Waybuloo is a live-action/animated children's television series created by Dan Good and Absolutely Cuckoo. Set in the fictional land of Nara, it features four CGI creatures with large heads and eyes called Piplings who practise a form of yoga which they call "Yogo". They are visited in each episode by live action children who are referred to as "Cheebies". It was broadcast on CBeebies in the UK between 2009 and 2012.

Background and format

Waybuloo was commissioned by Michael Carrington at the BBC, and first aired on CBeebies in May 2009. The 150-episode show was head-written by Marc Seal (who worked on Bob the Builder), filmed by the Foundation in Glasgow and animated and directed by Gallus Entertainment. Repeats of the show also aired on BBC Two and BBC HD. The series is set in the fictional land of Nara. The main characters are the four Piplings, 3D CGI animated creatures with large heads and eyes and possessing the ability to fly and float around. They are made in Autodesk Maya, placed on a filmed background, with the second half of each twenty-minute show featuring human children (called the "Cheebies"). The Piplings practice yogo, a gentle form of exercise similar to yoga, which the viewers and their parents can participate in. The Piplings demonstrate several poses inspired by things they see in their homeworld, Nara, such as owls, trees, and insects. Each group of poses indicates a certain group of Cheebies. When the children (or Cheebies) arrive later during an episode, they then practice the same poses demonstrated by the Piplings at the start of the show. The cue for both the Piplings and the Cheebies to perform Yogo is an ancient machine, which activates when sunlight falls upon it. Yogo was developed by the show's producers in association with a Paediatrician and a Health and Safety Consultant. The leaflet produced by the BBC warns parents not to practise Yogo with their children if they are or have been ill, and always to speak to a GP before starting the program. The Piplings also play Peeka, a hide and seek game, when the Cheebies (live action children) arrive at Nara. At the end of every episode, when the Piplings find out their problems or are so happy, they experience Waybuloo, where all Piplings rise up towards the sky. The program makers describe it as "...a philosophy for a happy life, and is like nothing adults will have ever seen before". It was reported that some Christian groups complained that the program promoted Buddhist or Hindu practices.

Production

Post-production, including audio, sound design and editing is done by Platform Post Production. in Toronto, Canada. Line produced by Matt Porter and the series producer is Simon Spencer (who works for Thomas & Friends), part of the independent company, RDF Media's subsidiary The Foundation.

Characters

Main characters

Supporting characters

Spin-off version

On September 8, 2011, Zodiak Kids announced a “Spin-Off” version of the series. This version would feature shortened 11-minute episodes with the addition of Dave Lamb as the narrator. The changes were said by the company as to be “constructed to work on multiple levels of humor in an effort to appeal to preschoolers and parents alike”. When this version premiered on CBeebies in January 2012, it was met with much criticism, with comments on the CBeebies Grown-Ups blog criticising Dave's narration. The negative feedback was so strong, that CBeebies decided to pull the spin-off version in favour of the original version on the very next night.

Episodes

Series 1 and 2

Footnote 1: S02E38 does not have a title recorded, although it has been aired by the BBC.

Series 3

Series 3 aired on CBeebies beginning 3 October 2011.

DVD releases

United Kingdom

DVD releases of the series were released by 2Entertain. Later DVDs were released by Delta Leisure.

Canada

In February 2010, DHX Media announced that Nelvana Enterprises would be the show's Canadian Home Video partner.

External sources