Mighty Machines
Encyclopedia
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
children's television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show about machines and how they work. It is currently airing on TVO
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
, Treehouse TV
Treehouse TV
Treehouse TV is a Canadian English language cable television specialty channel with programming targeted towards preschoolers that was launched on October 17, 1997. Its name comes from YTV's old children's programming block, The Treehouse...
and other channels in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, including Access
Access (TV channel)
CTV Two Alberta is a Canadian English language entertainment, information, and educational television channel in the province of Alberta...
in Alberta, the Saskatchewan Communications Network
Saskatchewan Communications Network
SCN is a Canadian English language cable television entertainment, information, and educational channel in the province of Saskatchewan...
, and Knowledge in British Columbia. It also aired on Discovery Kids (UK)
Discovery Kids (UK)
Discovery Kids was a British educational children's channel. The channel initially began broadcasting exclusively on the On Digital service time sharing with Discovery Wings; the channel eventually became available on other digital platforms such as Sky Digital, and Virgin Media.Discovery Kids and...
in 2005, on Qubo
Qubo
Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media...
in the U.S. (as of 2010), and a French-language version airs on TFO
TFO
TFO is a Canadian French language educational public television network in the province of Ontario. It is the only French-language television network in Canada whose operations are based entirely outside of Quebec....
in Ontario and on channels in Quebec. It was nominated for a Gemini Award in 1996 in the category of Best Children's Program or Series. The full series is also available for instant viewing in the U.S. through Netflix
Netflix
Netflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
and their streaming service.
Media
When it first aired as a production of MalofilmMalofilm
Founded in 1987 by chairman and CEO René Malo in Montreal, Quebec, Malofilm was a film production company, a television and video production company and a distributor. First based on Saint-André boulevard, it moved in 1993 to Saint Laurent Boulevard. In 1995, it acquired Desclez Productions and...
, the first season in 1994, second in 2004, and third in 2008 (done by Loten Media, and distributed by Seville Pictures) is made up of. It's like any other construction show, but instead of a human commentator talking to viewers, voice-over actors make the machines themselves talk to viewers, tell them what's happening, how the machines run, etc. Most of the episodes were filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Montreal, Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
List of episodes
The episodes were done in 2 formats for broadcast: 22-minute full episodes, and 5-minute excerpts for use as filler.All of the episodes are available on VHS and DVD, individually or in box sets. There is also a 60-minute VHS featuring all of the 5-minute episodes from season one.
Season One (1995) - Malofilms
1. At The AirportAt Toronto-Pearson international airport, DC, a Canadian Airlines
Canadian Airlines
Canadian Airlines International Ltd. was a Canadian airline that operated from 1987 until 2001. The airline was Canada's second largest airline after Air Canada, and carried more than 11.9 million passengers to over 160 destinations in 17 countries on five continents at its height in 1996...
DC-10 jet, explains (and shows) his journey from the hangar to the terminal, before picking up passengers and taking to the sky. He also shows the viewers how he gets cleaned in the hangar. Many other aircraft are featured in the episode including a Canadian airlines Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
(missnamed as an A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
), a British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
and Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
, and an American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
Boeing 757
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
.
2. At The Quarry
Crush, a dump truck, explains how he grinds rocks from the quarry, turning them into gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
. A gravel conveyor and front-end loader also explain about how they work in these tasks for moving the gravel and rocks around.
3. In The City
Little Mac, a small municipal pickup truck
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
, takes viewers out onto the streets to show how the city streets are cleaned and washed. The featured machines that do this include a street sweeper
Street sweeper
A street sweeper or street cleaner can refer to a person's occupation or a machine that cleans streets, usually in an urban area.-History of street sweeping in the United States:...
, another truck that sprays water on the pavement and a tree trimmer, all of which are to prepare the streets every morning for traffic.
4. In The Harbour
Murphy, a Toronto Police boat, takes viewers out into Toronto Harbour
Toronto Harbour
Toronto Harbour or Toronto Bay is a bay on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a natural harbour, protected from Lake Ontario waves by the Toronto Islands. It is a commercial port on the Great Lakes as well as a recreational harbour...
to show many of his harbour friends, including Blackie and Thor, two large freighter
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
s, Mckenzie, a fireboat
Fireboat
A fireboat is a specialized watercraft and with pumps and nozzles designed for fighting shoreline and shipboard fires. The first fireboats, dating to the late 18th century, were tugboats, retrofitted with firefighting equipment....
, Oriole, a Toronto city tours boat, a working replica of a square rigger ship and the 2 ferries that go to Toronto Island, all of which explain their use of operating in the harbour.
5. At The Construction Site
A tall sky crane explains his job of working in a construction site, mainly of lifting very heavy objects into place.
6. At the Racetrack
A Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
race car takes viewers out onto the racetrack and explains how he is transported from the garage, as well as making pit stops and racing against all the other competitors.
7. At The Demolition Site
The same backhoe digger from "At the Construction Site" returns in this episode and with a bit of help from Dozer, a bulldozer
Bulldozer
A bulldozer is a crawler equipped with a substantial metal plate used to push large quantities of soil, sand, rubble, etc., during construction work and typically equipped at the rear with a claw-like device to loosen densely-compacted materials.Bulldozers can be found on a wide range of sites,...
, dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
is used to demolish two water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
s and a tall cement chimney.
8. At The Train Yard
Various Canadian Pacific and Canadian National freight trains explain how work goes on in the train yard, including switching, putting the cars on the right train and transporting materials long distances.
9. At The Fire Hall
King, a ladder truck shows viewers how his ladders and tiller work, while Pumper, a pumper truck shows how the hoses work.
10. On The Road
A huge 18-wheeler truck takes viewers out on the road and also shows how his cab and trailers work.
11. At The Garbage Dump
A garbage truck explains his job of moving garbage from house to house and how the landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
works.
12. At The Cement Yard
A cement yard receives materials for concrete and a cement truck takes his load to a street and to a tall building.
The first six episodes of season one were written by Doug Atkinson and Fiona Zippan (Denzey), while the remaining episodes were wriiten by Bryan A. Auld..
Season Two (2004) - Seville Pictures
13. In the SnowstormBuzz, Stretch and Ranger, a team of snow removal crew go out to clear the streets after a big snowstorm. Blower, a snowblower machine explains how he shoots snow right into the trucks that will carry it to the dumping station. Bobcat, a Bobcat loader, pushes the snow along the streets and Big Dude, a snowplow
Snowplow
A snowplow is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes...
, explains how he keeps the snow in rows so Blower can pick it up.
14. Deep Underground
Range, Driller and Crusher, a series of machines operating in a salt mine
Salt mine
A salt mine is a mining operation involved in the extraction of rock salt or halite from evaporite deposits.-Occurrence:Areas known for their salt mines include Kilroot near Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland ; Khewra and Warcha in Pakistan; Tuzla in Bosnia; Wieliczka and Bochnia in Poland A salt mine...
, explain how to find the salt, scoop it up and carry it to the surface of the mine.
15. At the Ski Hill
A number of snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
s and other ski hill machines explain how they are able to skim across the surface of the snow without getting stuck.
16. In the Sky
Stretch, another tall crane, explains how he has to lift things on top of very tall buildings and that he has to be disassembled when being moved through the streets.
17. In the Forest
Feller, a Feller Buncher machine, explains how he cuts only marked trees in the forrest. Skidders then explain how they skid logs to the log loader, which demonstrates its agility between loading logging trucks.
18. At the Sawmill
At a busy sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
, Jaws, a front-end loader, explains how the trees are turned into lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
. Buzz, Scoop and Big Red are many of the other machines that explain how the lumber will soon be turned into wood.
19. Car Wreckers
At a scarp yard, Shredder, a car shredder machine explains how all squashed cars and metal are sent through him, to be turned into tiny pieces.
20. Hot Off the Press
At a newspaper plant, Charlie, a printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
, explains how newspapers are printed, folded and sent into the trucks for delivery. Many robot machines also explain how some other parts of making newspapers are done.
21. All About Recycling
Backpack Jack, a green recycling truck, explains how he collects all the recycling and sends it through many other machines, so it can be reused again.
22. Laying Down the Pipeline
Skagit, a pipeline digger, explains how he is used to bury the pipes at the bottom of a river.
23. At the Steel Mill
Slab Hauler explains how, through the use of several other machines, such as an electro-magnetic crane, a turbo train and a fire quencher, steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
is made.
24. Building a Truck
A number of machines explain and show how much work it takes to build a truck.
25. Building an Airplane
A number of other machines explain how difficult it is to build an airplane.
26. Ride the Mountain Rails
Work Train, who operates on the White Pass and Yukon Railway, explains how he must need multiple engines to go over the steep passes along the sheer cliffs.
27. Making Waves!
Skipper takes viewers into Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
, and while meeting many ferries, cargo ships and navy ships, he shows how waves are formed.
28. Making a Road
Sammy, a large orange shovel, explains how, through the use of machines, Dozer and Scooper, how a new road is built and prepared for cars to drive over.
29. On the Farm!
Allis, a tractor, explains how she must pull Polly, a plowing machine, to keep the fields ready for farming. Haybine also explains how he is used to make hay.
30. To the Rescue
Sambro, a coast guard lifeboat
Lifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
explains how they recover a "man overboard" from stormy seas.
31. Trucks! Trucks! Trucks!
Vehicles include a gas truck, carnival trucks, and a cement pumper truck.
32. All Aboard / Busses, Subways, and Trains!
Buddy, a OC Transpo
OC Transpo
OC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. An integrated hub-and-spoke system of services is available consisting of: regular buses travelling on fixed routes in mixed traffic, typical of most urban transit systems; a bus rapid transit system — a high...
bus, explains his use of picking up the passengers and dropping them off exactly where they want to be. An O Train, a GO train
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
, a Toronto subway
Toronto subway and RT
The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
train and a Toronto streetcar
Toronto streetcar system
The Toronto streetcar system comprises eleven streetcar routes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission , and is the largest such system in the Americas in terms of ridership, number of cars, and track length. The network is concentrated primarily in downtown and in...
also explain their similar use of these jobs.
On season two, the scripts were by Bill Freeman, and the voice artists were: Alan Bacchus, Edward Daranyi, Suzanne Hersh, Santo Lupo, Christopher Quinn, Patte Rosebank, Tanya Schneider, Oliver Svendsen and Chuck Vollmar. Patte Rosebank has a listing of all her "Mighty Machines" voices, by episode, on her website http://www.p-rosebank.com/id17.html. The only episode she didn't work on was "To the Rescue".
Season Three (2008) - Loten Media / Seville Pictures
33. Go, Boats, Go!Features a Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft, "Fast Forward" a Floridian air boat, and "Empress" a modern paddle wheel cruise ship.
DVD releases
- Chomp! Crunch! Tear! features episodes: Car Wreckers, Giant Tow Trucks, and Laying Down the Pipeline
- Tremendous Tools features episodes On the Farm, At the Sawmill and Deep Underground
- Winter Blast features episodes In the Snowstorm, At the Ski Hill and In the Forest
- Revved Up features episodes: Building an Airplane' , 'Ride the Mountain Rails and Reach for the Sky
- Diggers and Dozers features episodes At the Construction Site, At the Demolition Site and At the Quarry
- Machines on the Job features episodes Bringing In the Harvest, At the Steel Mill and Hot off the Press
- Big Wheels Rollin features episodes At the Cement Yard, Building a Truck and Trucks, Trucks, Trucks
- Lights and Ladders features episodes At The Fire Hall, At the Garbage Dump and In the City
- Roadways to Runways features episodes At the Race Track, At the Airport and On the Road
- Boats to the Rescue features episodes To the Rescue, Making Waves and In the Harbor
- All About Garbage and Recycling features episodes All About Recycling
- Making Tracks features episodes At the Train Yard, Making a Road and All Aboard
- Mega Machines features episodes Go, Boats, Go, Machines Go to School, Under the Waves, Board the Ferry, and All About Recycling