Poko was a stop motion TV series about a young boy, his pet dog, and his toy monkey. Produced in Canada by Halifax Film, a DHX Media Company, Poko was created by Jeff Rosen, Cheryl Wagner and designer D. Mark Laing. It began production in 2003 and ended in 2006 after three production cycles. Poko is still broadcast in Canada on CBC Television in the Kids' CBC programming block, and in Australia by ABC. It is narrated by actor and dancer Cory Bowles.
The show was awarded the 2004 Gemini for Best Pre-school Program in 2004 and the Alliance for Children & Television (ACT) Grand Prize in 2007.
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There are two episodes in each show. The first one is indoors, after Poko wakes up. The second is outdoors, in the garden. In both, Poko encounters a problem, but usually overcomes it after observing a smaller creature (such as a bird, ladybug, worm, etc.) solving a similar problem.
Also beneficial to children, the narrator helps Poko to name and understand his feelings, and find appropriate ways to deal with them: for example, on some occasions, when Poko has become angry at Minus, he has gone and given a blast on his tuba to release his frustration. Another common solution is for Poko to give Mr.Murphy a hug. In this way, the show suggests positive methods of dealing with problems.When this happens they usually sing..."hug a monkey...hug him tight...hug him till you feel alright"
In the second season, a new segment was added called "Poko's Playhouse", in which Poko and Minus perform for a stuffed toy audience on a "Grand Ole Opry" type play-stage, with children singing a background song.
These are thirty second shorts where Poko and Minus (and sometimes Mr.Murphy) play against a monocolour background. They may be swimming, surfing, riding an imaginary Roller coaster, or doing other activities.
In the middle of each show in season one, Poko reads a Mighty Murph story. Each one is made using Macromedia Flash, in cartoon style, and involves a baby Mr. Murphy in some dilemma, such as being hungry, or having nowhere to play. He then imagines he is Mighty Murph (a superhero who is parodied as Superman as Mighty Murph can be seen doing a scence which a reference to the Superman (Fielscheir animated series).), and flies around to find a solution to his problem. His search is fruitless, and he realizes the best place is just where he is, as his own self with his mother. The stories are told by the narrator.
The show follows the same sequence every time: