A Little Curious (found HBO Family animated series; 1999-2000): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:31, 14 August 2021

Title card used for the series.

Status: Partially Found

A Little Curious is an American animated preschool television series that began airing in February 1999, launching with the HBO Family cable channel. ^[1] The series ran until 2000, with a total of 2 seasons and 43 episodes. The show was produced by the now defunct production company Curious Pictures. Despite ending, HBO Family continues to air the show as of 2021 apart of their morning block of kids programming. However, despite airing the show, HBO no longer airs half of the series' episodes, and because the show has never had a physical home media release, some of the episodes of the show are considered lost.

About

A Little Curious features a cast of characters appearing to be everyday household objects. Namely, there's Bob the Ball, Mr. String, Doris the Door, Mop, Little Cup, Plush (a patchwork toy dog), Pad and Pencil, and a family of shoes aptly titled The Shoe Family (consisting of a mother - pair of heels, a father - pair of brown shoes, and two daughters named Mary Jane and Lacey, the latter being a colorful pair of sneakers). Each episode focuses on three words: such as "empty, full, pop".^[2]

There are miniature segments in each episode typically lasting no longer than a minute that focus on these subjects. Each segment is produced in various animation styles, from being computer-animated (which is the primary art style of the show), to using cel animation, or stop motion. Guest animators often animated segments as well, such as Lynn Tomlinson who created a short titled "Both Sides Now"^[3], and Funline Animation, who designed Dora the Explorer, animated a short named "Way Down at the Bottom"^[4].

Availability

During the time period of 1999-2003, HBO Family played all the show's 43 episodes. They were seen on the channel's morning block aimed at preschoolers, "Jam", which began in 2001 and ended in 2016. However, starting around presumably late 2004, HBO took off select episodes from the show's first season. In spite of this, they continued to play the entirety of season 2 until around 2016, the year when Jam was discontinued in favor of HBO Kids, a new revamped programming block that also made place for Sesame Street's new home on HBO (though, the show has since moved to HBO Max)^[5]. Despite rebranding in January 2016, the entirety of A Little Curious' second season aired until December of that year. There are 25 episodes from the first season, and 18 episodes from the second season. Now, only 11 of the first season airs, and 9 episodes of the second season airs.

As of 2021, only 20 episodes in all of the series are available commercially, and also aired. As once said, there hasn't been any home media releases of the show, barring one very rare VHS tape of the series that only exists in one picture.^[6] The show can be watched on various streaming services, including HBO Max. However, there are only five episodes of the show that are changed each month, in a looping order. This actually applies to all of the services that carry the show. Unfortunately, any of the lost episodes have yet to be put on any of the services. While vastly featuring unavailable links, there are sites, such as TV Guide^[7], that list these episodes proving they indeed exist.

While it is unconfirmed officially, one likely theory why they were removed from rotation is that the show featured covers of various licensed songs, such as "Twist and Shout", "Lollipop", "We Got the Beat",^[8] "Leader of the Pack"^[9], the previously mentioned "Both Sides Now", plus more, and HBO could likely not pay for the song's copyrights any longer.

Episodes "Work, Play, Skip" and "A Little Curious About Life", the series finale (although the 37th episode aired)^[10], were found and uploaded to YouTube via television recordings.

Episodes

Season 1

#	Episode Title	Status
1	Loud, Soft, Shake	Lost
2	Light, Dark, Bubble	Found^[11]
3	Near, Far, Swing	Lost
4	Slippery, Sticky, Mirror	Found^[12]
5	Above, Below, Cover	Found^[13]
6	Front, Back, Side	Lost
7	Swing, Cover, Shake	Found^[14]
8	Slippery, Sticky, Mirror	Found^[15]
9	Open, Close, Ring	Found^[16]
10	Bubble, Picture, Mirror	Found^[17]
11	Thick, Thin, Twist	Lost
12	First, Last, Step	Found^[18]
13	Ring, Twist, Step	Lost
14	Empty, Full, Pop	Lost
15	Same, Different, Beat	Partially Found^[19]
16	Fast, Slow, Spin	Partially Found^[20]
17	Long, Short, Roll	Found^[21]
18	The Bob Show	Found^[22]
19	Roll, Spin, Pop	Partially Found^[23]
20	Warm, Cool, Heart	Lost
21	The Plush Show	Lost
22	Still, Move, Train	Lost
23	Spring, Fall, Turn	Lost
24	High, Low, Stretch	Found^[24]
25	Side, Stretch, Turn	Lost

Season 2

#	Episode Title	Status
26	Top, Bottom, Jump	Found^[25]
27	Over, Under, Balance	Lost
28	Drop, Lift, Flat	Lost
29	Tight, Loose, Squeeze	Found^[26]
30	Hit, Miss, Bump	Found^[27]
31	Work, Play, Skip	Found^[28]
32	Hard, Easy, Change	Found^[29]
33	Old, New, Dance	Lost
34	Lead, Follow, Act	Lost
35	Win, Lose, Tie	Found^[30]
36	Push, Pull, Rock	Partially Found^[31]
37	A Little Curious About Life	Found^[32]
38	Jump, Flat, Squeeze	Found^[33]
39	Hard, Work, Bump	Found^[34]
40	The Mop Show	Partially Found^[35]
41	Balance, Skip, Rock	Lost
42	Push, Over, Top	Found^[36]
43	Drop, Loose, Change	Found^[37]

Gallery

Videos

EmbedVideo is missing a required parameter.

References

[1] ttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-01-ca-3733-story.html

[2] ttps://rhymeswithmelon.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/animation-column-a-little-curious/

[3] ttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/5252072ae4b06da77025e056/t/528d0214e4b0d652da26b457/1384972820943/Tomlinson_CV_11_20_30.pdf

[4] ttps://funlineanimation.com/other-productions/

[5] ttps://www.sesameworkshop.org/press-room/press-releases/sesame-streets-51st-season-launches-thursday-november-12-hbo-max

[6] ttps://static.wikia.nocookie.net/a-little-curious/images/6/68/HSP-HBO-VHS-Tape.png/revision/latest?cb=20200802080846

[7] ttps://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/a-little-curious/episodes-season-1/1000038226/

[8] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLov_VT9Hz0

[9] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfEIuizV3Qk

[10] ttps://rtv2-production-2-6.rottentomatoes.com/tv/a_little_curious/s01/e37

[11] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTrhZnVzbFs

[12] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FSPUmnM7Kw

[13] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwX3JjDRPCA

[14] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAqpGx1idz8

[15] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY7NyjhFgNo

[16] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e789XaKRCo

[17] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPM89da--Qw

[18] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPM89da--Qw

[19] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGtQqEx_Qew

[20] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJreaa8X3Q0

[21] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rklyDzko5g

[22] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y06uFeYc52U

[23] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqoV7v5qnGE

[24] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDAsAkzgv5o

[25] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQEfyBMuHq0

[26] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OU5bXkOJX8

[27] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Awur1QGfjs

[28] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpOzlahQthw

[29] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFjlKOV5Mw0

[30] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JD8vcDsaMI

[31] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nGan-G8oBU&t

[32] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LpeQ6CCo8A

[33] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfxIHw5oJtg

[34] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HCaBkFFMAY

[35] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo4sBj9G_RI

[36] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsBGeOKtqVM

[37] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okhDGodwXBc

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@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 As of 2021, only 20 episodes in all of the series are available commercially, and also aired. As once said, there hasn't been any home media releases of the show, barring one very rare VHS tape of the series that only exists in one picture.<ref>https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/a-little-curious/images/6/68/HSP-HBO-VHS-Tape.png/revision/latest?cb=20200802080846</ref> The show can be watched on various streaming services, including HBO Max. However, there are only five episodes of the show that are changed each month, in a looping order. This actually applies to all of the services that carry the show. Unfortunately, any of the lost episodes have yet to be put on any of the services. While vastly featuring unavailable links, there are sites, such as TV Guide<ref>https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/a-little-curious/episodes-season-1/1000038226/</ref>, that list these episodes proving they indeed exist.
-While it is unconfirmed officially, one likely theory why they were removed from rotation is that the show featured covers of various licensed songs, such as "Twist and Shout", "Lollipop", "We Got the Beat",<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLov_VT9Hz0</ref> "Leader of the Pack"<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfEIuizV3Qk</ref>, plus more, and HBO could likely not pay for the song's copyrights any longer.
+While it is unconfirmed officially, one likely theory why they were removed from rotation is that the show featured covers of various licensed songs, such as "Twist and Shout", "Lollipop", "We Got the Beat",<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLov_VT9Hz0</ref> "Leader of the Pack"<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfEIuizV3Qk</ref>, the previously mentioned "Both Sides Now", plus more, and HBO could likely not pay for the song's copyrights any longer.
 Episodes "Work, Play, Skip" and "A Little Curious About Life", the series finale (although the 37th episode aired)<ref>https://rtv2-production-2-6.rottentomatoes.com/tv/a_little_curious/s01/e37</ref>, were found and uploaded to YouTube via television recordings.
@@ Line 165: / Line 165: @@
 |-
 |}
+==Gallery==
+===Videos===
+{{Video|perrow  =8
+  |service1     =youtube
+  |id1          =v=6FTB9Sp8V-8
+  |description1 =A high quality segment from the lost episode "Loud, Soft, Shake".
+  |service2     =youtube
+  |id2          =v=p2LjpAcbwqc
+  |description2 =A two-part segment from "Near, Far, Swing".
+  |service3     =youtube
+  |id3          =v=-fnmr7q3_8E
+  |description3 =A high quality segment from "Old, New, Dance". This segment also appeared under the name "Turn Your Partner!" in "Spring, Fall, Turn".
+  |service4     =youtube
+  |id4          =v=NkuT2Cb356w
+  |description4 =A segment from "Old New, Dance".
+  |service5     =youtube
+  |id5          =v=FfEIuizV3Qk
+  |description5 =A segment from "Lead, Follow, Act".
+  |service6     =youtube
+  |id6          =v=KRBP5V9p-0o
+  |description6 =A segment from the lost episode, "Thick, Thin, Twist". It also appears in the episode "The Bob Show" (which is found).
+  |service7     =youtube
+  |id7          =v=vbDTqxsNmNY
+  |description7 =A segment from the lost episode, "Front, Back, Side". It also appears in the episode "The Bob Show" (which is found).
+  |service8     =youtube
+  |id8          =v=Ewk1F9ZG5VY
+  |description8 =Another segment from "Thick, Thin, Twist", also on The Bob Show.
+}}
 ==References==
 <references />
 [[Category:Lost TV]]
 [[Category:Lost animation]]