Toopy and Binoo
Encyclopedia
Toopy and Binoo is a Canadian children's television series created by Treehouse TV
, Classic Media
, and Spectra Animation. The original characters were created by French Canadian author Dominique Jolin
.
In each episode there are "Fabulous You" segments, featuring Toopy and Binoo as superheroes who help their friends when they have nothing to play with. The segments encourage viewing children (referred to in the show as "Fabulous You") to participate in the adventures and use their imaginations.
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...
, Classic Media
Classic Media
Classic Media, LLC, is an American production company and distributor of family programming. It was founded in 2000 by former Marvel Entertainment CEO Eric Ellenbogen and former Broadway Video executive John Engelman in hopes of acquiring mismanaged classic properties and giving exposure to...
, and Spectra Animation. The original characters were created by French Canadian author Dominique Jolin
Dominique Jolin
Dominique Jolin was born in Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada in 1964. She is the French Canadian author of Toopy and Binoo, a popular children's television show. Toopy is a large size mouse who shares his creative imagination with his small silent cat friend, Binoo...
.
Format
The show centers on an anthropomorphic rat named Toopy and his best friend, a silent plush cat named Binoo. Each episode follows their playful, nonsensical adventures created out of their imaginations. Toopy is the only character that speaks, and for the most part provides enthusiastic descriptions of their adventures. Individual segments are approximately five minutes in length, but are frequently grouped together as one thirty minute episode, both on television and DVD releases.In each episode there are "Fabulous You" segments, featuring Toopy and Binoo as superheroes who help their friends when they have nothing to play with. The segments encourage viewing children (referred to in the show as "Fabulous You") to participate in the adventures and use their imaginations.
Creation
"Toupie et Binou" was the original title of the children books collection written by Dominique Jolin. The same collection appeared in English under the title "Washington and Deecee". Binoo then appeared in a small series of his own. Treehouse and Spectra Animation then brought them to television, both in English and French version, dubbing their English names to "Toopy and Binoo".Main characters
- Toopy is a ratRatRats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
that wears a red shirt with yellow stripes. Toopy is the main character and often gets into trouble. He and Binoo are best friends. He is the only character capable of real speech. Some of the trouble Toopy goes through includes getting lost in a maze, trapped in a fortress and getting his diaper changed. While Toopy appears to play a male role in most episodes, in some episodes he plays a female role, such as in "Princess Toopy", where Toopy dresses up as a princess and kisses frogs, trying to turn them into a prince. He is voiced by Frank MeschkuleitFrank MeschkuleitFrank Meschkuleit is a voice actor who plays the voice of Toopy and Binoo, a flagship cartoon of Treehouse TV. In addition to this role, Meschkuleit has appeared as a voice actor and puppeteer on many other shows, such as Internet Slutts, Don't Eat The Neighbours, and Dragon. His original...
.
- Binoo is a tiny plush catCatThe cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
with a long tail and a pink nose who, throughout the show, appears unable to speak, but nonetheless communicates through motions and on few occasions, whispering. He carries around a green, stuffed doll named Patchy-Patch (Monsieur Mou in the French version), who is often a companion in their adventures. Binoo is said to be a plush doll due to having stitches on his stomach.
- Patchy-Patch is Binoo's doll, and he is covered with patches. Patchy-Patch rescues Little Bo Toopy, Mermaid Toopy, and Princess Toopy in the episode "Song and Dance". He also has a house inside Toopy and Binoo's blanket.
Minor characters
- Dragon is a red dragon that debuted in the first episode "Toopy's Story". Dragon plays a major role in the episodes "Toopy's Story" and "Song and Dance".
- Mrs. Dragon is a green dragon with glasses. She is shown to be Dragon's girlfriend.
- The Three Bears are Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. Toopy and Binoo walk in on them while they are celebrating their son's birthday.
- Giraffikiki is an invisible monster, but Toopy describes it as "giant, with scary eyes, big teeth, a purple body, and silver stripes". It debuts in the episode "Giant Footprints".
- Dusteroos are dust bunnies that steal Binoo's car in an episode of the same name. Toopy manages to distract the Dusteroos with his airplane.
- Baby Monster appears in the episode "Diaper Dream" and tortures Binoo by crying. It is revealed that Baby Monster is crying because she needs a new diaper.
- Invisible Dog is an invisible dog causes chaos in Toopy and Binoo's house in the episode "Invisible Dog".
- Peanutbutterbot is a robot that Toopy and Binoo create out of a cereal box and various kitchen items. Eventually, it is revealed that Peanutbutterbot has a whole troop of clones living on another planet.
- Magic Whoosher is a vacuum that Toopy accidentally creates, which sucks up his house, the park, the Earth and the Milky Way.
- Marshmallow and Moonmellow appear in the episode "Moon Bounce". The marshmallow bounces to the moonMoonThe Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
and the rat-and-mouse duo chase it. Toopy realizes that there are marshmallows on the moon, called Moonmellows.
Funding
- Canadian Television FundCanadian Television FundThe Canadian Television Fund supported the production and broadcast of Canadian television programs. On 1 April 2010, the Canadian Television Fund became the Canada Media Fund...
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