Rolie Polie Olie won a Gemini Award in Canada for "Best Animated Program" in 1999.[3] The show also won a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Special Class Animated Program" in 2000 and 2005.[4] William Joyce won a 1999 Daytime Emmy for Best Production Design for this series.[4] The show has a vintage atmosphere, with futuristic elements and it is speculated that it may be set in the 1950s, while being influenced by 1930s rubber hose cartoons like Fleischer Studios.[5]
Synopsis
The show focuses on the Polie family, who live in a teapot-shaped house named Housey in a geometric world (Planet Polie, which in itself is located in a whole galaxy) populated by robot-based characters. The stories revolve around a young robot named Olie learning life lessons and going on wacky adventures (either real or imaginative) while growing up. These often include his younger sister Zowie, his inventor father Percy, his hard-working mother Polina, his fun-loving grandfather Pappy, and his dog Spot. Although most of the main cast consists of circular bots, other characters are featured in other shapes, such as Olie's friend Billy Bevel and his family, who are square-shaped bots from Planet Cubey.
Characters
Olie Polie – A robot boy and the show's main character. He is very friendly, inquisitive, and loves his family and friends.
Zowie Polie (pronounced "Zoey") – Olie's younger sister, Gizmo's niece, Pappy's granddaughter and Percy and Polina's daughter. She is also very inquisitive (The episode But Why?, for example, has her keep on annoying the family by asking "Why?" about everything imaginable) and loud, speaking in Broken English. She loves Olie and enjoys emulating him, sometimes to Olie's annoyance, too.
Spot – Spot is Olie's faithful dog. As revealed in the episode But Why?, as well as Spot's Birthday, he was given his name because he left a "spot" on the carpet as a puppy.
Mr. Percy Polie – Olie and Zowie's father and Pappy's younger son. He is an inventor, whose various inventions frequently get out of hand and get him and the family into trouble. His voice was inspired by Bing Crosby.
Mrs. Polina Polie – Olie and Zowie's mother and Percy's wife. She is a housekeeper.
Pappy Polie – Percy and Gizmo's father, Polina's father-in-law and Olie and Zowie's paternal grandfather. He runs a farm by himself and is best known for his unruly dentures. Additionally, he owns a cow named Ol' Precious and a horse named Clippy Clop along with an unnamed chicken family on his farm.
Billy Bevel – Olie's best friend. He lives next door. He is a cube shaped boy who, along with his family, is originally from Planet Cubey.
Gizmo Polie – Olie and Zowie's paternal uncle who is also Percy's older brother, Polina's brother-in-law and Pappy's older son. He rides a motorcycle named Motorboy, and is also inspired by Elvis Presley.
Aunt Polie-Anna – Olie and Zowie's paternal great aunt, Pappy's sister, Percy and Gizmo's aunt and Polina's aunt-in-law who appears in The Baby Bot Chase and Season 6.
Baxter and Bonita 'Chiquita' Bevel – Billy's parents. Baxter wears glasses and has a surprisingly deep laugh, despite having a somewhat high-pitched voice. Bonita is an accomplished dancer and acts similar to her husband. They are friends of Mr. and Mrs. Polie.
Space Boy – A young super-hero and star of Olie's favorite TV show of the same name. Along with his companion Space Dog, he frequently saves the universe from various threats on his show, and occasionally appears to help out Olie. Both Space Boy and Space Dog resemble Olie and Spot, with the main difference being that the former are blue and silver, and the latter are yellow and brown.
Coochie and Coo Polie – Olie and Zowie's adoptive baby twin brother and sister. They first appear in the movie The Baby Bot Chase and reappear in a handful of episodes towards the end of season 6.
Binky Bevel – Billy's baby brother. His head has the ability to spin when his belly button is pressed in. He is best friends with Zowie. At first, she was jealous of him and didn't want to get along with him, But they eventually gave in and became friends.
Screwy – A kid introduced in season 5, specifically that of a lugnut. In his early appearances, Screwy acted as a bully towards Olie and his friends. However, Screwy quickly refrained from this behaviour and became a member of the gang.
Pollie Pi – A red-haired female classmate and friend of Olie and Billy. She first appeared in the Valentine's Day–themed episode "Looove Bug", in which she first moved into Polieville as Olie and Billy, who competed with each other for Pollie's affections, immediately fell in love (via being shot by the Love Bug) with her. Pollie also owns a pink dog similar to Spot named Fifi.
Wheelie – A teenager with a single wheel instead of legs due to the fact that he was born in that way. He is very athletic and acts as a sort of mentor towards Olie and Billy. He was introduced by the end of season 4.
Dicey – the Bevel family's pet cat. She is often chased by Spot and is orange with a body that, as her name implies, resembles two dice.
Mrs. Ethel Triangle – Olie's teacher. She has a triangular hairstyle, body and, earrings.
Big Gene Green and Little Gene Green – Two aliens from the planet Littlegreen who accidentally crash–landed on Planet Polie one day and befriended Olie and his family. They reappear in the episode 'Making The Best Of It', when Olie and his dad visit their planet, only to find it much too small for their comfort, and later in the episodes 'Invasion Of the Ticklers!' and the TV movie 'The Great Defender Of Fun'. They are notable for the way they often 'backward speak' sentences similar to Yoda.
Chunk Squarey – An adolescent pop musician who, like the Bevels, is from Planet Cubey. His song and dance, "The Twirl," is a major hit around the galaxy. He is apparently friends with his fans, the Bevels and the Polies. His name is loosely based on Chuck Berry and Billy has a Poster of him up in his room.
Klanky Klaus – The show's equivalent of Santa Claus, he lives on his own planet, Chillsville.
Gloomius Maximus – An evil space pirate who has the power to eradicate fun, and make the universe gloomy, hence his name. He is the main villain in The Great Defender of Fun and makes a few appearances on the show during Season 6 as reformed character as well in the 2nd, movie, 'The Baby Bot Chase'.
Catherine Disher as Polina, Hammy Lady, TV Contestant, Tape Voice
Len Carlson as Pappy, TV Announcer, Dr. Callinghouse, Space Boy Announcer, Chef Rotundo, Radio Announcer, Spookie Ookie, TV Announcer 2, TV Detective, TV Host
Ron Rubin – Bot-ler, Lunchmaster 3000, TV Announcer
James Woods – Gloomius Maximus (The Great Defender of Fun)
Paul Haddad – Gloomius Maximus (as Gloomius' singing voice in The Great Defender of Fun (uncredited) and as his speaking voice in all other appearances)
