8.3 /10 2 Votes
Created by Sandra Sheppard First episode date 24 March 2000 Theme song Cyberchase Theme Song | 6.7/10 8/10 TV Country of origin United StatesCanada Final episode date 13 November 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Genre Action-adventureScience-fictionEducational Directed by Larry JacobsJason Groh Voices of Christopher LloydGilbert GottfriedNovie EdwardsJacqueline PillonAnnick ObonsawinLen Carlson (2002–06)Phil Williams (2006–15)Robert TinklerMatthew A. WilsonBianca DeGroat Theme music composer David W. ShawSteve Pecile Cast Profiles |
Cyberchase tv intro
Cyberchase is an American–Canadian animated television series on PBS Kids. The series focuses around three Earth kids, Jackie, Matt, and Inez, who are brought into Cyberspace, a digital universe, to protect it from the evil Hacker. Using math in application with problem-solving skills, environment and weather, they are able to prevent Hacker from causing any more harm. In Cyberspace, they meet Digit, a cybird that helps the kids on their mission.
Contents
- Cyberchase tv intro
- Premise
- Main characters
- Cyberchase For Real characters
- Recurring characters Team Motherboard
- Minor characters and guest stars
- Live action
- History and education philosophy
- Cybersites
- Apps
- Development
- Critical response
- Awards
- References
Cyberchase was created by Thirteen. It was first shown on WNET as a "sneak peek" on March 24, 2000, before making its official debut on January 21, 2002. In 2010, after the season eight finale, PBS put the series on hiatus, but it returned in 2013 for a ninth season, followed by a tenth season in 2015. Cyberchase is the second longest running animated PBS Kids series, behind Arthur.

Premise

When three average Earth kids, Jackie, Matt, and Inez accidentally allow the Hacker access to Motherboard, the supreme ruler of Cyberspace, she becomes severely weakened by a virus. The kids are brought into Cyberspace in an effort to protect the world from the Hacker and his clumsy assistants Buzz and Delete until a cure is found. They join forces with Digit, and later many more Cybercitizens that turn out to be great friends who are willing to fight for Motherboard.
Main characters

Note: The Cybersquad is also known as "Earthlies" by Digit, and as "Earthbrats" by Hacker.

"Cyberchase For Real" characters
Recurring characters: Team Motherboard
Minor characters and guest stars
Cyberchase has had many guest stars over the years, including Tony Hawk. These guest stars appear as citizens of Cybersites, villains, friends, or even rulers of the site.
Live-action
Each Cyberchase episode is followed by Cyberchase For Real, a live-action educational supplement linking concepts learned in the show to real life experiences. The actors Bianca DeGroat and Harry Matthew A. Wilson are in their thirties, but amusingly act in a manner similar to the age of the target audience. For Real is produced by WNET in and around New York City after production is completed on the animated segments. These For Real segments are broadcast exclusively on PBS in the United States where the program runs longer and fills the time gap where there might be breaks for commercials. Some For Real segments can also be viewed online. As of September 17, 2012, "Oh Noah", shorts that teach kids to speak Spanish, have been used instead of re-running the "For Real" segments. The "For Real" segment returned in season nine, but now only with Harry. He is now working, with other student leaders and his cousin Harley, for a student camp that teaches kids about the environment. It features progressive music with lots of synthesizers.
History and education philosophy
According to the website, Motherboard (sometimes referred to as "Mother B.") is the "Brain of the giant computer system that oversees all of Cyberspace. Her technician computer scientist, Dr. Marbles, keeps her functioning properly. Dr. Marbles created Hacker as an assistant, but Hacker turned against Motherboard. Digit is the assistant to Hacker and witnessed Hacker stealing the Encryptor Chip. After Dr. Marbles drains Hacker's battery and banishes him to the Northern Frontier, Digit is able to escape Hacker. Eventually Hacker is able to find a way to recharge himself, build Buzz and Delete, and formulate a plan to launch a virus that attacks Motherboard. When the kids Jackie, Matt, and Inez meet by a random chance and interact with a library map, this opens up a door for Hacker to infect Motherboard with the virus.
Cyberchase aims to show kids that math is everywhere and everyone can be good at it. The series encourages viewers to see, think, and do mathematics in their world. The show and supporting activities have been designed to support math education and reflect the curriculum standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The show's philosophy is to foster enthusiasm for math, to model mathematic reasoning, to help children improve their problem-solving skills and to inspire all children to approach math with confidence and a "can-do" attitude.
Cybersites
Cyberspace consists of plane-like bodies called Cybersites which are based on themes such as Ancient Egypt, the American Old West, Greek mythology, and amusement park. The Cybersquad travels to many of these locations in order to protect Cyberspace from Hacker. Each inhabited Cybersite has their own type of Cybercitizen. They are meant to represent the diversity of websites on the Internet, and reflect the many ecosystems and neighborhoods of today's world. For example, Gollywood is a Cyberspace representation of Hollywood, and Pefectamundo represent the 100% sustainable ecosystem of tomorrow.
Apps
There are two apps that Cyberchase has released to date:
- Cyberchase 3D Builder
- Cyberchase Shape Quest
Development
Originally, Thirteen, in partnership with Nelvana, produced the show for PBS Kids. It aired on PBS Kids from 2002–04 and 2013–14, and on V-me, PBS, and on PBS Kids Go! from 2004–13. Cyberchase is animated (after season 5) by Pip Animation Services Inc. Right Path Pictures does Post Production, and Curious Pictures did the original character design. Twelfth Root Music produces the sound track for Cyberchase. Thirteen/WNET New York and Nelvana produced the first five seasons, while Thirteen, in association with Title Entertainment, Inc. and WNET.ORG, produced seasons six through nine.
Executive producers
Critical response
On the site Common Sense Media, the show was for ages 5 and up and rated four out of five stars. The reviewer, Joly Herman, commented that "the adventures aren't scary, violent, or sexually inappropriate" but "require fortitude and brain power". Proposed discussion points sprouting from the series include "Can your child take the skills learned in each episode and figure out how to apply it to everyday life?" Herman noted that the only downside was that the adventures did not take place in the "real world" but added that the "For Real" segments solved this problem. The show was given a rating of three out of five smiley faces under the "The Good Stuff" section.
Carey Bryson of About.com gave the show a rating of four out of five stars. Bryson noted that the series' explanations of "simple mathematical idea[s]" are "usually explained well and woven throughout the story in a fun and interesting way". The review commended the series for its accessibility: "Children can easily learn from the example in the cartoon story" and praised the "Cyberchase For Real segment that follows each episode". Citing an example from the series using codes, Bryson explained how the show could be used to expand upon the curriculum: "Not only did [her five-year-old] learn about codes, but she also got in a ton of spelling practice". Bryson commended the series: "Educationally, Cyberchase delivers".
Awards
Cyberchase has been nominated for five Daytime Emmys and won in 2007 in the Outstanding Broadband Program category. Cyberchase also won a CINE Golden Eagle in 2006.
^2007 Outstanding Broadband Program nominees : Frances Nankin, Sandra Sheppard, Ellen Doherty, Jill Peters, Bob Morris, Suzanne Rose, Michelle Chen, Elizabeth Hummer, Arash Hoda, Anthony Chapman, David Hirmes, Bianca DeGroat, Matthew A. Wilson, George Arthur Bloom
^2008 Outstanding New Approaches nominees : Sandra Sheppard, Frances Nankin, Ellen Doherty, Jill Peters, David Hirmes, Kelly Lafferty, Michelle Chen, Tanner Vea, Bob Morris, Matthew A. Wilson
^2009 Outstanding New Approaches nominees : Sandra Sheppard, Frances Nankin, Ellen Doherty, David Hirmes, Tanner Vea, Denyse Ouellette, Gilbert Gottfried, Phil Williams, Robert Tinkler
^2012 Outstanding New Approaches nominees : Frances Nankin, Sandra Sheppard, Jill Peters, Marj Kleinman, Ellen Doherty, Kristin DiQuollo, Michelle Chen