| Numberjacks | |
|---|---|
The 10 Numberjacks |
|
| Format | Children's television series |
| Starring |
Dylan Robertson (voices of 0 and 1), Ross Mullan (the Numbertaker), |
| Country of origin | UK |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 65 (2 specials) (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC2 CBeebies |
| Original run | October 16, 2006 – present |
Numberjacks is a children's television series in the UK for 4- to 5-year-olds shown regularly on CBeebies and occasionally on BBC2. It is produced by Open Mind Productions for the BBC and features a mixture of computer-generated animation and live action.
Contents |
The Numberjacks are animated characters - the numbers zero to ninety - who live in an ordinary sofa and solve problems outside. Each episode has the same structure. At the beginning of the episode, some of the Numberjacks will be engaged in an activity that will have relevance to the problem that is later discovered. Then an "agent" (a live-action child) will call in and describe the problem that is occurring. One or two of the Numberjacks will go out into the real world to solve the problem, while the remaining Numberjacks stay in their base and watch their progress on a screen. As soon as the problem is understood, Numberjack 5 imagines what else could go wrong if it wasn't solved.
Once outside, the Numberjacks are shown in a live-action setting (although themselves still animated). They diagnose the problem by examination and with help from additional ideas from the agents, who call into the base. The problem could be caused by an antagonist or a younger Numberjack escaping from the sofa and inadvertently making things go wrong. Problems are solved by using "Brain Gain," a magical force of power.
Once solved, the Numberjacks return to their base, replay what happened on a screen and then challenge the viewer to think about a related problem and to "call the Numberjacks."
The problems encountered are all based around simple mathematical concepts and the programme is intended to stimulate young children's interest in mathematics. On satellite, digital and cable tv, a link to Numberjacks often appears on a corner of screen. This link sometimes appears on for example, gardening programs as a way of helping people with basic numeracy.
The Numberjacks are the heroes. Each of the numbers 0 through 9 is an individual character, and each is broadly the age of his or her number. The male Numberjacks are even numbers and the female Numberjacks are odd numbers.
There are five evil villains, the "Meanies", who often cause trouble for people. The Problem Blob, the Puzzler, and the Numbertaker are male, while the Shape Japer and the Spooky Spoon are female.
Series one, consisting of 45 15-minute episodes, first aired in October 2006. Series 2, consisting of 20 15-minute episodes first aired on CBeebies in 2009.[1]
| # | Episode | Original Airdate | Overview | DVD release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1: 2006-2007 | ||||
| 1 | The Trouble With Nothing At All | 16 October 2006 | 0 makes things disappear and 6 flies out to sort everything out. | Volume 1 |
| 2 | Going Wrong Going Long | 17 October 2006 | The Problem Blob makes the boys pencil get longer and the man's mop and the boys straw. 4 sorts him out. | Volume 1 |
| 3 | Sphere Today Gone Tomorrow | 18 October 2006 | The Shape Japer turns an orange into a cube marble's too even pea's 6 sorts him out | Volume 2 |
| 4 | In Out Shake It All About | 19 October 2006 | The Puzzler makes his eyes come out on both sides of him, making them turn, his glasses and nose on top: It's making everything outside and not in. 3 and 5 sort him out | Volume 1 |
| 5 | One More Time | 20 October 2006 | When everyone passes under a bridge, they become one higher number: 4 turns into a 5, then 6. It's 1 that's causing all the trouble. | Volume 2 |
| 6 | Forward Thinking | 23 October 2006 | The Problem Blob is back - and things go backwards and forwards. 6 hitches a lift. | Volume 3 |
| 7 | Seven Wonders | 24 October 2006 | 4 finds things add up to 7 when the Puzzler's about, and 7 is caught by the Puzzler. | Volume 3 |
| 8 | Getting Heavy | 25 October 2006 | Spooky Spoon is making light things heavy - 5 and 3 fly out. | Volume 2 |
| 9 | Belongings | 26 October 2006 | Things don't belong when Spooky Spoon mixes things up - another problem for 5. | Volume 3 |
| 10 | 4 He's A Jolly Good Fellow | 27 October 2006 | The Numbertaker is taking all the fours he can find - will 4 be able to escape his clutches? | Volume 1 |
| 11 | Boxing Day | 30 October 2006 | Boxes go wrong when the Shape Japer plays tricks - but 6 can do the trick too, when the Shape Japer puts him in a box. | Volume 1 |
| 12 | Out of Order | 31 October 2006 | Spooky Spoon makes sure things are well out of order - until 5 sorts her out. | TBA |
| 13 | Nine Lives | 1 November 2006 | The Puzzler has 9 trapped in a puzzle bubble - 6 and 3 come to the rescue. In this episode, 6 turns into two 3's. | Volume 2 |
| 14 | Takeaway | 2 November 2006 | Not just a few problems, lots of them - 4 makes the Numbertaker take more than he wants to. | Volume 4 |
| 15 | The Cuck-Cuck-Cuck-Oo-Oo-Oo Bird | 3 November 2006 | There's a pattern to the problems the Puzzler causes - and 5 has to break that pattern. | Volume 4 |
| 16 | Stop And Go | 19 February 2007 | Things don't move when they should - 6 has got to sort Spooky Spoon out. | TBA |
| 17 | Off Colour | 20 February 2007 | Spooky Spoon wants to be the most colourful character around - 4 is out to stop her. | Volume 1 |
| 18 | A Game Of Two Halves | 21 February 2007 | The Shape Japer makes half a load of trouble, and 4 has to make things whole again. | Volume 3 |
| 19 | Out For The Count | 22 February 2007 | 2 is out and about and making everyone count incorrectly - 6 goes after him. | Volume 4 |
| 20 | The Container Drainer | 23 February 2007 | Everything is empty thanks to the Puzzler - 3 helps 5 to fill things up again but not without 3 getting caught by the Puzzler. | Volume 5 |
| 21 | Tens Cranky Moments | 26 February 2007 | 1 and 0 get out and about and make ten of everything - creating more work for 5. | TBA |
| 22 | 3 Things Good | 27 February 2007 | 3 is out on her own trying to do battle with the Shape Japer, who does not like things in threes. | Volume 4 |
| 23 | Say What You Mean | 28 February 2007 | Be clear what you mean or the Problem Blob will make trouble for you, as 4 finds out. | Volume 5 |
| 24 | One Won | 1 March 2007 | There's only one of everything, thanks to the Numbertaker - 6 sorts things with help from 1. | Volume 2 |
| 25 | Tricky Sixes | 2 March 2007 | The Numbertaker likes two lots of three today - 6 is the Numberjack to sort him out. | TBA |
| 26 | May The Fours Be With You | 5 March 2007 | The Shape Japer is after things that come in eights - 4 goes on the mission. | Volume 5 |
| 27 | Best Estimate | 6 March 2007 | The Problem Blob makes things go wrong when people can't estimate - 5 to the rescue. | Volume 2 |
| 28 | On and Off | 7 March 2007 | Spooky Spoon is mixing things again - 4 is on the case. | TBA |
| 29 | Zero the Hero | 8 March 2007 | 0 to the rescue when just for once, the Numberjacks are the problem, not the answer! | Volume 3 |
| 30 | Bad Circles | 9 March 2007 | The Shape Japer is making bad circles - 6 gets ready to sort her out. | Volume 6 |
| 31 | Famous Fives | 12 March 2007 | The Puzzler sets the problem - and 5 is the right Numberjack to sort it out. | Volume 6 |
| 32 | Fair Shares | 13 March 2007 | Things aren't being shared fairly, thanks to the Problem Blob - 6 makes everything all right. | Volume 4 |
| 33 | Being 3 | 14 March 2007 | The Numbertaker is taking threes today - but he can't take Numberjack 3: In this episode, 3 turns into a 4. | Volume 3 |
| 34 | Into the Teens | 15 March 2007 | The Numbertaker has added ten more than 1 - 4 has to sort him out. 4 turns into a 14. | Volume 6 |
| 35 | Slide and Turn | 16 March 2007 | The Shape Japer is moving things and causing problems - 5 goes out there. | TBA |
| 36 | Six Of One | 19 March 2007 | The Problem Blob is making trouble with sixes - Numberjack 6 to the rescue. | TBA |
| 37 | Time Trouble | 20 March 2007 | Time passes very strongly - thanks to Spooky Spoon. 5 investigates. | Volume 5 |
| 38 | 1, 2, 3, Go | 21 March 2007 | It's 1, 2, 3 - pattern time! 3 battles with the Puzzler. | TBA |
| 39 | More 4 | 22 March 2007 | The Shape Japer makes trouble with symmetry - 4 goes out to sort things out. | TBA |
| 40 | Almost Human | 23 March 2007 | The Problem Blob causes trouble - and 4 tries out being a human being. There is a special Numberjack known as the Numberjack Man (played by Steven Lim), known as 4's temporary replacement. | TBA |
| 41 | Two, Four, Six, Eight | 26 March 2007 | The Numbertaker takes all the even numbers - 6 and 8 fly out to put things right. | Volume 5 |
| 42 | Round and Round | 27 March 2007 | The Problem Blob has gotten people going around in circles - can 5 restore things to normal? | TBA |
| 43 | Square Dancing | 28 March 2007 | The Shape Japer's about - and 1, 4, and 9 sort out problems with squares. | TBA |
| 44 | Data Day | 29 March 2007 | Spooky Spoon is mixing things up - 3 gets ready to take her on. | Volume 4 |
| 45 | How? What? Check! | 30 March 2007 | 5 sorts out the Puzzler's problems - and checks to make sure. | TBA |
| Series 1 Specials | ||||
| 1 | Counting Down To Christmas | TBA | The Numbertaker, Shape Japer, and Spooky Spoon make Christmas go wrong, and Agent 20 is one of the victims. 5 and 6 fly out and save Christmas Day with help from 3 and some other agents. | Volume 5 (Release Date: 24 November 2008) |
| 2 | Seaside Adventure | TBA | The Numberjacks have a holiday at the beach, only to face troubles with the Meanies! | Volume 6 (Release Date: 3 August 2009) |
| Series 2 (2009) [1] | ||||
| 46 | Ups and Downs | 26 October 2009 | Spooky Spoon is turning everything upside down, so 1 and 8 are sent out to help 4. | TBA |
| 47 | On the Move | 27 October 2009 | The Problem Blob is making things move when they shouldn't, so 5 is sent out to stop him. | TBA |
| 48 | Very Shapely | 28 October 2009 | The Shape Japer is causing problems again by stretching the shapes of things - 6 is after her. | TBA |
| 49 | Wee Three Phone Home | 29 October 2009 | The Puzzler is causing some people to repeat his silly movements - 3 is sent out to stop him. | TBA |
| 50 | Did You Notice Anything? | 30 October 2009 | The Numbertaker is taking away people's noticing skills, and then plays tricks on them without them noticing - 4 is sent out to defeat him. | TBA |
| 51 | Measured Response | 2 November 2009 | Things are changing length thanks to the Shape Japer, so 6 is sent out to change them back. | TBA |
| 52 | Think Again | 3 November 2009 | 3 and 4 are playing in the gym when 5 discovers that Spooky Spoon is mixing things up again. | TBA |
| 53 | Carry On Counting | 4 November 2009 | 6 is sent out to do battle with the Problem Blob, who is causing people to go back to the beginning of things, sliming 6. Brain Gain helps 6. | TBA |
| 54 | A Record In the Charts | 5 November 2009 | 4 is sent out to defeat the Puzzler, who is stopping the cafe customers from remembering whether they have had too much food or not. | TBA |
| 55 | Half Time | 6 November 2009 | The Numbertaker is halving the numbers of everything - 4 is sent out to stop him. In this episode, 4 turns into a 1, a 2, and an 8. | TBA |
| 56 | A Close Thing | 9 November 2009 | A girl can't get near her teddy, and grown ups need help with things being too close. 6 flies out to sort the Problem Blob. | TBA |
| 57 | A Circle at Both End | 10 November 2009 | 3's buddy blocks become cylinders. 5 has to fly out when a boy has trouble with his chalks, thanks to the Shape Japer. | TBA |
| 58 | Matchmaking | 11 November 2009 | Numberjack 1 plays a trick on Numberjack 4, always making the number of buddy blocks on the seesaw unbalanced. 3 flies out to sort the Numbertaker. | TBA |
| 59 | A Different Sort | 12 November 2009 | 0 and 1 are failing to help 3 sort her beautiful things. 4 flies out to sort Spooky Spoon. | TBA |
| 60 | Areas of Concern | 13 November 2009 | In the gym, 6 and his buddy tiles are making patterns on the floor and flying around. 6 flies out to defeat the Puzzler. | TBA |
| 61 | The Dreaded Lurgi | 7 December 2009 | In the gym 6 can't jump on the seesaw - and 4 feels ill too - they've both got the dreaded lurgi. 5 flies out to investigate and stop the Problem Blob. In the meantime, 3 gets lurgi too, and agents help out. | TBA |
| 62 | Fraction Fiction | 8 December 2009 | 3 and 4 argue over entertaining 5's buddy blocks. They try to share them but the blocks get bored and wander off. 3 flies out to beat the Shape Japer. | TBA |
| 63 | Interesting Times | 9 December 2009 | 7 tells 0 and 1 a story about 3, 4, 5, and 6 going out one after the other; to sort out morning, daytime, evening and night time things, and Spooky Spoon herself. | TBA |
| 64 | More Ways Than One | 10 December 2009 | 4, 5, and 6 are playing a version of Circle Slide, using different ways of moving. 4 goes out to rescue 8 who is trapped by the Puzzler. | TBA |
| 65 | Hundreds and Thousands | 11 December 2009 | 4 is in the Cozy Room taking photos of 1 and 0. A girl has a hundred or so beads to make a necklace but then has only ten, then one. 6 flies out to defeat the Numbertaker. | TBA |
The series will be announced to air on the Disney Junior block and channel, starting in late 2011. Nika Futterman will voice 0 and 2, Leah Ostry will voice 1, Tara Strong will voice 3, Dee Bradley Baker will voice 4,Mariah roya will voice 8, Lara Jill Miller will voice 5, Tom Kenny will voice 6, Grey Delisle will voice 7 and Kath Soucie will voice 9.
The Numberjacks are on Their Way (Volume 1)
Calling All Agents (Volume 2)
Standing by to Zoom (Volume 3)
Brain Gain (Volume 4)
Counting Down to Christmas (Volume 5)
Seaside Adventure (Volume 6)