Zoboomafoo

Premise and structure

Upon their arrival at Animal Junction, the Kratt brothers (Chris and Martin Kratt) lean out the window and call Zoboomafoo [or "Zoboo" for short] (portrayed by Jovian), who is shown in a live-action segment as an actual lemur leaping across a field to reach them. When the lemur reaches Animal Junction, the Kratt brothers offer him a snack, generally some lemur-appropriate food like garbanzo beans, sweet potato, or mango slices, whereupon the "real" lemur spins around on a turntable (shouting, "ZOBOOMAFOOOOOOOOO!!!"), leaps off while briefly laughing, and becomes a talking lemur puppet (voiced by Ottawa-born puppeteer Gord Robertson). This change enables Zoboomafoo to lead into the main segment of the episode, which he begins by describing a "Mangatsika!" (a Malagasy word literally meaning "cold," but used in the series to mean "cool!") animal that he saw as he traveled to Animal Junction.

As he describes the animal, a song is played wondering "Who Could It Be?" while a cartoon shows the characteristics of the "mystery animal". At the end of the song, Chris and Martin try to guess the animal Zoboomafoo has described and the mystery is solved when the animal (or animals) arrive at Animal Junction.

Each episode has a theme: For example, baby animals, frightening animals, or the importance of play. The arrival of the "mystery animal", generally used as exposition, leads Zoboomafoo, Chris, and Martin into a conversation about various aspects of that particular animal.

At least once every episode (sometimes twice), Zoboomafoo says that some event in Animal Junction reminds him of a time in Zobooland, where he tell stories about his best friends in Zobooland, such as Gooble (a purple animal that eats berries), Narchi (an anteater-like creature), Sensit (a mouse lemur that typically plays around), Wiggy Waxwing, Green Puppy, Slimantha, Noggindrill (a burrowing animal that uses his drill-shaped horn), Snow Lemur (a lemur that lives on a mountain), Baby and Mama Zoboomafoosaurus (a theropod that the animals often play on), Buggly, Fibby (a water creature with several parts including a tentacle and a crab leg), and Cy (a levitating, one-eyed, squid introduced in the second season). These segments are animated, using clay animation, and feature distinct voices for each character.

After the first Zobooland story, Zoboomafoo, Chris, and Martin receive a letter from the Animal Helpers, who show children how to help animals. This leads into Chris and Martin going out to visit creatures related to the theme (always began with a song sung by Zoboo called "Going to the Closet"). At the end of each episode, Zoboomafoo returns to his home in Madagascar. Chris and Martin also leave Animal Junction to better demonstrate the theme of the day, traveling to a region, often in South Asia or Africa, to visit the creatures there.

There is also a video game for the PC based on Zoboomafoo, where children learn the alphabet and animals that correlate to each letter. Some of the letters have interactive games to go with them, such as a coloring page.

Cast

Segments

Running gags

The series has some forms of slapstick and situation Comedy as well. Running gags of the series include Chris and Martin (and sometimes, Zoboomafoo) falling in a swimming pool, mud puddle, and even falling down. The most prominent of these recurring jokes, the "closet" gag, involves a crammed closet which Chris and Martin open to gather needed items for an exploration. As Zoboomafoo sings a song about the brothers' preparations for "going on a trip", Chris and Martin open the door and an avalanche of outdoor items and clothes fall on them, knocking them over and resulting in laughter from them. Then they emerge from the pile of gear, fully equipped for their trip; in one episode, Chris and Martin open the closet, expecting to be buried under its contents, only to find a clean and organized closet (and sometimes, the items end up falling on them anyway).

A form of slapstick comedy shown in the series is when Zoboomafoo or the brothers get hit by flying items, such as pies, balls, and even yarn thrown by animals (an example would be in the episode "Fling").

Also, just before the trip, there is always a bird that flies down towards Animal Junction, making Chris and Martin yell, "Incoming! duck!". Only twice, the bird is a real duck. It is often an eagle, a male peregrine falcon named Sticky Feet, or a female barn owl named Moon Face.

Zoboomafoo's catchphrases are "Mangatsika!", "I meant to do that!", "I can't believe my mind!", "I'm voky!", and "Hey! Hoo! Hubba hubba!".

Animal Helpers

Another segment of the series features a group of children known as the Animal Helpers, who send messages to the Kratt brothers at Animal Junction through a series of birds: A barn owl, a vulture, a duck, and several others. The letters lead into short stories illustrating the Animal Helpers' interactions with the animals in their environment, performing small tasks such as placing a baby bird back in its nest or leading a calf back to a mother cow.

Samantha Tolkacz appeared on the series as Jackie from its debut on January 25, 1999, until May 2000, at which point Genevieve Farrell replaced her, appearing as Amy for the rest of the series' run. Zoboomafoo would also give the animals interesting names that have to do with their appearance, behavior or personality. Examples: A baby Indian elephant was given the name "Toothbrush" because of his bristly hair; a young female chimp was named "Brainiac" because chimps are very intelligent; two sloths were named "Slow" and "Slower" because sloths are very slow; two black bear cubs were Muscles and Muscly because they are strong; a dog was given the name "Lost-n-found" because he was a lost dog when he was a puppy, but was then found; and a tiger was named "Popper" because she pops balls; a white-fronted capuchin monkey was named "Fling" because he likes to throw things around; a baby horse was named "Fuzz" because she is very soft; two penguins named "Splish" and "Splash" because they splash in the water; a moose calf was named "Twiggly" because moose like to eat sticks; and an anteater was named "Slurpy".

Other segments include "Zoboomafoo," "I Feel (whatever Zoboomafoo is feeling like today)," and "Come Make an Animal Friend Today" (at the end of the series).

Before the credits of each episode, a disclaimer is played telling the viewers that they should be careful with the animals they meet. Then Chris and Martin mention animal facts that lead Zoboomafoo to a joke: For example, "Knock knock. Who's there? Panther. Panther who? Panther no pants, I'm goin' swimmin'!".

Awards and nominations

Zoboomafoo received the 2001 Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Children's Series and a Parents' Choice Award for Spring 2001 and Silver Honor for Fall 2001.