Premiere | September 1, 2008 |
Finale | March 25, 2013 |
Network | PBS |
Seasons | 2 |
Episodes | 68 |
Sid the Science Kid is a preschool television series produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with KCET Los Angeles. The show features real-time computer-generated puppets, using the Henson Digital Performance System. Production began in the fall of 2007 with 42 half-hour episodes of Sid the Science Kid having been ordered. The series debuted on PBS Kids on September 1, 2008,[1] with a two-year on-air commitment.[2]
The main character in the show is Sid, an "inquisitive youngster" who uses comedy to tackle questions kids have about basic scientific principals 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), his teacher (Susie), his parents (Mort, and Alice), his Grandma and even his baby brother (Zeke).
Two DVDs of the show, The Bug Club and Change Happens, were released in August 2009[3]; with more DVDs following in 2009 and 2010.[4] In August 2009, the first ten episodes of season one were added to The iTunes Store.
The series ended on March 25, 2013 after two seasons and 68 episodes.
Content and Structure[]
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.[5]
Each week's episodes are built around a single scientific theme or concept, such as scientific tools and concepts, changes and transformation, the senses, and health. The Friday shows are designed to review, reinforce and summarize the central concept of the week.
One recurring segment, "Good Laughternoon", features the kids opening panels in a brightly-colored playground structure and telling jokes. The format and set borrow heavily from the closing "joke wall" of Rolan and Martin's Laugh-In, but for a pre-school audience. Other recurring segment include The Sid Survey, Rug Time, The Super Fab Lab, Susie sings, and Sid's "super-duper-schmoper" big idea. On rare occasions, Sid invites a friend over, mainly Gabriela, to play with him, such as in the episodes The Rolie Polie, My Ice Pops!, A Brush With Teeth, and Home Tweet Home.
History and Development[]
Sid the Science Kid was developed by Halle Stanford and Jim Lewis. The initial concept was to create a show to teach science concepts to pre-school kids. The series went into production in the fall of 2007.
Jim Lewis discussed his role in the creation of Sid the Science Kid in a 2008 interview, stating:
The original working title for the series was "What's the Big Idea?" and the central character, Sid, was originally named Josh.[7]
Sid's personality was originally based on executive producer Halle Stanford's son Max.[8]
The initial conceptual designs for the characters were completed by Elanna Allen, while Creature Shop Creative Supervisor Peter Brooke ensured that the original concepts and designs were translated into the 3D world of the Henson Digital Performance Studio. Brooke sculpted detailed maquettes of the characters to help translate the designs into three dimentions.
Cast[]
Episodes[]
Tools and Measurement | |||
Episode | Topic | Air date | |
101 | The Sticker Chart | Documentations | September 1, 2008 |
102 | The Rolie Polie | Observation | September 2, 2008 |
103 | Enough With the Seashells! | Estimation | September 3, 2008 |
104 | The Whale Episode | Measurement | September 4, 2008 |
105 | Super Science Tools | Tools and Measurement Review | September 5, 2008 |
Transformation and Change | |||
Episode | Topic | Air date | |
106 | My Mushy Banana | Decay | September 8, 2008 |
107 | My Shrinking Shoes | Growth | September 9, 2008 |
108 | My Ice Pops! | Change Caused by Cold | September 10, 2008 |
109 | The Perfect Pancake! | Change Caused by Heat | September 11, 2008 |
110 | No More Changes! | Transformation and Change Review | September 12, 2008 |
Senses | |||
Episode | Topic | Air date | |
111 | The Itchy Tag | Texture | September 22, 2008 |
112 | What's That Smell? | Smell | September 23, 2008 |
113 | Grandma's Glasses | Sight | September 24, 2008 |
114 | Too Much Noise! | Hearing | September 25, 2008 |
115 | All My Senses | Senses Review | September 26, 2008 |
Health | |||
Episode | Topic | Air date | |
116 | A Brush With Teeth | Dental Hygiene | October 20, 2008 |
117 | I Want Cake | Nutrition | October 21, 2008 |
118 | The Big Sneeze | Germs | October 22, 2008 |
119 | Must See TV | Exercise | October 23, 2008 |
120 | Sid's Health Day | Health Review | October 24, 2008 |
Simple Machines | |||
Episode | Topic | Air date | |
121 | The Broken Wheel | Wheels | February 9, 2009 |
122 | My Slide | Inclined Planes | February 10, 2009 |
123 | Sid's Amazing Invention | Levers | February 11, 2009 |
124 | The Tree House | Pulleys | February 12, 2009 |
125 | Climb, Ignatz, Climb | Simple Machines Review | February 13, 2009 |
Backyard Science | |||
Episode | Topic | Air date | |
126 | Hello Doggie | Animal Communication | February 16, 2009 |
127 | Home Tweet Home | Animal and Insect Habitats | February 17, 2009 |
128 | The Dirt on Dirt | Dirt | February 18, 2009 |
129 | Don't Forget the Leaves | Leaves | February 19, 2009 |
130 | The Bug Club | Backyard Science Review | February 20, 2009 |
Human Body | |||
Episode | Topic | Air date | |
131 | Special Mom Day Meal | Digestion | May 4, 2009 |
132 | I Have Muscles Where? | Muscles | May 5, 2009 |
133 | Sid's Amazing Lungs | Lungs | May 6, 2009 |
134 | How Did My Dog Do That? | Bones | May 7, 2009 |
135 | Now That's Using Your Brain | Human Body Review | May 8, 2009 |
Weather | |||
Episode | Topic | Air date | |
136 | Sid's Rainy Play Date | Rain | September 14, 2009 |
137 | Special Sunny Dad Day | Sun | September 15, 2009 |
138 | Sid's Holiday Adventure | Temperature | September 16, 2009 |
139 | The Wind Did It | Wind | September 17, 2009 |
140 | Sid the Weatherman | Weather Review | September 18, 2009 |
Specials | |||
Title | Topic |
Air date | |
141 | Getting A Shot: You Can Do It! | Vaccinations | October 26, 2009 |
201 | No School Sing-Along Special! | Sing-Along | June 21, 2010 |
Force and Motion | |||
Title | Topic | Air date | |
202 | Slide to the Side! | Friction | October 4, 2010 |
203 | That's the Way the Ball Bounces | Elasticity | October 5, 2010 |
204 | Ignatz's Inertia | Inertia | October 6, 2010 |
205 | Sid's Super Kick! | Force | October 7, 2010 |
Light and Shadows | |||
Title | Topic | Air date | |
206 | Let There Be Light | Light | November 8, 2010 |
207 | Discovering Darkness | Darkness | November 9, 2010 |
208 | Shadow Smile | Shadows | November 10, 2010 |
209 | A Rainbow Every Day | Rainbow | November 11, 2010 |
Environmental Systems | |||
Title | Topic | Air date | |
210 | Where Did The Water Go? | Water | April 18, 2011 |
211 | Clean Air | Air | April 19, 2011 |
212 | Redused Robot | Recycling | April 20, 2011 |
213 | Save The Stump | Habitats | April 21 2011 |
Special | |||
Title | Topic | Air date | |
214 | Sidโs Backyard Campout! | Camping | June 20, 2011 |
215 | Halloween Spooky Science Special | Halloween | |
216 | I Want to Be a Scientist | Biology/Robotics/Chemistry/Astronaut |
Awards and Honors[]
In 2009, Sid the Science Kid was awarded the Parents' Choice Award and was called "Recommended Television for the spring of 2009" by the organization.
In May 2009, Sid the Science Kid ws nominated at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in two categories - "Outstanding Children's Animated Program" and "Outstanding Achievement in Main Title & Graphic Design".
The series was nominated by the Television Critics Association for a TCA Award in "Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming."
Crew[]
For full credits, see the Sid the Science Kid credits on the Henson Digital Performance System Wiki.
- Executive Producers: Brian Henson, Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford, Bradley Zweig
- Producer: Chris Plourde
- Directors: Brian Henson, Hugh Martin, Allan Trautman, Katy Garretson, Dean Gordon, David Gumpel
- Head Writer: Bradley Zweig
- Writers: Bradley Zweig, Jim Lewis, Eric Shaw, Corey Powell, Joe Purdy, Craig Bartlett, Will Shepard, Elise Allen
- Story Editors: Craig Bartlett, Joe Purdy
- Character Designs: Ellanna Allen, Peter Brooke
Merchandise[]
For more coverage, see the Sid the Science Kid merchandise category on the Henson Digital Performance System Wiki.
Albums[]
Music from the series was first released on May 4, 2009 as an Amazon.com exclusive. Sid the Science Kid: Soundtrack - Volume 1 features 18 original songs from the first half of the series. The albums was released both on CD and for digital download.
- Album titles
Videos[]
DVDs of the series are being released by the Jim Henson Company and NCircle Entertainment. Single-disc collections of four similar themed episodes are being released. Starting in August 2009, full episodes of Sid the Science Kid became available for purchase and downloading via the iTunes Store.
- DVD titles
- The Bug Club
- Change Happens
- Weather Kid Sid
- Felling Good Inside and Out
- The Ruler of Thumb
- Gizmos and Gadgets
- Sense-Ational Adventures
- Sid's Sing Along
- Sid's Sense-ational Adventures
- Going Going Green
Books[]
HarperCollins Children's Books and The Jim Henson Company are releasing a series of books based on the program. The first titles hit book stores in December 2009.[4]
- Book titles
- Why Are My Shoes Shrinking?
- Why Did My Ice Pop Melt?
- A Cavity Is a Hole in Your Tooth
- Everybody, Move Your Feet!
- Why Can't I Have Cake For Dinner?
- The Trouble with Germs
- What's That Smell?
Toys[]
In February 2009 The Jim Henson Company appointed Hasbro, Inc. the master toy and game licensee for Sid the Science Kid. The four-year license grants Hasbro the rights to introduce an array of Sid the Science Kid products. Hasbro's line of Sid the Science Kid toys and games is slated to debut at retailers in the fall of 2009.[9] The first set of toys, a series of mini plus dolls and the Talkin' Sid plush doll were released in November 2009.
- Gotta Know Microphone
- Talking Sid the Science Kid doll (with bonus DVD)
- Mini plush dolls
iPhone App[]
In fall 2009 the Jim Henson Company released an iPhone application of Sid's microphone. The apps design and audio effects replicate the functions of the microphone Sid has on the show. On the iPhone, users can record their own voices, or other sounds, for up to 20 seconds and then play them back. The Sid's Microphone app was developed by Stevo Brock from Sunset Magicwerks in partnership with PBS and The Jim Henson Company. The app was released as a free download.
Movie[]
On March 26, 2012, The Jim Henson Company announced a Sid The Science Kid movie featuring Christopher Lloyd.[10] It was released on March 2013. The movie also served as the series finale.
Sources[]
- โ The Jim Henson Company and KCET in Production on Sid the Science Kid for PBS Kids
- โ Brandolution named licensing agent for US and Canada for The Jim Henson Company's newest preschool series "Sid the Science Kid"
- โ Sid the Science Kid Comes to DVD.
- โ 4.0 4.1 The Muppet Newsflash: Sid the Science Kid Merchandise August 13, 2009
- โ Sid the Science Kid - Educational Philosophy
- โ The MuppetCast with Steve Swanson Show #83: November 9, 2008 - Interview with Jim Lewis (1:10:18)
- โ Henson Prepares to Ask "What's the Big Idea?"
- โ TV Guide Channel: Sid the Science Kid
- โ Henson Compant Press Release
- โ Muppet Central - Henson announces "Sid the Science Kid: The Movie" in 3-D