September 12, 2016 (2016-09-12) – August 22, 2017 (2017-08-22)
The ZhuZhus (formerly known as Polly and the ZhuZhu Pets[1]) is an animatedchildren's television series developed by Hugh Duffy for Disney Channel and YTV. The series is based on the American toy franchise ZhuZhu Pets. It is the second animated adaptation starring the Fab Four; Pipsqueak, Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums, and Chunk, following Quest for Zhu in 2011.
The series is about Frankie Pamplemousse, a young girl who owns four talking hamsters. It debuted on Disney Channel in the United States on September 12, 2016.[8]
Plot
The ZhuZhus is about 8-year-old[9] Frankie Pamplemousse, who lives in Anytown[10] with her parents who run a plumbing home business called Pamplemouse Plumbing.[11] She owns four talking hamsters called the ZhuZhus; Pipsqueak, Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums, and Chunk, as they have adventures in their town.
Characters
Main
Frankie Pamplemousse[12] (voiced by Jenna Warren) is the 8-year-old[9] owner of the ZhuZhus. She likes sports and hanging out with her friends, the ZhuZhus.[13] She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Before the redub of the series, she was originally named Polly.
Pipsqueak (voiced by Tajja Isen) is Frankie's first ZhuZhu, and the unofficial leader of the ZhuZhus.[14][13] She loves adventure, and will do anything to help Frankie and the team out. She is fearless, energetic, and very loyal to Frankie. She is yellow and her birthmark, which are located on the Zhus' backs, is a shooting star because she always fires ideas and enthusiasm in every way.
Mr. Squiggles (voiced by Richard Binsley) is Frankie's second ZhuZhu.[15] He is very smart, resourceful, and likes science. He also creates machines and gadgets that help the team out when in need. He is orange, has wrinkles under his eyes, wears a belt, and his birthmark is a spiral because his mind always spins with new ideas.
Num Nums (voiced by Stephany Seki) is Frankie's third ZhuZhu, and Pipsqueak's best friend. She is a very shy and a cautious thinker, and isn't as daring as the rest of the team,[16] but she will do anything to help them. Despite this however, she still has a tough side whenever she or the team is insulted.[17][18] She is purple, wears pink glasses, and her birthmark is a heart because she always wears it on her sleeve.
Chunk (voiced by Robert Tinkler) is Frankie's fourth ZhuZhu, and the tallest Zhu. As his name suggests, he is very chunky and strong. He is also very stylish and narcissistic, and usually serves as the comic relief. His cousins are Jilly and Bean, two mischievous twins. He is grey and his birthmark is a sun because he lights up the whole room whenever he smiles.[19]
Recurring
Ellen[20] Pamplemousse[21] or "Mom" (voiced by Stacey DePass) is Frankie's mother and a professional plumber for Pamplemousse Plumbing. She used to be a part of the Power Badge Girls.
Stanley[22] Pamplemousse[21] or "Dad" (voiced by Zachary Bennett) is Frankie's father and also a professional plumber for Pamplemousse Plumbing. He loves music and was previously a Wilderness Teen Ranger. Thus, he knows a lot about nature.
Wilfred P. Kerdle[23] or Mr. Kerdle (voiced by Patrick McKenna) is the cranky janitor of Frankie's school. He tries to stop the Zhus from coming into the school and insults them.
Cindy and Mindy Gelato (voiced by Rebecca Brenner and Samantha Weinstein) are twins and Frankie's friends.
Madge Mervins (voiced by Brianna D'Aguanno) is Frankie's neighbor and worst enemy. She always tries to beat Frankie at everything. She has blue hair and brown eyes and a cat named Princess Tickyboo.
Whendy Sails (voiced by Nicole Stamp) is a celebrity and news reporter for Channel 5.[24]
Jessica Beeker (voiced by Addison Holley) is Frankie's favorite popstar.
Dr. Phelmholz (voiced by Rob Rubin) is an Austrian doctor from Vienna.[25]
Production
The ZhuZhus is produced by Nelvana and Cepia LLC, in association with Corus Entertainment. The series is animated using Toon Boom Animation and recorded in Studio 306 Inc. It was first announced on February 12, 2015, by Kristin Musulin of USA Today as a Nelvana production, with a planned release of 2016.[26] The show was originally referred to as "ZhuZhu Pets" before the official title was revealed.[27] The last episode to air on Disney Channel with that title was "Fur-Vivor/Zhuper Girl", which premiered on October 21, 2016,[2] and the show went on a hiatus. After its hiatus the series gained a new name and Polly's name was changed to Frankie for the rest of the series' run. Eventually all seven episodes that were previously broadcast on Disney Channel were redubbed to say Frankie instead of Polly.
Upset that she missed her parents' wedding, Frankie and the Zhus try to make her parents' anniversary a blast by planning their own, but they get stuck in a floating bouncy castle.The Zhus get stuck in the wild after a skunk shows up in their house.
2
"Home Run Hamsters"
Hugh Duffy
Steve Remen
September 13, 2016 (2016-09-13)
July 5, 2017
N/A
"Chip off the Old Chunk"
Miles Smith
Andrew Tan
Ellen tells the Zhus that they can't go to the grocery store, but they break the rule after Chunk eats all of the chocolate chips.
After Frankie's baseball glove is accidentally left at home, the Zhus try to return it back to her before her big game starts.
While getting her dog Walter a snack, Frankie asks the Zhus to dog-sit him. But they accidentally let Walter out the backyard.The Zhus try to make friends with Mr. Kerdle, while Frankie tries to stop them from getting in trouble.
4
"Goldfish Fingers"
Richard Clark
John Flagg
September 15, 2016 (2016-09-15)
July 7, 2017
N/A
"Skate-lebrity"
Andrew Tan
Frankie is offered a deal to appear on television to show off her skateboarding skills, but Chunk gets carried away when giving her a makeover.
Frankie is told she can't plumb with her parents on a level 5 job for professionals only. When the Zhus give Frankie something to do, a pipe snaps and the entire house floods.
Frankie and the Zhus think that the Gelato twins have turned into zombies after watching a zombie film during a sleepover.Frankie is sick and can't go to the Go-Kart race, so the Zhus try to help her get better in time.
Num Nums gets taken by Madge's cat, so the Zhus try to rescue her while Frankie distracts Madge.Frankie and the Zhus try to get on a TV show called World's Funniest Pets.
A rainy day prevents the Zhus from doing the Iron Hamster Games, until Frankie decides to do it inside.Frankie and the Zhus pretend to be superheroes, but Mr. Squiggles takes his role as the villain too seriously.
Frankie and the Zhus take care of a baby bird and teach it to fly.When Frankie gets two friendship bracelets from her aunt Zia, the Zhus compete to see who is Frankie's best friend.
Frankie's parents get an emergency plumbing call from Frankie's favorite popstar Jessica Beeker. They take Frankie and the Zhus with them to meet Jessica, but Frankie becomes nervous.Frankie and the Zhus try to help Ellen get her last Power Badge Girls badge, the camping badge, when they learn she's afraid of the dark.
The Zhus help Frankie decide what she wants to be when she grows up for a school project.When Frankie breaks her fourth skateboard, her parents cut a deal that she can get another if she goes a week without breaking an egg.
Chunk accidentally uses Frankie's present for Ellen as a letter for the Rainbow Roo.The lamp is broken and Frankie and the Zhus each tell Ellen their stories of what happened.
The Zhus try to stop Frankie from dancing in the school talent show after seeing her moves.Frankie gives the Zhus their first vacation experience by running a hotel in the backyard.
Frankie and the Zhus stay up for the New Years without sleeping.Frankie's desires for another treasure hunt are ruined, so Mr. Squiggles hides a cookie jar which has Frankie's parents' tickets in it. But he forgets where he hid it.
Frankie signs up for the annual Biggest Pumpkin Growing contest and competes with Madge.Frankie plays Zhuper Girl again, and the Zhus try to show who is sidekick worthy.
Mr. Squiggles tests the new Hamster Cannon 3000 by blasting Chunk into the sky. When he comes back, he is mistaken for an alien.Chunk develops a fear of spiders after getting tangled in a spider web.
Frankie wants to be an author. So she tries to write a book, but she develops writer's block. The Zhus help her write the book by living the experience in real life.Frankie gets a new haircut, which is the same as Ellen's. She doesn't like it, so the Zhus try to make it better, but instead it makes it worse.
Frankie and the Zhus create their own emergency kit to prepare for a thunderstorm.Frankie and the Zhus play Zhuper Girl again to help the park throw out garbage, but Madge tricks the town by impersonating Frankie.
Frankie and the Zhus are inspired to make cave paintings after watching a film about caves in school.After learning that Madge has won the annual go-kart race every year, Frankie and the Zhus enter the go-kart race so they can break Madge's winning streak.
After overhearing the family's concerns with his inventions, Mr. Squiggles decides to quit science and become a surfer.Frankie and the Zhus try to avoid having an unlucky day after a fortune cookie tells them that they will have one.
After seeing the Amazing Donald's magic show, Frankie tries to make Chunk invisible. But he falls into a hamster tube and runs around town, thinking the trick had worked.Frankie realizes she's too big to enjoy some of the games her and the Zhus play, so she dreams about being small.
Frankie's board game transforms her house into a castle.Frankie nominates the Zhus in her own awards show after learning that they've never won a trophy.
While preparing for her next baseball tournament at the baseball stadium tomorrow, Frankie plays in the house, causing her baseball to be taken away for a week, and the Zhus to face this. Ever since every commercial they find boring has relieved on them for 24 whole hours, Frankie and the Zhus work on their own commercials to beat the ad record.
Zhuper Girl solves a crime again, But this time, her new archenemy gets back at her for saving the day.In a story about Goldilocks and The Three Bears, Frankie and the Zhus start a play about themselves in the story.
Num Nums makes a new quilt, and the other Zhus ruin accidentally wreck it. She quits being herself and refuses to help them when they are in danger.Tired of Frankie's parents being in charge all the time, Frankie and the Zhus make up their own house rules.
Frankie and the Zhus are sent to Zhu Land to reunite the band The Zhu-riff-ics back together.
Shorts
A short webseries called "Zhu's News" was released to YTV's YouTube channel starting July 17, 2017. Each episode stars Whendy Sails of Channel 5 recapping moments in the series.
No.
Title
Canadian release date
American release date
1
"Pumped Up Zhus"
July 17, 2017 (2017-07-17)
TBA
2
"Food for Thought"
July 18, 2017 (2017-07-18)
TBA
3
"Animal House"
July 21, 2017 (2017-07-21)
August 8, 2017
4
"The Magnificent Zhus"
July 22, 2017 (2017-07-22)
August 8, 2017
5
"Home Video"
July 23, 2017 (2017-07-23)
TBA
6
"Cousin Capers"
July 24, 2017 (2017-07-24)
TBA
7
"Put on Your Dancing Zhus"
July 25, 2017 (2017-07-25)
August 8, 2017
8
"Zhurrific Make Overs"
July 25, 2017 (2017-07-25)
TBA
Release
Broadcast
The ZhuZhus debuted on Disney Channel in the United States on September 12, 2016[8] as Polly and the ZhuZhu Pets. After the show went on a hiatus and changed its name, the first episode to air was "Zhu Years Eve/Lookies for Cookies" on January 7, 2017, and the show was added to the Get Animated! block. On August 29, 2016, Denise Petski of Deadline Hollywood announced that Disney Channels Worldwide acquired both multi-territory broadcast and on demand rights to The ZhuZhus in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Central and Eastern Europe, Germany, Luxembourg, the Middle East, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Switzerland.[8] The series aired on Disney Channel in Australia and New Zealand on February 13, 2017,[60]Disney Channel in South Africa on March 6,[61] and Boomerang in the United Kingdom and Ireland on May 2.[62] The series was scheduled to premiere on YTV in Canada in December 2016,[63] but eventually it premiered on July 4, 2017.[64] Reruns in Canada premiere airs on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.
Home media
On September 25, 2018, Cinedigm released a DVD featuring all 26 episodes of the series named "The ZhuZhus: Season 1".[65]
Reception
the series received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences. Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media rated The ZhuZhus a 5 out of 5 stars, stating "The series does well to stand on its own entertainment merit, it also is the sweetest Disney show ever, season 2 must happen and our 5 out of 5 ratings clearly proves that."[66] Bruce Katz of Cepia feels that "the animation further enhanced the personality of the characters," and says that "they've captured the essence of what ZhuZhu Pets is all about."[9]
Media information
Two online games are currently available on The ZhuZhus website called Tube Racers and Costume Couture.[67] An app was also released on April 18, 2017, called The ZhuZhus: Zhuniverse, which is available to play on iTunes and Google Play.[68][69]
Notes
^This episode was released early on iTunes.[when?]
^This episode was released on the Watch Disney Channel app on January 15, 2017.[33]
^This episode aired on Disney Channel in the Czech Republic and Hungary on July 14, 2017,[47] and the Watch Disney Channel app on July 23.
^This episode was released on the Watch Disney Channel app on July 29, 2017, and it aired on Disney Channel in Czech Republic and Hungary on August 13.[53]
^This episode was released on the Watch Disney Channel app on August 8, 2017, and it aired on and Disney Channel in Czech Republic and Hungary on August 14.[53]
^"Pipsqueek". ZhuZhuPets.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2017. Pipsqueak is the unofficial leader of the ZhuZhu Pets! She has a special bond with Frankie and will do anything for her (she was Frankie's first hamster, after all). Pipsqueak is quite beautiful and dainty looking, but don't let her soft, furry pelt fool you—Inside she is all tomboy and a firecracker of a hamster! Pipsqueak has a Shooting Star emblem because she is always firing ideas, enthusiasm and energy every which way! Birthday January 22
^Petrová, Ivana (February 22, 2017). "Zuzíci jsou tu!" [The ZhuZhus are here!]. Skylink (in Czech). Retrieved June 3, 2017.
^"Home Run Hamsters". The ZhuZhus. Season 1. 6 minutes in. Mr. Kerdle: You runts are going down. Num Nums: What... did you call us?! Pipsqueak: You shouldn't have said that... Chunk: Bad move, mop man. Mr. Squiggles: My theory is that this will add up to trouble for you, sir. Num Nums: Nobody calls us... runts!
^"The Trashing of Zhuper Girl". The ZhuZhus. Season 1. 19 minutes in. Madge: Oh, and don't forget my silly little rats. "Mah-mah, we're lame sidekicks. Look at me! You ever see a flea bag with glasses?" Num Nums: Flea bag? Flea bag?! I'll show you a flea bag!
^"Story Book It". The ZhuZhus. Season 1. 8 minutes in. Chunk: What color... is Chunk's fur? Frankie: Well, that's not really a riddle, um, but... mmm, blue? Chunk: Ahh-grr! All right. You may now use my troll bridge.
^Num Nums. "Fur-Vivor". The ZhuZhus. Season 1. 2 minutes in. Yes, great idea, Ellen.
^ ab"Zhurassic Park". The ZhuZhus. Season 1. 3 minutes in. Mom and Dad Pamplemonkey!
^"Deja Zhu". The ZhuZhus. Season 1. 20 minutes in. Oh, uhh, hey... (closed captioning)
^"Home Run Hamsters". The ZhuZhus. Season 1. 10 minutes in. I'll get you, furballs. Or my name isn't Wilfred P. Kerdle!
^"The Pumpkin Whisperers". The ZhuZhus. Season 1. 1 minutes in. Channel 5's Whendy Sails!
^"The Pumpkin Whisperers". The ZhuZhus. Season 1. 5 minutes in. Daddy flew you in all the way from Vienna for this?
^"March Highlights". DStv. March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017. The Zhu Zhus Yr1 Launch: The Zhu Zhus is about a young girl who lives with her mom, dad, and four talking, extraordinary hamsters
