VBirds: Perfect (lost Cartoon Network UK interstitial series of British virtual girl group; 2003)

The advertised logo of the program.

Status: Lost

The VBirds was a British virtual cartoon band created and released in 2002. They were created by a team of designers, producers, and musicians including UB40 drummer, James Brown that was led by Richard Kilgarriff, the General Manager of Cartoon Network UK. Its story revolved around the characters being exiled from their home (Planet V) by its ruler King He: Lin for refusing to participate in their dance farms. They were thus shrunk down into a dance machine and sent to Earth so humans could play them as long as they wanted.

In terms of coverage, the band only ever released one single: "Virtuality", that reached No. 21 in the UK charts in early 2003 and came with an animated music video. There was also a cartoon made that was split up into five parts and aired in the commercial breaks in 2002, serving as the pilot to the story of the VBirds. And in 2003, a series that is known as VBirds: Perfect aired that, according to IMDb, was "This music and dance related show, separate from the main VBirds show and also lasting only one season on Cartoon Network UK, gave the viewers the opportunity to perform dance routines with the on-screen characters." It's unknown if this was another interstitial airing like the original or if it was aired like a proper TV series, though IMDB lists it as a mini-series. Eyewitness accounts cite it as looking like a Dance Dance Revolution clone (as the idea is present throughout the franchise) and/or indeed, a dance show. In addition, an Animation Magazine article made in 2002 before the original cartoon aired cites potential future series as including karaoke and interactive TV elements that would be announced in the coming year. In terms of production credits, according to IMDB's perhaps questionable listings, its sole directing credit was Dave King while its writing and producing credits include but are not limited to Richard Kilgarriff. Sophie Okonedo is listed as returning to the role of Bling and its production company and distributor was of course, Cartoon Network. Richard Kilgarriff confirmed both the existence of the show and that he produced it on Twitter.

Recordings would later surface of an advert for VBirds: Perfect, potentially dating the show to their recording date of April 2003. Reusing animation from the SMTV Live interview, the ad confirms a DDR-inspired "interactive TV elements" dance show encouraging the audience to dance along to the VBirds' uniquely animated routines. The show was not only an everyday airing, but viewers could vote on which of the band's three tracks the characters would dance to pre-recorded in the program. DDR-style iconography of the input arrows and pad is indeed present as it was in the "Virtuality" music video, and the show was actually fittingly sponsored by Dancing Stage MegaMix, tying into how "Virtuality" was an included song in Dancing Stage Fever. Considering the non-rounded airtime slot it would get, how few songs the VBirds had to work with from their own catalogue at least and how little mileage you'd have for anything too long with this concert, it also seems to have been short-form interstitial content.

The pilot ended on a cliffhanger, but the story never got resolved and the VBirds became inactive from 2004 onward. As for the brand's content, the original cartoon was released slightly cut on certain UK VHS tapes of The Powerpuff Girls Movie and the music video was available on the "Virtuality" CD, but in terms of VBirds: Perfect, not a single episode of it can even be found online anywhere.

Gallery

An SMTV Live interview with the VBirds in 2002-2003.

An advert for VBirds: Perfect (12:00).

See Also

Anthology and Short Series

• Big Bag (partially found Cartoon Network live-action animated puppet series; 1996-1998)
• The Moxy Show (partially found Cartoon Network CGI animated anthology series; 1993-1995)
• Sunday Pants (partially lost Cartoon Network animated anthology series; 2005)
• ToonHeads (partially lost Cartoon Network animation anthology series; 1992-2003)
• ToonHeads "A Night of Independent Animation" (found special of Cartoon Network animation anthology series; 1996)
• Villainous (partially found Cartoon Network Mexico online animated short series; 2012-2013)
• What a Cartoon! (found Cartoon Network animated anthology series; 1995-1997)
• Youri, the Spaceman (found Cartoon Network France CGI animated short series; 2002)

Audio

• Adventure Time (lost uncensored episode commentaries from Cartoon Network animated series DVDs; 2012-2014)
• Akazukin Chacha (partially found Cartoon Network Asia English dub of anime; 1998)
• Ani-Yoko: My Next Door Neighbor (lost Cartoon Network Philippines English dub of anime; 2008)
• Class of 3000 (found original English audio of Cartoon Network animated musical series; 2006-2008)
• The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy "Matinee Mandy" (lost original English audio of Cartoon Network animated short; 2007)
• Heidi, Girl of the Alps (partially found Cartoon Network India English dub of anime; 2001)
• Mojacko (lost Cartoon Network Asia English dub of anime; 2013)
• My Melody (lost Cartoon Network Asia English dub of anime; mid-2000s)
• Out of Jimmy's Head (found Cartoon Network live-action/animated teen sitcom; 2007-2008)
• Spaced Out (partially found Cartoon Network UK English dub of French animated series; 2000s)
• Sugar Sugar Rune (lost Cartoon Network Philippines English dub of anime; 2011)
• Uncle Gus (partially lost original English audio of Cartoon Network animated pilots; 2000-2001)
• Yatterman (lost Cartoon Network Asia English dub of anime; 2011)
• Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? (partially lost unreleased original voice audio and unfinished/unknown Cartoon Network animated series episodes; 2002-2003)
• Zoids Genesis (partially found Cartoon Network Asia English dub of anime; 2007)

Bumpers and Interstitials

• The Big Game XXVI: Tom vs. Jerry (found Cartoon Network marathon special; 1998)
• Cartoon Network (partially found "High Noon Toons" bumpers from TV channel block; 1994-1996)
• Cartoon Network (partially lost "Nood" bumpers from TV channel; 2008-2010)
• Cartoon Network "Cartoon Network Responds!" (partially lost interstitials from TV channel; 1997-1999)
• Cartoon Network Mayors' Awards of Excellence (partially found interstitials of Cartoon Network Philippines civic campaign; 2000s)
• Cartoon Network NBA All-Star Slam (found interviews of marathon; 2003)
• Cartoon Planet (partially found bumpers of revival block of Cartoon Network animated variety series; 2012)
• Codename: Kids Next Door Mission Weekend (partially found marathon bumpers for Cartoon Network animated series; 2003)
• Fridays aka "Cartoon Cartoon Fridays" (partially found interstitials from Cartoon Network channel block; 1999–2007)
• Hotdog TV (partially found Cartoon Network interstitial series; 2010)
• Ice King Steals Christmas (partially found Cartoon Network UK Christmas themed bumpers starring "Adventure Time" character; 2015-2018)
• JBVO, Toon FM & Viva Las Bravo (partially found interstitials from Cartoon Network channel blocks; early-mid 2000s)
• Tickle-U (partially found Cartoon Network preschool block; 2005-2006)

Pilots

• Ben 10 (partially found pitch pilot of Cartoon Network animated series; early-mid 2000s)
• Billy and Mandy in Trepanation of the Skull and You (found prototype short of "The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy" Cartoon Network animated series; 1995)
• Camp Lazlo "Monkey See, Camping Doo" (lost pitch pilot of Cartoon Network animated series; 2004)
• Captain Sturdy (found Cartoon Network animated pilots; 2001/2003)
• Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe (partially lost pitch pilots from British animation studio; 2008-2011)
• Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi (found pitch pilot of Cartoon Network animated series; 2003)
• Imp Inc. (found Cartoon Network animated pilot; 2001)
• Jeffrey Cat: Claw and Order "All Dogs Don't Go to Heaven" (found Cartoon Network animated pilot; 2002)
• A Kitty Bobo Show (found storyboard of cancelled second animated pilot for Cartoon Network; 2002)
• Major Flake in "Soggy Sales" (found Cartoon Network animated pilot; 2001)
• The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (partially lost unaired "Wedgies" pilot and short of Cartoon Network animated series; 2007)
• Mess O' Blues (partially found prototype short of "Johnny Bravo" Cartoon Network animated series; 1993)
• My Gym Partner's a Monkey (lost pitch pilots of Cartoon Network animated series; 2003/2004)
• The Powerpuff Girls (lost pitch pilot of Cartoon Network animated series reboot; early-mid 2010s)
• Project Gilroy (lost Cartoon Network animated pilot; 2007)
• Regular Show (non-existent Flash pilot of Cartoon Network animated series; late 2000s-2010)
• Space Ghost Coast to Coast (partially found pitch pilots of Cartoon Network adult animated comedy series; 1993)
• Squirrel Boy "Kite Makes Right" (partially found pitch pilot of Cartoon Network animated series; 2004)
• What's Wrong With Ruth? (found Cartoon Network animated pilot; 2007)

Live-Action

• Bobb'e Says (partially found Cartoon Network live-action clip series; 2009)
• BrainRush (partially lost Cartoon Network live-action game show; 2009)
• Track Rats (partially found Cartoon Network reality short series; 2010)
• The Othersiders (found Cartoon Network paranormal reality series; 2009)

Other Cartoon Network Series

• The Amazing World of Gumball (partially lost deleted scenes of Cartoon Network animated series; 2011-2019)
• The Amazing World of Gumball "The Downer" (lost original draft of Cartoon Network animated series episode; existence unconfirmed; 2012-2014)
• The Amazing World of Gumball "The Rex" (partially found production material of cancelled Cartoon Network animated series episode; 2012)
• Ben 10 (partially found pop-up trivia version of Cartoon Network animated series episodes; 2008)
• Chowder (lost pop-up trivia version of Cartoon Network animated series episodes; 2010)
• Chowder (lost production material of cancelled Cartoon Network TV film; 2009)
• Codename: Kids Next Door (lost production material of cancelled Cartoon Network animated series episodes; 2002-2008)
• Dexter's Laboratory "Rude Removal" (found unaired Cartoon Network animated series episode; 1997)
• Droopy's Guide to the Cartoon Network (found launch preview of TV channel special; 1992)
• Ed, Edd n Eddy "Luck Be an Ed Tonight"/"A Room with an Ed" (rumored/lost unfinished Cartoon Network animated series episodes; existence unconfirmed; 2005)
• Ed, Edd n Eddy "Special Ed" (non-existent unproduced Cartoon Network animated series episode; late 1990s/early 2000s)
• Hall of Game Awards (partially found Cartoon Network award show; 2011-2014)
• I Heart Tuesdays (lost production material of cancelled Cartoon Network animated series; 2011-2012)
• I-10: The Ben 10 User Generated Experience (found Cartoon Network TV special; 2008)
• Mixels (partially found unaired/unproduced episodes of Cartoon Network animated comedy series based on LEGO toy line; 2014-2016)
• OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes "Crossover Nexus" (partially found original 22-minute version of Cartoon Network animated series episode; 2010s)
• Skatoony (found original British version of Cartoon Network quiz show; 2006-2008)
• Space Ghost Coast to Coast (partially lost Gametap episodes of Cartoon Network adult animated comedy series; 2006-2008)
• Space Ghost Coast to Coast "Snatch" (lost script of ending of Cartoon Network adult animated comedy series episode; 1999)
• Sym-Bionic Titan (lost production material of cancelled Cartoon Network animated series episodes; early 2010s)

External Links

• The IMDb page for VBirds: Perfect.