Sid the Science Kid
Sid-the-science-kid-logo.jpg
Also known asJim Henson's Sid the Science Kid
GenreChildren's television series
Education
Created byThe Jim Henson Company
Written byBradley Zweig
Voices ofDrew Massey
Alice Dinnean
Victor Yerrid
Julianne Buescher
Donna Kimball
Theme music composerDena Diamond
Mike Himelstein
Opening theme"Sid the Science Kid"
Ending theme"Sid the Science Kid" (instrumental)
ComposersMichael Turner
Mike Himelstein
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes67 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersBrian Henson
Lisa Henson
Halle Stanford
Bradley Zweig
ProducerChris Plourde
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesThe Jim Henson Company
KCET (2008–09)
KOCE-TV (2010–12)
Release
Original networkPBS Kids
Original releaseSeptember 1, 2008 (2008-09-01) –
March 25, 2013 (2013-03-25)[1]

Sid the Science Kid (also known as Jim Henson's Sid the Science Kid) is an American computer-animated children’s television series on PBS Kids. It aired from September 1, 2008 to March 25, 2013, with a total of 66 half-hour episodes produced over two seasons, and lasted for four years.[2] The computer generated show is produced by The Jim Henson Company and PBS affiliates KCET channel 28 in Los Angeles, California for season 1, and KOCE-TV channel 50 in Huntington Beach, a suburb of Los Angeles, for season 2, using the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio. The show is produced by motion capture which allows puppeteers to voice digitally animated characters in real time.[3][4]

Production began in January 2008 with 42 half-hour episodes of Sid the Science Kid having been ordered. The series debuted on PBS Kids on September 1, 2008 with a two-year on-air commitment.[5] The original working title for the series was "What's the Big Idea?" and the central character, Sid, was originally named Josh.[6] The series is the second CGI animated show to use the motion capture technique after Donkey Kong Country.[7]

Premise

The main character in the show is Sid, an "inquisitive youngster" who uses comedy to tackle questions kids have about basic scientific principles and why things work the way they do. He tries to answer questions and solve problems with the help of his classmates (May, Gerald, and Gabriela), Teacher Susie, and his family (his mother Alice, his father Mort, his Grandma Rose and his baby brother Zeke). In "Hello Doggie," Sid's Grandma adopts a dog from the animal shelter (which she names Philbert – voiced by Bruce Lanoil,[citation needed] motion captured by Daisy the dog).

The conceptual content of Sid is based in national science learning standards, cognitive learning theory, and on the preschool science curriculum, Preschool Pathways to Science.[8]

In Season 1, each week's episodes are built around a single scientific topic or concept. The first week (episodes 1 – 5) focuses on scientific tools and concepts (such as charts, observation, estimation, and measuring). The second week (episodes 6 – 10) focuses on changes and transformation (including decay, growth, freezing and melting, and the effects of heat). The third week (episodes 11 – 15) focuses on the senses (including touch, smell, sight, taste, and hearing). The fourth week (episodes 16 – 20) focuses on health (including brushing teeth, eating good-tasting food, sneezing and exercise). The fifth week (episodes 21 – 25) focuses on simple machines (including wheels, inclined planes, levers and pulleys). The sixth week (episodes 26 – 30) focuses on backyard science (including animal communication, animal homes, dirt and leaves). The seventh week (episodes 31 – 35) focuses on weather (including rain, sunblock, temperature and wind). The eighth week (episodes 36 – 40) focuses on the human body (including digestion, muscles, lungs and bones). The Friday shows are designed to review, reinforce and summarize the central concept of the week.

Characters

Main

Recurring

Episodes

Main article: List of Sid the Science Kid episodes

Sid the Science Kid: The Movie (2013)

A TV movie titled Sid the Science Kid: The Movie premiered on PBS Kids on March 25, 2013. It featured the original voice cast of the show, with special guest voice Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Bonanodon. In the movie, Sid and his friends enter a contest and win a trip to a new science museum in town. Sid and Gabriela won the contest and are allowed inside the museum before it officially opens to the public. Along the way, they meet some new friends; such as Yang Yang, Niu Niu, and BobbyBot. However, BobbyBot malfunctions, causing the museum to be in total chaos and havoc, putting the grand opening of the museum in jeopardy. It's up to Sid and his friends to save the museum before it opens up. This also serves as the series finale of Sid the Science Kid.

Awards

"Save the Stump!" won in the Children's Programming category Saturday at the 26th Genesis Awards, presented by the Humane Society of the United States. Additionally, the series has received a total of six Daytime Emmy Award nominations and a TCA Award nomination.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sid the Science Kid episodes – TVGuide.com
  2. ^ Perlmutter, David (2015). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 550. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  3. ^ "The Jim Henson Company's 'Sid the Science Kid' Comes to Home Video Through Warner Bros". Thomson Reuters. October 4, 2004. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  4. ^ Hulu: TV Guide Specials: Sid the Science Kid
  5. ^ Brandolution named licensing agent for US. and Canada for The Jim Henson Company's newest preschool series "Sid the Science Kid".
  6. ^ "Henson Prepares to Ask "What's the Big Idea?"". The Muppet Newsflash. September 5, 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-10-02. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Henson Prepares to Ask "What's the Big Idea?"
  8. ^ Sid the Science Kid – Educational Philosophy
  9. ^ Cleveland, Mr. (March 26, 2012). ""Sid the Science Kid" episode wins Genesis Award". Big Cartoon News. Retrieved March 26, 2012.