Bzots
Encyclopedia
Bzots are a band of three eight-foot-tall assembly line
robot
s that perform music for young children. The group is popular in its home town of Chicago
, Illinois
. As of June 2006, an international television series is being developed with Rubber Duck Entertainment, producers of Peppa Pig
. In January 2008, ten Bzots music videos were acquired for broadcast by Nicktoons Network
.
There are three members in Bzots: Skree (guitar
), Bdonk (bass guitar
) and Wkewke (DJ). Each robot has his own recurring schtick
. Skree can't stop playing guitar solos. Bdonk is easily confused, and Wkewke breaks out with crazy record scratching antics at random times. At live shows, the Bzots are accompanied by a troupe of female hip-hop dancers
, the Bzettes.
The characters are styled after urban vinyl figures, and their musical style has been compared to Beck
and They Might Be Giants
.
, the Bzots are pursued by at least 5 agents wearing dark suits and dark sunglasses. Their objective is to capture Bzots and return them to the factories of Globocrud, from which they escaped. These agents all have authority over the bumbling Agent 17.
. The Kids are never shown working, but nonetheless populate the factories of Globocrud in large numbers. It is suspected that the kids worked behind the scenes to facilitate the Bzots' escape from the factory.
Assembly line
An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner using optimally planned logistics to create a finished product much faster than with handcrafting-type methods...
robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s that perform music for young children. The group is popular in its home town of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. As of June 2006, an international television series is being developed with Rubber Duck Entertainment, producers of Peppa Pig
Peppa Pig
Peppa Pig is a British animated television series created directed and produced by Astley Baker Davies and distributed by eOne Entertainment. To date, three series have been aired. It is shown in 180 territories.-Background:...
. In January 2008, ten Bzots music videos were acquired for broadcast by Nicktoons Network
NickToons Network
Nicktoons is an American digital cable and satellite television network owned by Viacom. It is a sister service of the Nickelodeon cable channel...
.
Summary
Bzots is a series about three assembly line robots who escaped from the oppressive factories of Globocrud, the world's largest corporation, to follow their dreams of becoming a band.There are three members in Bzots: Skree (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Bdonk (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and Wkewke (DJ). Each robot has his own recurring schtick
Schtick
A shtick is a comic theme or gimmick. "Shtick" is derived from the Yiddish word shtik , meaning "piece"; the closely related German word Stück has the same meaning. The English word "piece" itself is also sometimes used in a similar context...
. Skree can't stop playing guitar solos. Bdonk is easily confused, and Wkewke breaks out with crazy record scratching antics at random times. At live shows, the Bzots are accompanied by a troupe of female hip-hop dancers
Hip hop dance
Hip-hop dance refers to dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s by African Americans and made popular by breaking, locking, and...
, the Bzettes.
The characters are styled after urban vinyl figures, and their musical style has been compared to Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
and They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
.
Bdonk
Created by Skree and Wkewke from a pile of scrap, Bdonk is the childlike bassist. His intelligence is limited, but he often knows more than Skree and Wkewke.Oil Change Guy
Bzots' friend who lives and works in a garage on the outskirts of Phantburg. He provides the Bzots with free oil changes and allows them to live in his garage.Sue Oliphant
A fan of the band who always invites the Bzots to play at her party but never tells them where she lives.Exalted Sir Cleve Crud, Ph.D., Esq., CEO, Globocrud LLC
The megalomaniacal CEO of the world's largest corporation, Globocrud, which creates products used by everyone who has ever been born, eaten, breathed, slept, metabolized, gone to school, relaxed, conducted any sort of business in any country, laughed, cried, relieved him/herself in any way, or died.Agents 12, 13, 14 ,15 and 16
In a clear tip of the hat to The MatrixThe Matrix
The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction-action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving...
, the Bzots are pursued by at least 5 agents wearing dark suits and dark sunglasses. Their objective is to capture Bzots and return them to the factories of Globocrud, from which they escaped. These agents all have authority over the bumbling Agent 17.
Agent 17
A field operative in the form of a life-sized spark plug. He remains in constant contact with Agents 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 and does their bidding.The Kids
Globocrud has no qualms about using child laborChild labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
. The Kids are never shown working, but nonetheless populate the factories of Globocrud in large numbers. It is suspected that the kids worked behind the scenes to facilitate the Bzots' escape from the factory.
The Products
Globocrud's products have an antagonistic relationship with the Bzots, jeering the Bzots as they toil.Bzots CDs and DVDs
To date, Bzots have released:- Bzots 2: Escape A Go-Go! (2004) 30 min
- Bzots 3: Gotta Get A Gig! (2005) 30 min
- Powered Up! (2004) 13 songs
See also
- Imagination MoversImagination MoversImagination Movers is a child-centered rock band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2003. The lineup includes Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche, and Scott "Smitty" Smith. Members of the group were longtime friends and neighbors....
- Jack's Big Music ShowJack's Big Music ShowJack's Big Music Show is a children's television program currently airing on the Nick Jr. television network. The show premiered on the same network on September 12, 2005...
- Ralph's WorldRalph's WorldRalph's World is a children's music group created by Ralph Covert. Covert, previously of Chicago-based indie-rock group The Bad Examples, uses high rock and roll energy with kid-friendly lyrics....
- The WigglesThe WigglesThe Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
- Laurie BerknerLaurie BerknerLaurie Berkner is an American musician best known for her work as a children's musical artist. Berkner plays guitar and sings in the Laurie Berkner Band, along with pianist Susie Lampert, bassist Adam Bernstein, and drummer Bobby Golden...
- Ella JenkinsElla JenkinsElla Jenkins is an American folk singer. Dubbed “The First Lady of the Children’s Folk Song” by the Wisconsin State Journal, Jenkins has been a leading performer of children’s music for fifty years.-Family and personal life:...
- Hi-5Hi-5 (Australian Kids' Band)Hi-5 is an Australian children's musical group formed in 1998 which is associated with the children's television series of the same name.-Origins of the group:...