August 14, 1996 (1996-08-14) – April 12, 1998 (1998-04-12)
Stickin' Around is a Canadian animated children's television series produced by Nelvana and created by Robin Steele and Brianne Leary.[1] The series originally aired from August 14, 1996, until April 12, 1998.[citation needed]Stickin' Around, originating as a series of one-minute interstitials on CBS in 1994,[2] centered on two best friends named Stacy and Bradley; their hand-drawn adventures with their friends and family; and their fantasies,[3] both encountering many problems they must face as they continue to grow up – with school, bullies, friends, and parents – and always coming up with imaginative ideas to eliminate these obstacles, such as becoming a superhero and putting themselves in a different environment where they have no trouble in defeating their enemies.
According to Nelvana, it uses "the advanced computer graphics of 'Boiler Paint', virtually convincing us that kids are creating their own animated series."[4]
Stickin' Around won the Gemini Award for "Best Animated Program or Series" in the spring of 1998, while being nominated once again during the fall of 1998, for the Gemini of the same award.
Stacy Stickler: One of the main protagonists. An 8-year-old quiet but bossy girl who loves imagining many things with Bradley. She often says "For your big fat information" and "Real mature, Bradley". She sometimes serves as the voice of reason for Bradley's silliness and recklessness.
Bradley: The other main protagonist is Stacy's 9-year-old best friend. He wears thick black-framed glasses and a red backwards cap. He often imagines himself as a superhero, secret agent, robot, or vampire, namely as Rubber Guy, Cap Crusader, 00 Bradley, Robo Bradley, or Count Vladley. His favourite fantasy is that "Aliens from Uranus" are behind whatever problem they are facing, much to Stacy's annoyance.
Frank: Stacy's fat pet wiener dog who sometimes shares in their adventures and loves to eat. Due to his insatiable appetite, he often sees things as food. He is very lazy and does not exercise much apart from chasing Stacy on the way to school.
Lester: Bradley's pet chameleon who blends into the background and causes a lot of trouble.
Lance: A bully who loves to pick on everyone in school, especially Bradley, whom he nicknames "Scradley".
Russell: Lance's dimwitted best friend and sidekick and carries around with him a horrible odor. He always says "What?" when everyone says "Whoa Man! What's that funky smell?" and he repeats everything that Lance says. He actually says "Yeah…… [either what Lance said, or a synonym/variant]". He does surprisingly well in class.
Polly: Lance's friendly, intelligent younger half-sister who always gives words of knowledge and wisdom. She is often seen walking her lifeless pet poodle, Pepperoni, whom she refuses to believe is dead; she hates being called a baby, though.
Dill: Friend of Stacy and Bradley who has a very loud voice. Often, uses the words "HOLY MACKEREL!".
Stella Stickler: She's Stacy's caring but also a hot-headed mother. She loves fashion, she works hard, and hates being annoyed by Stacy and Bradley sometimes. She is divorced from Stacy’s father Stanley. She is very annoyed when Stanley is trying to "fix" things.
Stanley Stickler: Stacy's ambitious father. His inventions go wrong and he isn't good at cooking. A running gag is that he's always trying to fix appliances. As mentioned in the first episode entitled "Aaand Action!", he lives in "his own place" in the same apartments (Latchkey Garden Apartments). He also seems to be kind of forgetful, because in the episode "Madam Know-It-All" it's a running gag that he thinks that his family has a lawn, but it's green gravel. He is divorced from Stacy’s mother Stella. He still doesn't seem to get that this "lawn" is never made out of grass because in the episode "We're Doomed" from the third season he still thinks that it is grass; and on the episode "It's My Parties" from the second season, in which he didn't realize it was Stella's turn to throw a surprise birthday party for Stacy.
Ms. Mobley: Stacy and Bradley's cheerful but crazy teacher. She frequently says "Won't that be fun?" to one of them.
Principal Coffin: A scary school principal who looks like a zombie and a vampire. He speaks in a slow, spooky accent.
Mr. Lederhosen: Stacy and Bradley's tough P.E. teacher who acts like an army sergeant major.
Mr. Doddler: A senior citizen who wears a fez with a crescent moon on it. He is a farmer who often grows the ingredients to make the kids' favourite snack, Cheez Poopers, that are similar to Wotsits. Stacy usually calls him "Mr. D".
William: A chubby boy who loves eating.
Melody: Stacy and Bradley's classmate who uses a wheelchair. She occasionally teams up with Stacy against Bradley and Dill.
Ashley: Stacy's rival and the wealthiest girl in school. She always wears a beret and is actually seen acting as somewhat of a snob and a spoiled brat.
Mrs. Salazar: A Spanish speaking woman who is Stacy and Bradley's kind-hearted neighbour.
Pickle: Pickle is Dill's pet parrot. His name is a pun on a dill pickle (a food).
The series was executive produced by Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert, Gerard Mital and Clive A. Smith, supervising produced by Vince Commisso and Stephen Hodgins, and co-ordinating produced by Patricia R. Burns. Laura Kate Wallis, Marianne Culbert and Tom McGillis served as producers, with the series being directed by John Halfpenny, John Van Bruggen and Chad Hicks. Dale Schott and Hugh Duffy served as story editors and Michelle McCree and Alan Gregg served as YTV executive producers. Dan Hennessey served as a voice director and Karyn Bonello-Tester served as a casting administrator.
Broadcast and home media
In 1994, the show originated as a series of one-minute interstitials on CBS in the U.S.[5] The series originally aired from 1996 to 1998 on YTV in Canada and on ABC in Australia, with reruns airing prominently on YTV until 2004 and again from 2006 until 2008. In Australia, it also aired on Cartoon Network from 2002 to 2004. In Latin America, it aired on Nickelodeon under the title Los Grafitos, which translates to "The Graphites" in Spanish, and as Os Rabiscos Ariscos, or "The Skittish Doodles" in Portuguese, also on Nickelodeon. In the UK, it aired on Nickelodeon in 1996 and Channel 4 in 2004; and also on Disney Channel in Japan and on TVNZ 2 in New Zealand. It aired in the U.S. on Fox Kids from 1997 to 1998 and on Fox Family from 1998 to 2000, it would also later air reruns on the now-defunct Qubo from March 28, 2016 to July 24, 2020. It also aired on the Spanish-speaking Telefutura, as part of the Toonturama block, from July to November 2002.
As of 2022, Stickin' Around is available to stream on FilmRise.
References
^Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 598–599. ISBN978-1538103739.
^Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 793–794. ISBN978-1476665993.
^Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 793–794. ISBN978-1476665993.
