Elinor Wonders Why
Created by
Directed byKevin Micallef
Starring
Theme music composer
  • Jorge Cham
  • Daniel Whiteson
Opening theme"Elinor Wonders Why Theme" by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson, performed by Markeda McKay
Ending theme"Elinor Wonders Why Theme" (instrumental)
Composers
  • Asher Lenz
  • Stephen Skratt
Country of origin
  • United States
  • Canada
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes40
Production
Executive producers
  • Jorge Cham
  • Daniel Whiteson
  • Luis Lopez
  • Juan Lopez
Running time25 minutes
Production companies
  • Pipeline Studios
  • Shoe Ink
Original release
NetworkPBS Kids
ReleaseSeptember 7, 2020 (2020-09-07) –
present (present)

Elinor Wonders Why is an animated television series created by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson. The show premiered on September 7, 2020, on PBS Kids.[1]

Overview

The exploration-themed show encourages children to follow their curiosity, ask questions when they don't understand, and find answers using science inquiry skills. The main character, Elinor, is the most observant and curious bunny rabbit in Animal Town just north of Natural Forest, California. She introduces children ages 3–6 to science, nature, and communities through adventures with her friends Olive and Ari. Each episode includes two 11-minute animated stories, plus interstitial content, where Elinor and her classmates enjoy either Señor Tapir singing about famous nature explorers or Ms. Mole reading stories.[2]

Characters

Main

  • Elinor (voiced by Markeda McKay) – A white bunny girl with an inquisitive nature and a sweet personality.
  • Ari (voiced by Wyatt White) – A funny, imaginative light brown bat boy who lives in a hollow boulder, and is one of Elinor's best friends.
  • Olive (voiced by Maria Nash) – An elephant calf girl who is one of Elinor's best friends. She often makes charts for whatever questions are being asked.
  • Ranger Rabbit (voiced by Lisette St. Louis) – Elinor's mom, who works as a park ranger.
  • Mr. Rabbit (voiced by Colin Doyle) – Elinor's dad.
  • Ms. Mole (voiced by Shoshana Sperling) – A brown mole who is Elinor, Ari and Olive's teacher. She wears glasses.

Recurring

  • Olive's Mom (voiced by Ana Sani)
  • Señor Tapir (voiced by Juan Chioran) – A Spanish-accented tapir that sings about famous explorers and inventors during interstitials.
  • Mr. Raccoon (voiced by Dan Darin-Zanco) – A raccoon who runs a bakery.
  • Rollie (voiced by Eric Khou) – An armadillo who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
  • Ms. Llama (voiced by Nicole Stamp) – A llama who owns a fruit cart.
  • Mr. Dog (voiced by Paul Bates) – A dog who loves to bury his things into the ground.
  • Tito Mouse (voiced by Leo Orgil) – A mouse who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
  • Mr. Bat (voiced by Raoul Bhaneja) – Ari's dad.
  • Mr. Lion (voiced by Kevin Dennis) – A lion who likes to paint pictures.
  • Koa (voiced by Ian Ho) – A brown quokka who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
  • Camilla (voiced by Norah Adams) – A camel who is a friend of Elinor, Ari, and Olive.
  • Sally Beaver (voiced by Royal Goodfellow) – A beaver who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
  • Mary and Lizzie Goat (voiced by Abigail and Grace Oliver) – Twin goat girls who are Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
  • Alejandro Possum (voiced by Sergio Di Zio) – A possum whose name is never mentioned in the series.
  • Silas (voiced by Callum Shoniker) – A cheetah who is one of Elinor, Ari, and Olive's classmates.
  • Baba and Bibi (voiced by George Buza and Linda Kash) – Elinor's paternal grandparents who live in Desert Town.
  • Deputy Mouse (voiced by Ron Pardo)
  • Ms. Beaver (voiced by Diane Saleme)
  • Farmer Bear (voiced by Ellen Dublin)
  • Mrs. Tiger (voiced by Ella Jones Farlinger) – The mayor of Animal Town.
  • Ms. Bat (voiced by Shoshana Sperling) – Ari's mom.
  • Mr. Hamster (voiced by Cliff Saunders) – A hamster who is a substitute teacher in Elinor’s class.
  • Siggy (voiced by Simon Pirso) – A squirrel.
  • Lola (voiced by Elana Dunkelman) – Koa's big sister.
  • Mr. Beaver (voiced by Mike Petersen)
  • Mr. Hippo (voiced by Derek McGrath)
  • Mr. Antelope (voiced by Eddie Glen)
  • Hazel (voiced by Svea Ham) – Mr. Lion’s daughter.

Episodes

No.Title [3]Directed byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code [3]
1"Hiding In Plain Sight"Kevin MicallefTom BergerSeptember 7, 2020 (2020-09-07)102
"Owl Girl"Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson

"Hiding In Plain Sight": Elinor and her pals are playing Hide and Go-Seek, but they are always spotted by the Goat twins! They observe camouflaged animals, and figure out to stay hidden, they need to camouflage themselves.

"Owl Girl": Elinor can't figure out what to be for Costume Day, and wants to find out why an owl has been sleeping all morning. After exploring at night with her mom, she figures out what she wants to be for Costume Day: an owl!
Storytime: Ms. Mole tells a story about octopuses, and how they camouflage themselves.
2"Backyard Soup"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham & Daniel WhitesonSeptember 7, 2020 (2020-09-07)113
"Colorful and Tasty"

"Backyard Soup": Elinor is visiting her Baba and Bibi in Desert Town, and wants to make Backyard Soup! But, she can't find the ingredients! She figures out that certain plants grow in certain places.

"Colorful and Tasty": Elinor, Olive, and Ari have made carrot cupcakes, but they aren't selling in the park! Everyone loves cupcakes, but what's wrong? They figure out that they need to spread the color, and the smell!
Señor Tapir's Song: Señor Tapir sings a song about Ynes Mexia, a plant enthusiast.
3"The Amazing Expandable Clubhouse"Kevin MicallefKatherine SandfordSeptember 8, 2020 (2020-09-08)101
"The Town Picnic"Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson

"The Amazing Expandable Clubhouse": Elinor, Ari, and Olive have new members for their club, but there's not enough room for everyone in the clubhouse! They look for help from their snail friends, Norma and Lulu. They figure out that they can expand the clubhouse.

"The Town Picnic": Animal Town is having its Town Picnic, and Ari is getting impatient of waiting for Ms. Llama's ketchup. They find out that the ketchup is taking a long time to pour out of the bottle due to it being too goopy! They figure out that adding water can make things more runny!
Señor Tapir's Song: Señor Tapir sings a song about Jacques Cousteau, the inventor of scuba gear.
4"The Science of Staying Warm"Kevin MicallefMiklos PerlusSeptember 9, 2020 (2020-09-09)103
"The Seed of an Idea"Kevin Micallef & Joey SoJorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson
5"The House That Ants Built"Kevin MicallefAdam RubenSeptember 10, 2020 (2020-09-10)104
"Special Places"Rachel Lipman

"The House That Ants Built": Elinor, Ari, and Olive want to make a cushion castle, but they all try to make different things and take from each other! They look at an anthill, and discover that the ants are working together. They figure out that they should work together.

"Special Places": Ari has lost his new super bouncy ball! He and his friends look around, and they track where Ari has been throughout the whole day. They figure out that to keep something safe, you should put it in a special place.
Storytime: Ms. Mole tells a story about ants, and if ants have families.
6"The Tomato Drop"Kevin MicallefKaren MoonahSeptember 14, 2020 (2020-09-14)105
"Look What I Can Do"Dave Dias

"The Tomato Drop": Animal Town is having its Tomato Festival, and Elinor, Ari, and Olive are participating in the Tomato Drop! But, they can't keep the tomato from smushing! They figure out that they can use something as a chute to keep the tomato from smushing.

"Look What I Can Do": The kids are learning how to play soccer, but Elinor and Ari aren't as good as the others. Elinor can't kick the ball as far, and Ari keeps catching the ball with his hands! They figure out that everybody has their own special ability.
Señor Tapir's Song: Señor Tapir sings a song about Louis-Sébastien Lenormand, the inventor of the parachute.
7"The Lizard Lounge"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham & Daniel WhitesonSeptember 15, 2020 (2020-09-15)106
"Feathers"
8"Bird Song"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham & Daniel WhitesonSeptember 16, 2020 (2020-09-16)107
"No Need to Shout"Kate Barris
9"Ms. Mole's Glasses"Kevin MicallefRachel LipmanJuly 13, 2020 (2020-07-13) (PBS Kids Video)
September 17, 2020 (2020-09-17)		108
"Elinor Stops the Squish"Karen Moonah
10"Speed Racer"Kevin MicallefAdam RubenSeptember 21, 2020 (2020-09-21)109
"One of These Goats"Kate Barris
11"Leave It to Ari"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham & Daniel WhitesonSeptember 22, 2020 (2020-09-22)111
"Snow Friend"Katherine Sandford
12"Wind in the Web"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham & Daniel WhitesonSeptember 23, 2020 (2020-09-23)112
"The Pokey Plant"
13"Bubble House"Kevin MicallefKatherine SandfordSeptember 28, 2020 (2020-09-28)114
"The Syrup Tree"Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson
14"The Paper Trail"Kevin MicallefKaren MoonahSeptember 29, 2020 (2020-09-29)115
"Bath Time"Adam Ruben
15"Make Music Naturally"Kevin MicallefKate BarrisNovember 2, 2020 (2020-11-02)116
"Light the Way"Tom Berger
16"These Sneezes"Kevin MicallefDave DiasNovember 9, 2020 (2020-11-09)117
"Ari's Lucky Shirt"Michael Foulke

"These Sneezes": When trying to carry flowers in the park, Olive suddenly sneezes. They wonder why they sneeze. The figure out that they sneeze to keep irritating things out of your nose.

"Ari's Lucky Shirt": Ari wants to wear his lucky shirt for today's soccer game, but it's too small! He and his friends find out that Ari's growing, and he needs to wear his green shirt.
Señor Tapir's Song: Señor Tapir sings a song about Lydia Bourouiba, a scientist who wanted to find how sneezes move.
17"Follow That Roly Poly"Kevin MicallefKatherine SandfordNovember 16, 2020 (2020-11-16)118
"Rain, Rain Don't Go Away"Rachel Lipman
18"Water You Doing?"Kevin MicallefKate BarrisNovember 23, 2020 (2020-11-23)119
"Thinking About Blinking"Paul Moncrieffe
19"Feed the Birds"Kevin MicallefKatherine SandfordApril 21, 2022 (2022-04-21)[4]110
"Señor Tapir Says Adios"Jorge Cham & Daniel Whiteson
20"Butterfly Babies"Kevin MicallefRosemary MoscoMarch 15, 2021 (2021-03-15)120
"Elinor's Circus"Karen Moonah

"Butterfly Babies": While exploring the park, Ari and Olive explain to each other about caterpillars and butterflies. When a butterfly lands on little Miri's nose, it makes Elinor wonder: what do butterfly babies look like? They figure out that butterfly babies are actually: caterpillars!

"Elinor's Circus": Elinor, Ari, and Olive are having their own circus! But, neither of them are good at their acts. How can they get better? With the help of Siggy Squirrel, they figure out that what they need is balance.
Señor Tapir's Song: Señor Tapir sings a song about Fred and Norah Urquhart, two scientists who wanted to know where butterflies go during migration.
21"Zig Zag Plant"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham & Daniel WhitesonMarch 16, 2021 (2021-03-16)121
"Butterfly Drinks"
22"Frozen Fish"Kevin MicallefAdam RubenMarch 17, 2021 (2021-03-17)122
"Pirate Treasure"Tom Berger
23"Burrowing Owl Girl"Kevin MicallefKatherine Sandford
Michael Foulke		March 18, 2021 (2021-03-18)123
"Olive's Tree"

"Burrowing Owl Girl": Elinor is spending the day with her Bibi, and she fins an owl that doesn't act like a normal owl. She and Bibi notices that things look different, but they're still the same thing. She figures out that it was a burrowing owl she saw, and that she doesn't know everything about owls.

"Olive's Tree": Olive loves her special tree in the park. When it falls down, she is really sad. She and her friends figure out that the tree will still have a role in the park as a wildlife tree.
Señor Tapir's Song: Señor Tapir sings a song about Roseli Ocampo, an explorer who wanted to know if life lived everywhere.
24"Speedy Swimming"Kevin MicallefKatherine SandfordJune 7, 2021 (2021-06-07)124
"Strawberry Jam"Rosemary Mosco
25"To Bee or Not to Bee"Kevin MicallefMichael FoulkeJune 8, 2021 (2021-06-08)125
"Turtle Crossing"
26"Big Trees"Kevin MicallefJorge Chem & Daniel Whiteson
Katherine Sandford		June 9, 2021 (2021-06-09)126
"Baby Steps"
27"Follow Your Nose"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham & Daniel WhitesonJune 10, 2021 (2021-06-10)127
"Leaf Charms[5]"
28"A Change of Art"Kevin MicallefAdam RubenSeptember 6, 2021 (2021-09-06)128
"Litterbug[6]"Michael Foulke

"A Change of Art": Elinor, Olive, and Ari are at art class with Mr. Lion, but they're out of paint! They find that grass and berries can make paint-like items. They figure out that you can use things from nature to make art.

"Litterbug": There's litter in the park, and the kids want to help Mrs. Hippo get rid of the litter. But, there's even more around the town! Elinor figures out that the cause of the litter is her, Olive, Ari, and Mrs. Hippo.
Señor Tapir's Song: Señor Tapir sings a song about Sada Mire.
29"The Unsinkable Lynx"Kevin MicallefRosemary MoscoSeptember 7, 2021 (2021-09-07)129
"Rocky the Rock"Katherine Sandford
30"Echo Location"Kevin MicallefJorge Chem & Daniel WhitesonSeptember 8, 2021 (2021-09-08)130
"Ears to You"Tom Berger
31"Olive's Library"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham & Daniel WhitesonSeptember 9, 2021 (2021-09-09)131
"Nature Walk"Katherine Sandford
32"Butterfly Library"Kevin MicallefKatherine SandfordJanuary 17, 2022 (2022-01-17)132
"More Than One Right Way"Kate Barris
33"Underground Soup"Kevin MicallefKatherine SandfordJanuary 18, 2022 (2022-01-18)133
"Dandy Dandelions"Karen Moonah
34"A Moth Mystery"Kevin MicallefKatherine SandfordJanuary 19, 2022 (2022-01-19)134
"Just Peachy"Tom Berger
35"A Garden for All"Kevin MicallefMichael FoulkeJanuary 20, 2022 (2022-01-20)135
"Band of Explorers"Karen Moonah
36"The Little Drummer"Kevin MicallefLaura Sams & Robert SamsApril 19, 2022 (2022-04-19)[7]136
"Rest is Best"Rosemary Mosco
37"Elinor's Fishy Friend"Kevin MicallefKatherine SandfordApril 20, 2022 (2022-04-20)[8]137
"Do the Crane Dance"Jorge Cham
38"A Wonderful Journey (Part 1)"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham, Daniel Whiteson & Katherine SandfordApril 18, 2022 (2022-04-18)[9]138
39"A Wonderful Journey (Part 2)"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham, Daniel Whiteson & Katherine SandfordApril 18, 2022 (2022-04-18)[9]139
40"A Wonderful Journey (Part 3)"Kevin MicallefJorge Cham, Daniel Whiteson & Katherine SandfordApril 18, 2022 (2022-04-18)[9]140

Development and production

Development of the show began in 2017, when Cham and Whiteson were approached by PBS. PBS found Cham's comic, Piled Higher and Deeper, online and asked if he was interested in pitching to them. "I reached out to Daniel, and what inspires us beyond science is our children," Cham recalled. "They are curious, and it motivated us to create the show."[10] Cham cites Pogo and Calvin and Hobbes as inspiration for the show's visual design, which he described as "something that felt natural and calming, as opposed to overloaded or frenetic."[2]

The character of Elinor was inspired by Cham's own daughter, Elinor.[1] Cham said "She was about 4, which is just at that perfect age where she really does wonder why, all the time. Any answer you give her, she’ll (have) a follow-up question, another why."[11] Cham and Whiteson went with animals as the show's characters to make them "appealing but also relatable at the same time", and to "highlight their range of skills and abilities."[1]

A second season of the series is currently in development with funding from a National Science Foundation grant.[12]

Broadcast

The series premiered on PBS Kids in the United States on September 7, 2020, as a sneak peek by showing the first 2 episodes, before regularly airing new episodes on September 8.[13] Some episodes are available on Amazon Prime Video in the United States.[14]

PBS International has licensed the series to Canada, Latin America, Finland, Israel, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates via Knowledge Network, Discovery Kids, Yle, Hop!, SVT and E-Junior, respectively.[15] The series airs on Australia on the PBS Kids channel, which was started as a venture with Foxtel in July 2021.[16]

Home media

In early 2021, the series began to release its episodes on PBS Kids compilation DVDs.[17]

Reception

Starr Rhett Rocque of Fast Company wrote, "This clever series...encourages curiosity."[18]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2021 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series Elinor Wonders Why Nominated [19]
Outstanding Directing Team for a Preschool Animated Program Elinor Wonders Why Nominated [19]
2022 Writers Guild of Canada WGC Screenwriting Awards – Preschool "Olive's Tree" Won [20]
2023 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children "Rest is Best" Nominated [21]

Graphic novel series

Elinor Wonders Why: Hiding in Plain Sight, described as one of two launch titles for a graphic novel series based on the show, was announced in February 2022.[22] Two titles, Hiding in Plain Sight and Forest Giants, released on September 6, 2022.[23][24]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rocque, Starr Rhett (September 7, 2020). "How a physicist and a robotics engineer created 'Elinor Wonders Why' to teach young kids science". Fast Company. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Murphy, Jackson (September 10, 2020). "INTERVIEW: "Elinor Wonders Why" Creators on New PBS Program". Animation Scoop. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "ELINOR WONDERS WHY Episode Descriptions". pressroom.pbs.org. June 26, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Feed The Birds". wgte.org. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Digital Lesson Leaf Hunt!". PBS Learning Media. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Digital Lesson Litterbug Clean Up". PBS Learning Media. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Little Drummer/Rest Is Best". wgte.org. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Elinor's Fishy Friend/Do The Crane Dance". wgte.org. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 "Elinor Wonders Why: A Wonderful Journey: Episode 0 | Schedules | WGTE". www.wgte.org. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  10. ↑ Gomez, Adrian (September 1, 2020). "PBS show by NM grad premieres next week". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  11. ↑ Hughes, Mike (September 7, 2020). "Wonder-ful Elinor sparks new cartoon series". Mike Hughes On TV. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  12. ↑ "URI education professor teaming with PBS Kids' 'Elinor Wonders Why' on $3.4M research grant". Rhody Today. Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  13. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (May 29, 2019). "PBS KIDS Announces 'Elinor Wonders Why' for Fall. 2020". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  14. ↑ Prange, Stephanie (December 20, 2021). "Episodes of 'Alma's Way,' 'Hero Elementary' and 'Elinor Wonders Why' Heading to PBS Kids Prime Video Channel in January". Media Play News. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Elinor Wonders Why Expands Global Reach". aNbMedia. April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  16. ↑ "PBS Kids Launches Channel in Australia". aNb Media, Inc. July 14, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2022. The new channel from Foxtel includes the Australian premieres of Fred Rogers Productions' puppet series Donkey Hodie and STEM-based animated show Elinor Wonders Why.
  17. ↑ "PBS KIDS: 15 Sports Stories". May 18, 2021 – via Amazon.
  18. ↑ Rocque, Starr Rhett (September 7, 2020). "How a physicist and a robotics engineer created 'Elinor Wonders Why' to teach young kids science". Fast Company. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  19. 1 2 "2021 Daytime Nominees (Children's / Animated) – The Emmys". theemmys.tv. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  20. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (April 26, 2022). "Writers Guild of Canada Awards: 'Sort Of,' 'Pretty Hard Cases' Among Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  21. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (January 17, 2023). "Annie Awards: 'Pinocchio' Leads the Pack with Nine Nominations; Juried Awards Announced". Animation Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  22. ↑ Maughan, Shannon. "Fall 2022 Children's Sneak Previews". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved February 26, 2022. Elinor Wonders Why: Hiding in Plain Sight by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson, one of two launch titles for a graphic novel series based on the TV show about an inquisitive rabbit exploring the natural world...
  23. ↑ Cham, Jorge; Whiteson, Daniel (September 6, 2022). Elinor Wonders Why: Hiding in Plain Sight (listing). ISBN 978-1525306198.
  24. ↑ Cham, Jorge; Whiteson, Daniel (September 6, 2022). Elinor Wonders Why: Forest Giants (listing). ISBN 978-1525306204.
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