired on Cartoon Network in the United States and CITV in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2011, and ABC3 in Australia on May 27, 2011.
Premise
The cartoon is set inside a tropical resort called the Banana Cabana.[3] All of the cabana's staff members and residents are funny animals who have shaved off their fur and wear only underclothes. An anthropomorphicdog named Howie is the manager and leader of the cabana. Each episode follows Howie and his "misfit" crew having unusual adventures in the Banana Cabana.
Characters
Howie, the main character
Main
Howie (voiced by Robert Tinkler) is a pale-yellow dog and manager of the Banana Cabana. He is hyperactive, very dimwitted, impulsive, and almost always cheerful. He is also completely oblivious to his sister's evil nature.
Octo (voiced by Howard Jerome) is an overly cautious pale-blue octopus and the desk clerk, as well as Howie's best friend.
Bunny (voiced by Emilie-Claire Barlow) is a sometimes short-tempered yellow rabbit and activity planner with a sugary personality (subject to mood swings).
Duck (voiced by David Berni) is a tan-colored duck who does every random job and tries anything to get it done. It was revealed in "The Sun Howie Always Wanted", and "Mini Howies" that his full name is Archibald William Nightindale Duck III. As a running gag Duck often appears during a problem with a non sequitur.
Piggy "Willberforce" Pig (voiced by Seán Cullen) is a pale pink-colored pig who is a ninja-trained master chef with a Bulgarian accent. He speaks broken English.
Narwhal (voiced by Seán Cullen) is a self centered, periwinkle-colored narwhal that loves to sing (he is the lounge performer).
Sloth (voiced by Linda Kash) is a peach-colored sloth and the bellhop of the Banana Cabana. She has a crush on Howie. She also does everything slowly. She moves around using her luggage cart.
Villains
Poodle (voiced by Alyson Court) is a pink-colored poodle. Howie's evil older sister who owns a rival hotel called the Chateau Chattoo. She always tries to ruin Howie's fun and tries to take over Howie's hotel.
Batty (voiced by Julie Lemieux) is a purple-colored bat who is Poodle's evil minion. In "Oh Brother, Who Art Thou?", Batty reveals to Howie that he is his long-lost cousin.
Recurring
Dirk Danger (voiced by Christian Potenza) is a flying squirrel who has a career (more or less) as a stuntman. He is Howie's role model.
Radiation Rooster is the Radioactive Microwave Sales Rooster. His limbs fall off and he is very dumb.
Captain Fizzy is a Pirate Turtle the owner of the soft drink "Captain Fizzy's Fuzzy Orange Soda" and "Sugar" which is 99% sugar. He is a turtle. He started a few contests like the limited edition blue and green can contest and the Fuzzy Orange Happy Land contest. He has a floating factory which is a large boat.
Hippo (voiced by Jamie Watson) is a bluish gray-colored hippopotamus in his superhero attire.
"Cat's Eight Lives" – Howie misplaces eight of Cat's nine lives around the hotel.
"Crouching Narwhal, Hidden Piggy" – Piggy and Narwhal (along with a radioactive chicken) challenge each other in martial arts.
24
24
"Hotel of Horrors / Howieween"
Steve Westren Miles Smith
October 31, 2011 (2011-10-31)
124
"Hotel of Horrors" – Howie goes to the creepy side of the Banana Cabana, where his friends are freaks.
"Howieween" – Howie decides to help Octo choose a Halloween costume, which is so scary, everyone thinks he's a monster.
25
25
"The Perfect Gift / Home for the Howiedays"
Hollis Ludlow-Carroll
December 7, 2011 (2011-12-07)
125
"The Perfect Gift" – Narwhal tries to find a suitable gift for Bunny.
" Home for the Howiedays" – Poodle has to stay at the Banana Cabana during Christmastime due to her hotel being destroyed.
26
26
"The Cabana Manana / Howie's Little Helper"
Hollis Ludlow-Carroll J.D. Smith
December 14, 2011 (2011-12-14)
126
"The Cabana Manana" – The gang trick Yeti into entering a surreal version of the Banana Cabana.
"Howie's Little Helper" – Howie makes a first grader the manager for a school project.
Season 2 (2012)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Original air date
Prod. code
27
1
"Horn Swoggled / The Night Shift"
February 4, 2012 (2012-02-04)
201
"Horn Swoggled" – When Narwhal loses his horn, he loses his musical mojo.
"The Night Shift" – Howie discovers there’s a night shift at the Banana Cabana filled with fun activities.
28
2
"Trash to the Past / The Green Banana"
February 11, 2012 (2012-02-11)
202
"Trash to the Past" – The gang try to find out why garbage is falling from the sky.
"The Green Banana" – Howie's attempt to make an ecofriendly hotel has hostile drawbacks.
29
3
"Howie's Pet Project / Dr. Howie and Mr. Howyena"
February 18, 2012 (2012-02-18)
203
"Howie's Pet Project" – To prove to Bunny he's responsible, Howie looks after a pineapple.
"Dr. Howie and Mr. Howyena" – Howie creates a potion that transforms him into a literal party animal. This episode is based on the events of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
30
4
"Octo vs. Batty / Needle Day"
February 25, 2012 (2012-02-25)
204
"Octo vs. Batty" – Batty moves into the hotel, but Octo is suspicious of his intentions.
"Needle Day" – Howie wants to give Narwhal a needle to cure him of a spreading disease.
31
5
"The Brother and Sister Games / Freebie Jeebies"
March 10, 2012 (2012-03-10)
205
"The Brother and Sister Games" – Poodle and Howie compete in a sibling themed competition.
"Freebie Jeebies" – Howie sells coupons to the customers, but the action quickly gets out of hand.
32
6
"Howie's Staycation / A Helping Paw"
March 17, 2012 (2012-03-17)
206
"Howie's Staycation" – While on "vacation", Howie discovers that a moose wants to do bodily harm to him.
"A Helping Hoof" – Duck becomes Sloth's personal assistant.
33
7
"Octopi P.I. / The Lost Stunt"
March 24, 2012 (2012-03-24)
207
"Octopi P.I." – Octo and Howie attempt to find who stole Narwhal's spit sock.
"The Lost Stunt" – Howie tries to prove he's Dirk Danger's No. 1 fan by performing Dirk Danger's lost stunt.
34
8
"Trance Romance / Wooing Warty"
March 31, 2012 (2012-03-31)
208
"Trance Romance" – Sloth uses hypnotic spray on Howie, which makes him romantic.
"Wooing Warty" – Howie helps Piggy woo a warthog the latter has fallen for.
35
9
"Octo Gets Tough / Narwhal's Birthday"
April 28, 2012 (2012-04-28)
209
"Octo Gets Tough" – Octo becomes a bit too fearless after nearly getting hit by the banana.
"Narwhal's Birthday" – Howie discovers Narwhal and Octo are related.
36
10
"All Night Long / Camp Stinka-wah-way"
May 12, 2012 (2012-05-12)
210
"All Night Long" – Howie and Octo stay up all night to win Dirk Danger's latest video game.
"Camp Stinka-wah-way" – Howie treats the gang to a weekend getaway at Radiation Rooster's haunted campsite.
37
11
"Ducking Duck / Banana Split"
May 26, 2012 (2012-05-26)
211
"Ducking Duck" – Duck is crowned king of the island, but his demands get more excruciating over time.
"Banana Split" – A failed stunt splits the Cabana in half.
38
12
"Cap'n Fizzy Fizzles / Banned!"
June 9, 2012 (2012-06-09)
212
"Cap'n Fizzy Fizzles" – Howie tries to help Captain Fizzy stay in business when a rival soda outnumbers him.
"Banned!" – Mayor Trout gets annoyed with Howie and his stunts and bans him from the island.
39
13
"Bumbag Bummer / Dirk Dubious"
June 23, 2012 (2012-06-23)
213
"Bumbag Bummer" – Sloth becomes famous for her invention: the bumbag.
"Dirk Dubious" – Howie thinks there are two Dirk Dangers visiting the hotel, when one of them is really Duck in disguise.
40
14
"Miss Surrounding Area / Campaign Pains"
July 7, 2012 (2012-07-07)
214
"Miss Surrounding Area" – Batty dresses up as a girl and competes against Bunny in a beauty contest.
"Campaign Pains" – Howie runs for mayor, unaware of how much work comes with the job.
Season 3 (2013)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Original air date
Prod. code
41
1
"The Rotation Situation / The Tail of Howie"
April 15, 2013 (2013-04-15)
301
"The Rotation Situation": Duck speeds up the Earth's rotation, causing the staff to age faster.
"The Tail of Howie": Howie tries to achieve the things he'd always wanted to do after failing to catch his tail.
42
2
"The Big Burp Theory / Who's Howie?"
April 16, 2013 (2013-04-16)
302
"The Big Burp Theory": Howie must stop burping when royalty comes.
"Who's Howie?": Howie gets amnesia, and everyone uses this to their advantage.
43
3
"Insane in the Brain / Laugh Piggy Laugh"
April 17, 2013 (2013-04-17)
303
"Insane in the Brain": Octo and Bunny go inside Howie's brain to retrieve a password he forgot.
"Laugh Piggy Laugh": Howie helps Piggy regain his sense of humor.
44
4
"Picture Day / Part Timer"
April 18, 2013 (2013-04-18)
304
"Picture Day": Howie wants the Cabana to take the staff picture with no flaws.
"Part Timer": Howie decides to get a part-time job.
45
5
"Howie's Allergy / Figure Fight"
April 19, 2013 (2013-04-19)
305
"Howie's Allergy": Howie gives up sugar, revealing he's more stable without it.
"Figure Fight": Howie and Octo fight over a rare Dirk Danger doll.
46
6
"Mini Howies / Dear Dirk"
May 13, 2013 (2013-05-13)
306
"Mini Howies": Duck creates a bunch of mini Howies, but they eventually cause chaos.
"Dear Dirk": Howie answers all of Dirk Danger's fan mail.
47
7
"These Sleeps Were Made for Walkin' / The Best Friends Synchronized Dance, Ice Sculpting, Costume and Explosions Competition"
May 14, 2013 (2013-05-14)
307
"The Sleeps Were Made for Walkin'": Howie enters Octo in a sleepwalking competition.
"The Best Friends Synchronized Dance, Ice Sculpting, Costumes and Explosions Competition": Howie and Octo put their friendship to the test.
48
8
"Don't Follow the Leader / The Snow-Tel"
May 15, 2013 (2013-05-15)
308
"Don't Follow the Leader": Octo and Howie try to win a role-playing game with Piggy's assistance.
"The Snow-Tel": The Banana Canana gets covered in snow.
49
9
"Luck Be a Robot / Family Business"
May 16, 2013 (2013-05-16)
309
"Luck Be A Robot": Bunny becomes Howie's good luck charm in a robot derby.
"Family Business": Howie and Poodle have to run a successful business for a day or their dad will shut down both their hotels.
50
10
"No Howies Allowed / Howie Day"
May 17, 2013 (2013-05-17)
310
"No Howies Allowed": Octo, Piggy, and Narwhal must stop Howie from invading Bunny's sleepover.
"Howie Day": Howie wants his own day, when another animal of the same name gets his own.
51
11
"Sun Scream / It's Duck's Party"
May 21, 2013 (2013-05-21)
311
"Sun Scream": Duck makes his own sunscreen that creates disaster when used.
"It's Duck's Party": Narwhal is in charge of making sure no one interrupts Duck's exclusive party.
52
12
"Father's Day / Hambo 1: Galactic Super Swine of the Wild West"
May 22, 2013 (2013-05-22)
312
"Father's Day": Duck finds an egg, and becomes very overprotective
"Hambo 1: Galactic Super Swine of the Wild West": In the series finale, Dirk gives up stunting to become a chef, while Piggy decides to try acting.
Production
The series was produced by 9 Story Entertainment who produced it for Cartoon Network and YTV.[4] Noah Z. Jones is the creator of the series, while Brad Ferguson is the director.[5] Executive producers includes Vince Commisso, Steve Jarosz, and Noah Z. Jones. Other staff for the series includes Tanya Green as supervising producer, Tristan Homer as producer and Mark Satterthwaite as creative producer.
Development for the series started as early as 2006.[5]
On October 16, 2009, Aaron H. Bynum, news editor of Animation Insider, announced that the series entered production.[6] Vince Commisso, president and CEO of 9 Story Entertainment was pleasantly surprised and charmed for the production of Almost Naked Animals and said: "We are very excited to be commencing production on Almost Naked Animals,". "We spent a great deal of time in development, ensuring the characters, the pacing and the tone of the show was [sic] precise. It is extremely gratifying to see our work come to fruition and the end result is this high-quality, curiously funny animated property."[6]
Home media
Episodes of Almost Naked Animals are available for digital download through the iTunes Music Store, which are split into two volumes.[7] Roadshow Home Entertainment released a 95-minute Region 4 DVD of the show on December 1, 2011.[8] In 2012 NCircle Entertainment has released episodes on DVD for Canada and the US. In the UK Abbey Home Media released episodes on DVD.
Reception
Critical response
In June 2011, Almost Naked Animals was picked as one of People Magazine's top children's shows to watch in the US.[citation needed]Common Sense Media rated the show 3 stars out of 5, with the review stating that "The show's writing is smart enough that adults will get some laughs right alongside their kids".[9] Despite this, however, the series mostly received negative reviews.[citation needed]
Ratings
During the week of November 20, 2011, the show has been receiving high ratings on CITV in the UK and has been the most watched after school children's program amongst kids aged 4–9.[10]
Best Performance in an Animated Program or Series— "Horn Swoggled", Seán Cullen as Narwhal & Piggy[12]
Won
Other media
Toys and merchandising
The Licensing Shop has signed products in the US market for Almost Naked Animals. Freeze has secured rights for t-shirts, fashion tops and hoodies in all sizes while ABG Accessories will be making cold weather accessories, spring and summer headwear and rainwear including umbrellas and slickers for the show.[13] In 2012 Cafepress agreed to make Almost Naked Animals plushies, water bottles, t-shirts, and more merchandise is being made.
Online game
In January 2012 it was announced that 9 Story and Game Pill were creating an Almost Naked Animals online game entitled "Cabana Craze." The game was released on September 25, 2012 and can be found at CabanaCraze.com.
References
^Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 8. ISBN9781476672939.
^"Almost Naked Animals". 2005-11-26. Archived from the original on 2005-11-26. Retrieved 2016-09-18.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
