George Shrinks is a Canadian children's animated television series. It is based on the children's book by the well-known author William Joyce, co-produced by China-based animation studio Jade Animation and Canada-based animation studio Nelvana Limited, produced in association with PBS. The show premiered as part of the PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch block on September 30, 2000, and ended with the final episode on January 23, 2003. The series differs from the book in that the title character does not return to his normal size at the conclusion, appearing to have already been small with no apparent explanation.

Premise

The series follows the story of a ten-year-old boy named George Shrinks who is only 3 in tall. George lives with his musician father Harold, his artist mother Perdita, and his little brother Harold Jr. ("Junior" for short), finding adventure with them and his friends (primarily his best bud and neighbour Becky Lopez) in mundane situations - something that comes naturally as a result of his diminutive size. But through a mixture of his own ingenuity and imagination, as well as a variety of highly adaptable mini machines built by him and his dad, George proves that being tiny is no obstacle to solving problems and having fun. George's tiny size turns mundane activities, such as working around the house or playing outside, into dramatic adventures. His primary mode of transportation is his Zoopercar, a multi-purpose miniature vehicle he built with his father that can do things like transform into a submarine, an airplane or a helicopter. George often has interesting encounters with animals who, although they don't talk, seem to be able to communicate with George throughout the series. On one occasion, he encountered a robotic alien that was his own size and helped it get back home.

Production

The show bears a retro-1950s look, with simple animation and colours, similar to Warner Bros. Animation's Superman: The Animated Series. Primarily jazz is used for background music and music cues, reflecting both his father's occupation as a musician who tinkers with inventing new musical instruments and his mother's style as an avant-garde artist. However, statements made in the characters' dialogue indicate that events take place in the present, or the year that the showing episode was produced and animated.

Broadcast

In Canada, the show aired on CBC, TVO, and YTV. The show premiered on PBS in the United States on September 30, 2000, as a segment on the PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch block. The block was dropped altogether at the end of 2004, but the show was given an individual PBS debut on January 6, 2003, along with Berenstain Bears & Seven Little Monsters. Internationally, the show aired on ABC Kids in Australia, and on Milkshake! in the United Kingdom.

Characters

Main

Others and one-time characters

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2000)

Season 2 (2001)

Season 3 (2003)

Music

The theme song, composed by Roberto Occhipinti, in a jumping blues style, is sung by Canadian musician Colin James.

Home media

Treehouse Direct also released the series on YouTube.