Stanley (2001 TV series)

Updated on Jan 20, 2024

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Stanley theme song

Stanley is an American animated television series that aired on Playhouse Disney based on the series of children's books written by "Griff" (as indicated on the cover of the original book), also known as Andrew Griffin. It was produced by Cartoon Pizza, and was developed for television by Jim Jinkins (the creator of Doug, PB&J Otter, Allegra's Window, JoJo's Circus and Pinky Dinky Doo) and David Campbell.

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Stanley teaches a wide variety of issues preschool children face, including change, growth, rules, and dealing with others. Each episode centers on an animal that deals with or helps explain the issue Stanley is grappling with.

Stanley (2001 TV series) Stanley Western Animation TV Tropes

Junkanoo and reggae fusion group Baha Men, known for their hit song "Who Let the Dogs Out", sang the theme song for the series, "My Man Stanley".

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Synopsis

Stanley (2001 TV series) Stanley TV Show Episode Guide amp Schedule TWC Central

Each episode shows Stanley (voiced by Jessica D. Stone) in a situation he does not fully understand. He discusses it with his pet goldfish Dennis (Charles Shaughnessy) before consulting the Great Big Book of Everything, a remarkably complete zoology book aimed at young children or his computer. By observing how an animal copes with the same situation Stanley faces, or how it can overcome a similar difficulty, Stanley learns to deal with the situation himself.

Throughout the show Stanley and all his preschool aged friends are able to talk to his pet cat, Elsie (Hynden Walch) and dog Harry (Rene Mujica) as well as Dennis. Other animals also seem to occasionally respond, but never talk or give a definite indication they truly understood what was said. Stanley and his friends actively try to keep the adults (that is, except Stanley's grandmother), and by extension Stanley's older brother Lionel, from realizing this.

The Great Big Book of Everything appears to be magical in nature, able to either let the animals out of the pages or allow the children to enter, sometimes changing them into animals in the process. This does not appear to be imaginary since occasionally adults do notice the noise, and Stanley works hard to hide the animals. There is also an episode where Stanley's brother sees a T-Rex in the yard, but dismisses the memory when it disappears back into the book.

The Halloween special features Stanley's grandmother who, it is implied, is a witch. She reveals that she too can work the book, and in fact was the one who gave it to Stanley. She was also the one who taught its theme song to Harry and Elsie.

When someone says the "Great Big Book of Everything", hints it out, or even has the book, Elsie and Harry will wake up or find their way into the scene and start singing. This usually annoys Dennis, who after the introductory verse, says something like "Oh not again!".

The episodes, "Growing Pains," "Time for Toolfish," and "Pearls of Wisdom," show Harry, Stanley's pet dog, in a swimsuit.

Broadcast history

In the U.S., the series aired on Disney Channel's daytime preschool block Playhouse Disney since its debut, September 15, 2001. When Playhouse Disney rebranded its on-air presentation in 2007, Stanley was put on a new timeslot at 6:00AM ET on the weekends. As of May 2008, Stanley no longer airs on Playhouse Disney, but DVD's and books are still available. In February 2011, the show was completely removed when Playhouse Disney rebranded as Disney Junior. The show was briefly seen online on DisneyJunior.com as part of "fan favorites" week on the week of June 20, 2011, and it cannot be seen on the internet any more. As of March 23, 2012, the series returned on the U.S. airwaves on Disney Junior.

In Canada, it ran on The Family Channel from 2002 to 2007, and then was moved to Disney Junior, which has been running since 2007. It also aired on the Canadian-French version of Disney Junior since 2010.

Canada

Family (Canada) (2002 - November 29, 2007)

Disney Junior (English Canada) (May 6, 2011 – September 29, 2013)

Disney Junior (French Canada) (May 6, 2011 - 2013)

Playhouse Disney (English Canada) (November 30, 2007 – May 5, 2011)

Playhouse Disney (French Canada) (July 5, 2010 - May 5, 2011)

United States

Playhouse Disney (United States) (September 15, 2001 – 2008)

Disney Junior (United States) (March 23, 2012 – 2014)

Disney Channel (United States) (September 15, 2001 - 2008)

Characters

Stanley Griff (Jessica D. Stone) is an imaginative young boy. He has several pets: a goldfish named Dennis, a dog named Harry, and a cat named Elsie. He has an older brother named Lionel, who enjoys playing his electric guitar, a father who stays at home and draws cartoons, and a mother who is a dentist (the latter two were revealed in the episode "Double-Duty Dad").

Dennis the Goldfish (Charles Shaughnessy) is the goldfish of Stanley Griff. In fact, he is Stanley's best friend who gives him education about animals to help him with his everyday problems, which interest him. He also has to point out the flaws in Stanley's ridiculous solutions. He even breaks the fourth wall by either encouraging the audience to do something fun or by asking them questions at the end of almost every episode.

Lionel Griff (Shawn Pyfrom) is the older brother of Stanley. He likes rock and roll music a lot and always wears headphones on his ears, but still loves his younger brother very much by giving him advice, helping out with his homework, and looking out for him.

Mark Griff (David Landsberg) is the father of Stanley and Lionel. He is a stay-at-home father, but works anyway. He wears glasses, a dark brown beard, and has very little strands of hair.

Joyce Griff (Ari Meyers) is the sweet and caring mother of Stanley and Lionel. She is a working mother and loves her family very much. However, she does have ophidiophobia, which is the fear of snakes. She has red hair.

Lester Goldberg (Philece Sampler) is one of Stanley's friends. He has a father who is referred to as Mr. Goldberg (Wallace Shawn). In Little Dog Lost, it is revealed that he is Jewish because not only is his last name Goldberg, he does not celebrate Christmas and he celebrates Hanukkah. But he gets a present for every one of the 8 nights of the holiday.

Mini & Marci (Khylan Jones) are identical twin sisters who are very good friends with Stanley. They both have black hair, but Mimi's hair is long and Marci's hair is shaped in a ponytail. In Little Dog Lost, it is revealed that they are Black African Americans and do not celebrate Christmas. They celebrate Kwanzaa, but still get presents.

Cast

Charles Shaughnessy - Dennis the Goldfish

Jessica D. Stone - Stanley Griff

David Landsberg - Mark Griff

Ari Meyers - Joyce Griff

Rene Mujica - Harry the Dog

Shawn Pyfrom - Lionel Griff

Hynden Walch - Elsie the Cat

Philece Sampler - Lester Goldberg

Khylan Jones - Mimi & Marci

Candi Milo - Ms. Diaz

Wallace Shawn - Mr. Goldberg

Awards and nominations

Emmy Award

2002 – Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program – Charles Shaughnessy For playing "Dennis" (won)

Film

On January 3, 2006, Walt Disney Home Entertainment and Cartoon Pizza released a full-length direct-to-video movie based on Stanley. Entitled Stanley's Dinosaur Round-Up, the film centers on the titular character as he, along with Elsie, Dennis, Harry, Mimi, Lester and Marci, team up to save his Great Uncle Stew (John Ritter, who completed his work for the film before he died)'s dude ranch from the greedy Rockin' Rory (an uncredited Randy Quaid) who intends to buy the ranch and turn it into an amusement park.