Pecola

Pecola
Created by	Naomi Iwata
Based on	Characters by Naomi Iwata
Directed by	Mike Fallows Dan Wakabayashi
Voices of	(See Voice cast section)
Country of origin	Japan Canada
Original languages	English Japanese
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	26 (52 segments)
Production
Executive producers	Michael Hirsh Naomi Iwata Patrick Loubert (season 1) Clive A. Smith (season 1) Scott Dyer (season 2) Makoto Toriyama
Producer	Kim Cleary
Running time	30 minutes (2 15-minute episodes per timeslot)
Production companies	Yomiko Advertising Nelvana Limited Milky Cartoon
Original release
Network	Teletoon (Canada) TV Tokyo (Japan)
Release	September 3, 2001 (2001-09-03) – September 18, 2002 (2002-09-18)

Pecola (Japanese: ペコラ, Pekora) is an animated children's television series that features cube-shaped anthropomorphic animals in a place named Cube Town. The series is based on a series of children's picture books by Naomi Iwata.^[1][2] It was first aired on Teletoon in Canada from September 3, 2001 with the final episode being aired on September 18, 2002. In Japan, the show aired on TV Tokyo, and in the United States, the show aired on Cartoon Network in 2003.^[3] Prior to that, a series of Pecola shorts aired on Fuji Television as part of Ponkickies during 1998.^[4]

Premise

The show that focuses on Pecola, a curious and hyperactive penguin who tries to help the people of Cube Town but often wreaks havoc instead. Pecola is an orphaned penguin who lives with Pecolius, his grandfather. Cube Town is a small, isolated coastal village which contains an art museum, a beach, a lighthouse and a canal. It is located adjacent to Crescent Bay surrounded by the Rookery Mountains coastal range and serviced by regular ships (including a weekly freighter) which deliver mail, food and other supplies, as well as occasional tourists from a nearby metropolis named Cubic City. The heights above it lead into Glacier Valley which is snowbound even during summer.

Voice cast

English-language cast

• Austin Di Iulio as Pecola and Robo-Pecola
• Stephanie Beard as Coco
• Richard Binsley as Jabbatt
• Donald Burda as Gazelle
• Keith Hampshire as Mayor Papazoni
• Len Carlson as Officer Kumada
• Michael Cera as Robbie Rabbit
• William Colgate as Dr. Hornbender
• Neil Crone as Dr. Chu
• Jill Frappier as Aunty Yorkshire
• Jake Goldsbie as Rudy
• George Buza as Postman Rory
• Tracey Hoyt as Hilary
• Howard Jerome as Mr Bernard
• Keith Knight as Al A. Gator
• Julie Lemieux as Miss Lucky
• Sharron Matthews as Steamer
• Marla Lukofsky as Mrs Bernard
• Miriam McDonald as Chewy
• Sunday Muse as Cori
• Scott McCord as Bashatt
• Peter Oldring as Bongo
• Stephen Ouimette as Mr. Saruyama
• Avery Saltzman as Mr Puggalski
• Adrian Truss as Mr. Lonely
• Chris Wiggins as Pecolius

Japanese-language cast

• Mayumi Asano as Pecola and Robo-Pecola
• Naoko Takano as Coco
• Umeji Sasaki as Pecolius
• Paku Romi as Rabi-san
• Mitsuaki Hoshino as Gao-san
• Ryusei Nakao as Saru-yama
• Kenyu Horiuchi as Gazelle
• Yu Shimaka as Mayor Papazōni
• Chika Sakamoto as Tsunekichi
• Miyu Matsuki as Cori
• Takeshi Kusao as Jabatto-san
• Dai Matsumoto as Banaado-san

Characters

• Pecola — A penguin who brings excitement to the otherwise dull and boring town. Unlike his fellow penguins, Pecola cannot swim. His catchphrases include "Flapping flippers!" and "Let's get hopping!" Pecola has a special love of pudding and a reputation for pulling pranks. Despite his antics, Pecola is very friendly and caring.
• Little Chu/Chewy — A mouse who is the grandson of the great inventor Dr. Chu, and a budding inventor in his own right. He is Pecola's best friend and often unwilling ally in different escapades. He often complains of having a funny feeling in his stomach just before things get out of hand.
• Dr. Chu — A mouse who is Little Chu's grandfather. He is Cube Town's greatest inventor and he often invents gadgets that help others on the island. His inventions are often used by Pecola and Chewy in their adventures. He is also friends with Pecola's grandfather, Pecolias. He owns two vehicles one is a submarine and also an airplane called the Mad Mouse which sits on top his laboratory. He also likes to collect comics.
• Coco — Another penguin. She is more down to earth than Pecola, and is sometimes frustrated by his antics. She loves to sing; unfortunately, she is terrible at it.
• Mr. Saruyama — A monkey who runs a fruit stand in town. He is often the target of Pecola's pranks, often leading to his melons falling over, which is a running gag in the show. However, he cares very much about Pecola, no matter what he does. He also runs the town's newspaper, the "Town Crier". He also cries a lot.
• Gao/Rory — A lion who is Cube Town's postman. He is determined and dedicated to his job, he has never missed a day of work which won him the postman of the year award in , though he did get sick in during this episode it was revealed when he was younger he wasn't as good at delivering the post, but learned from his mistakes and created rules to help him with his job.
• Pug/Mr. Puggalski — A dog who owns a grocery store. He is a descendant of the personal chef of the former king of Cube Town. He is also said to be the world's greatest hide and seek player (hide and go sleep) though when nobody could find him he was sick at home and still won.
• Dr. Hornbender — An old goat astrologist who lives and works at the observatory. His greatest dream is the discovery of new planets, constellations, and aliens. Along with getting a shooting star named after him.
• Rabi/Robbie — A nervous rabbit who likes video games.
• Mayor Papazoni — An elephant who is the mayor of Cube Town. The mayor who makes long and boring speeches. Papazoni travels in a helicopter that he pilots himself. He hides in secret tunnels under the city and at a Mayoral Retreat to work on his speeches, undisturbed by residents and their questions. Constantly refers to the citizens of Cube Town as "voters". His voice is an imitation of veteran newsman Walter Cronkite.
• Steam / Stim / Steamer — A cat train mechanic and engineer. Chewy, Pecola, and Rudy are smitten with her, which is the cause of tensions and arguments among the three. Her train, The Cactus, is intended eventually to provide a direct link with Cubic City via a tunnel being constructed under the Rookery Mountains . She often stops her work on the engine to play soccer with Pecola and his friends.
• Aunty Yorkshire — A pig who does the laundry for the town and is often one of the few adults tolerant of Pecola's shenanigans. Whenever Pecolius is away she's the one to often babysit Pecola. She also has a son who lives in Cubic City and often says Pecola reminds her of him.
• Mr. and Mrs. Bernard — Two beagles. They run the town's bakery, though Mr. Bernard often falls asleep on the job and is credited by others for his wife's work.
• Jabbatt and Bashatt — Two tortoises. They are Cube Town's firemen, although there are never fires in Cube Town. Despite this, they often help out around town, and they often provide comic relief when they bump into each other.
• Officer Kumada — A bear. He helps keep the Cube Town safe with his many rules and observations.
• Mr. Lonely - A wolf. He is a poet who is actually found writing and reciting sad poetry. He also once rapped. In Coco's concert but is unable to write poetry when in a happy mood.
• Gazelle — A vain gazelle who is Hillary's boyfriend. He dreams of being a modern artist. He owns a convertible that he lovingly maintains and often drives about in Cube Town. He also owns a jet ski. In addition to art he loves to collect belt buckles.
• Srally/Hillary - A giraffe who is Gazelle's girlfriend. She owns Cube Town Art Museum and is very fashionable. She is also picky about her weight, which is a running gag in the show.
• Miss Lucky — A blue cat who reports for Cube Town News. She also helped Pecola make a movie.
• Golagola/Gola Gola — A friendly sea creature who saved Pecola from drowning. At first, the town feared him, but they came to accept him. He has helped with different beach activities and is often seen playing with Pecola and his friends at the beach.
• Tsunekichi/Rudy — Pecola's fox friend whose catchphrases are "I knew that" and "I was going to say/ask that". He is prone to bragging and showing off his latest toys, not sharing and declaring he is the best at whatever activity he is engaged in.
• Cori — A squirrel that runs Cori's Cafe as chef and waitperson.
• Bongo — A very strong and athletic gorilla who is kind, but is often clumsy as he either bumps into something or breaks something though apologizes for it with a "sorry". In , it was revealed he collects model cars.
• Pecolius — A penguin. Pecola's grandfather who bears a resemblance to Indiana Jones because of his adventures in the name of science and archeology. He appreciates Pecola's unique personality, but at times reminds him to stay out of trouble.
• Robo-Pecola — A robot version of Pecola who was built by Dr. Chu to teach Pecola better manners as revealed in his debut in. Though his various glitches lead him to cause more trouble than the real Pecola. But like Pecola, Robo-Pecola is very friendly and caring.
• Alligetao/Al Agator — A mysterious alligator. He is seen sneaking around Cube Town, taking pictures.
• Brock the Block — A badger who is a reporter in Cubic City who hosts and interviewed the show "Big City Life" where he interviews successful people in Cubic City.
• Power Chum — A gorilla superhero on TV that is Pecola's favourite. He looks like Bongo except wearing red superhero tights, cape, and mask. He can fly and has super strength. He inspired Pecola become Power Pecola RobotMania.

Episodes

Season 1 (2001)

No.	Segment 1	Segment 2	Original airdate (Teletoon)[5]	Prod. code
1	Double Troubles (pilot)	Detective Pecola	September 3, 2001 (2001-09-03)	101
2	Constellation Pecola	Good Deeds	September 4, 2001 (2001-09-04)	102
3	Fire Drill Frenzy	Hurricane Pecola	September 5, 2001 (2001-09-05)	103
4	Robo-Rocket	Mayor Muddle	September 6, 2001 (2001-09-06)	104
5	Your Wish is my Command	Robbie to the Rescue	September 7, 2001 (2001-09-07)	105
6	One Lonely Night	Miss Lucky's Bloopers	September 10, 2001 (2001-09-10)	106
7	Spring Cleaning	Monster Moth	September 11, 2001 (2001-09-11)	107
8	The Cube Town Tri-Brag-a-Thon	The Wild Ride	September 12, 2001 (2001-09-12)	108
9	Half Baked	Hide 'N' Go Sleep	September 13, 2001 (2001-09-13)	109
10	Not Seeing is Disbelieving	Melancholy Pecola	September 14, 2001 (2001-09-14)	110
11	Pecola's Penguin Special	Bot and Switch	September 17, 2001 (2001-09-17)	111
12	Golagola	Operation Papazoni	September 18, 2001 (2001-09-18)	112
13	High and Dry	Two Brilliant Inventors	September 19, 2001 (2001-09-19)	113

Season 2 (2002)

No.	Segment 1	Segment 2	Original airdate (Teletoon)[5]	Prod. code
14	Ode to Pecola	Laundry Quandary	September 2, 2002 (2002-09-02)	114
15	Cool It!	Yeti or Not	September 3, 2002 (2002-09-03)	115
16	The Curse of Cube Town	Postman Pecola	September 4, 2002 (2002-09-04)	116
17	Runaway Pecola	Pecola's Island	September 5, 2002 (2002-09-05)	117
18	The Town Crier	Pecola Grows Horns	September 6, 2002 (2002-09-06)	118
19	Coco's Concert	Spaceman Pecola	September 9, 2002 (2002-09-09)	119
20	A Career Day	Power Pecola	September 11, 2002 (2002-09-11)	120
21	Robo-Rudy	Lights, Camera, Pecola!	September 10, 2002 (2002-09-10)	121
22	Prince Puggalski	Painting Pecola	September 12, 2002 (2002-09-12)	122
23	Pecola and the Pirates	Mysterious Pecola	September 13, 2002 (2002-09-13)	123
24	Gazelle's Goof	Pecola in a Yacht of Trouble	September 16, 2002 (2002-09-16)	124
25	Yorkshire's Pudding	Pecola's Tunnel Trouble	September 17, 2002 (2002-09-17)	125
26	Yo! Pecola	Great Cubes of Fire!	September 18, 2002 (2002-09-18)	126

Telecast and home media

Pecola first aired on Teletoon in Canada from September 3, 2001 with the final episode airing on September 18, 2002 with repeats until the mid-2000s. In Japan, the show aired on TV Tokyo at 9 A.M. to 9:30 A.M. on Sundays from October 6, 2002 until March 30, 2003. In 2003, Pecola premiered on Cartoon Network in the U.S., and also aired on the now-defunct Qubo from 2007 to 2017, then started airing again from April 5, 2020 to July 26 of that year. The show also aired on Spacetoon in Indonesia from 2005 until 2013, and on RTÉ2 in Ireland from 2002^[6] to 2003.^[7]

The show was released to DVD in Japan, Australia, France, and Taiwan. A DVD release of the show in the U.S. has yet to be announced; however it is available on Amazon Video.^[8]

Video game

In Japan, an educational game based on the shorts was released for the Sega Pico entitled Pecola no Daibouken Maboroshi no Aisukurīmu wo Sagase! (ペコラのだいぼうけん まぼろしのアイスクリームをさがせ!).

References

1. gottsuiiyan (October 30, 2008). "Back in time with Billy Bat". The Eastern Edge. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011.
2. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 606. ISBN 978-1476665993.
3. "CN adds 2 CGI series". AWN.
4. "Works:Animation Series-MC Holdings Co., Ltd". MC Holdings. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
5. "Television Program Logs". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. March 2, 2016.^{[dead link‍]} Alt URL
6. "RTE Guide - TV Schedules". isis.rte.ie. Archived from the original on December 18, 2002. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
7. "RTE Guide - TV Schedules". isis.rte.ie. Archived from the original on May 28, 2003. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
8. "Watch Pecola Season 1 | Prime Video". Amazon.

External links

• Milky Cartoon homepage
• Milky Cartoon's Pecola page
• Pecola at IMDb