Rubbadubbers
Encyclopedia
The Rubbadubbers is a British stop motion
animation children's show from Hot Animation
which is owned by HIT Entertainment
.
who are animated bath toys. They often excitedly announce that the children are about to take a bath.
. The show attempts to teach children, in an entertaining fashion, about the difficult realities of life, and the negative aspects of dreaming about a better world. After a short while, one of the characters uses the phrase "if only" followed by what they wish (e.g. "if only I could have all the bubbles
in the world"). The character is then transported to a dream-world where that "if only" is true. It always turns out that the "if only" goes wrong (e.g. having all the bubbles in the world is actually a bad idea) and the character wishes another "if only" that takes them back from the dream world to the bathroom. Everyone is happy again. It ends with Reg announcing that the children will arrive.
from 2002 to 2004, and on CBeebies
in 2004. It is currently being repeated on the Tiny Pop
channel. On August 24, 2009, the program came to PBS KIDS Sprout
as part of "The Good Night Show".
TVNZ 6
The children "Benjy" and "Sis" are often referred to by the characters but are never seen.
, Sean Hughes
and Maria Darling
.
Stop motion
Stop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence...
animation children's show from Hot Animation
Hot Animation
HOT Animation is a British stop motion animation studio based in Broadheath, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. It was established in 1998 by Jackie Cockle, Brian Little and Joe Dembinski....
which is owned by HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment
Hit Entertainment is a British-American entertainment distribution company established in 1989, and originally the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions called Henson International Television...
.
Plot
The television show features charactersFictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
who are animated bath toys. They often excitedly announce that the children are about to take a bath.
Format
Each episode begins with the Rubbadubbers in the bathroomBathroom
A bathroom is a room for bathing in containing a bathtub and/or a shower and optionally a toilet, a sink/hand basin/wash basin and possibly also a bidet....
. The show attempts to teach children, in an entertaining fashion, about the difficult realities of life, and the negative aspects of dreaming about a better world. After a short while, one of the characters uses the phrase "if only" followed by what they wish (e.g. "if only I could have all the bubbles
Soap bubble
A soap bubble is a thin film of soapy water enclosing air, that forms a hollow sphere with an iridescent surface. Soap bubbles usually last for only a few seconds before bursting, either on their own or on contact with another object. They are often used for children's enjoyment, but they are also...
in the world"). The character is then transported to a dream-world where that "if only" is true. It always turns out that the "if only" goes wrong (e.g. having all the bubbles in the world is actually a bad idea) and the character wishes another "if only" that takes them back from the dream world to the bathroom. Everyone is happy again. It ends with Reg announcing that the children will arrive.
Dream Sequences items
In the dream sequences, all the props and scenery are cleverly made from bathroom paraphernalia (toothbrushes, cotton buds, soap dishes etc.)Airings
It ran on Nick Jr. (block) from 2003 to 2005, on BBC TwoBBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
from 2002 to 2004, and on CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
in 2004. It is currently being repeated on the Tiny Pop
Tiny Pop
Tiny Pop is a free-to-air television channel in the UK. It is owned by CSC Media Group, and launched on 24 July 2004, and broadcasts cartoons and pop music videos for pre-schoolers.Its sister channel is Pop which was launched on 29 May 2003...
channel. On August 24, 2009, the program came to PBS KIDS Sprout
PBS KIDS Sprout
PBS Kids Sprout is a U.S. digital cable television channel, video-on-demand service, and website providing PBS Kids shows and original programming for preschoolers and their families...
as part of "The Good Night Show".
TVNZ 6
TVNZ 6
TVNZ 6 was a digital-only, commercial-free television channel operated by Television New Zealand. It was available in 60.3% of New Zealand homes on the Freeview and SKY Television Digital platforms...
Characters
- Tubb, a male anthropomorphic pink frogFrogFrogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
with a Scottish accent; de facto leader of the Rubbadubbers and has a cotton swabCotton swabCotton swabs or cotton buds or ear buds consist of a small wad of cotton wrapped around one or both ends of a short rod, usually made of either wood, rolled paper, or plastic...
for his prize possession. Catchphrase: "Swim-MIN'!" In the hiccups episode it reveals his underarms are ticklish when Terence tickled his underarms with the feather duster while Tubb laughed. - Terence, a male green bubble-bath-container crocodileCrocodileA crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
; can blow bubbles from his nostrils; has only one tooth; wears a collar and necktie. Intensely dislikes getting wet and has a red tooth brush. In the episode where Tubb had hiccups Terence said for tubb to have his arms up (which tubb did as he was told.)and afterwards Terence began tickling Tubb under the arms (which made him laugh)with the feather duster he had. - Finbar, a male cyan clockwork sharkSharkSharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
; always describes himself in third person as "The MIGHTY Shark" often accompanied by a pirate-esque "Ar,Ar,Ar!". in the episode where Tubb had hiccups he said that laughter's the best medicine. When Tubb said his catchphrase Finbar said "Don't you dare ar ar ar me." After Tubb mocked him while making a chattyface with his hand and sticking his tongue out Finbar said "Ar ar ar." the scene changes to tubb who said the same thing while doing the same chattyface. - Winona, a female purple rubber whaleWhaleWhale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
; squeaks unintelligibly instead of talking. However the other characters helpfully interpret her squeaks. She's the only character who doesn't use "If only" wishes. - Reg, a male orange mechanical robotRobotA 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...
; speaks with stylised stammer. Announces children's imminent arrival: "Rubbadubbers - the children are approach... the children are approach... they're coming!" Reg is actually a bedroom toy but prefers to play with the bathroom toys. - Amelia, a female blue, yellow and red plastic submarineSubmarineA submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
-plane hybrid; can fly in the air as well as travelling on and under the bath water. - Sploshy, a female magenta starfish-shaped sponge; has suction cups behind her "hands" and "feet". Sploshy is known for her hot-temper and she gets annoyed very easily.
The children "Benjy" and "Sis" are often referred to by the characters but are never seen.
Actors
Voices are provided by John Gordon SinclairJohn Gordon Sinclair
John Gordon Sinclair is a Scottish actor most famous for playing Gregory in Gregory's Girl. He was born as Gordon John but took the stage name 'John Gordon Sinclair' because Equity already had a Gordon John registered....
, Sean Hughes
Sean Hughes (comedian)
Sean Hughes is a British-Irish stand-up comedian, writer and actor.-Career:Hughes was born in London, but spent most of his youth in Firhouse, Dublin...
and Maria Darling
Maria Darling
Maria Darling is an English voice actress who regularly provides character voices for children's television programmes in the UK and the US, as well as videogames such as the Professor Layton series and the UK versions of the Ape Escape franchise....
.
See also
- Hot AnimationHot AnimationHOT Animation is a British stop motion animation studio based in Broadheath, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. It was established in 1998 by Jackie Cockle, Brian Little and Joe Dembinski....
- Carelows Productions Inc.
- The Curiosity CompanyThe Curiosity CompanyThe Curiosity Company is Matt Groening's production company behind the television series Futurama and the 1999 TV film Olive, the Other Reindeer...
- Frederator StudiosFrederator StudiosFrederator Studios is an independent American production company founded by Fred Seibert in 1997, with its first series launching in 1998. The studio focuses primarily on artists who write their own shorts, series, and movies...
- Bob the BuilderBob the BuilderBob the Builder is a British children's animated television show created by Keith Chapman. In the original series Bob appears as a building contractor specialising in masonry in a stop motion animated programme with his colleague Wendy, various neighbours and friends, and their gang of...