3-2-1 Penguins!

3-2-1 Penguins!
Created by	Jeff Parker Phil Lollar Nathan Carlson
Developed by	Mike Nawrocki
Written by	Mitch Schauer Kirby Atkins Tim Hodge Broose Johnson
Directed by	Tod Carter Tom Bancroft Tim Hodge
Voices of	Episodes 1-6 Mark Marten Melissa Peterson Ellen Kennedy Ron Wells Greg Mills Page H. Hearn Ron Smith Episodes 7-9 Quinn Lord Claire Corlett Ellen Kennedy John Payne Paul Dobson Lee Tockar Michael Donovan Gary Chalk Dale Wilson
Theme music composer	Kurt Heinecke and Mike Nawrocki
Composer(s)	Kurt Heinecke Adam Frick
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of episodes	27
Production
Executive producer(s)	Phil Vischer Tim Hodge
Producer(s)	J. Chris Wall Joe Barrouao Sean Roche
Editor(s)	John Wahba
Running time	30-66 minutes (video) 22 minutes (television)
Production company(s)	Big Idea, Inc. Sparky Animation Brain Freeze Entertainment
Broadcast
Original channel	qubo (&) PBS Sprout
Original run	September 9, 2006 – November 13, 2008

3-2-1 Penguins! is a series of Christian computer-animated (direct-to-video until 2003) cartoons launched on November 14, 2000. The direct-to-video series by Big Idea, Inc., the same producers of the long-running VeggieTales movies, held the top spot on the Soundscan kid video sales charts for its first 18 weeks of release. and has sold 1.5 million videos to date. It was the #1 seller on Christian Booksellers Association's video list in 2001 and the #2 (and occasionally #1) ranked show on NBC's qubo Saturday morning kids block in 2008. Along with VeggieTales, 3-2-1 Penguins has generated millions of dollars in revenue for Big Idea After the release of six direct-to-video episodes by Big Idea from 2000–2003, 3-2-1 Penguins appeared on NBC's Qubo from 2006–2008 and featured 20 new episodes. The newer episodes appear on DVD as compilations with three episodes per package.

Format

Twins Jason and Michelle are spending summer with their English Grandmum in The Poconos region of New York. Grandmum has a collection of kitschy ceramic figurines, the most prized of which is four penguins in a rocket ship (a honeymoon gift from her deceased husband). In the first show, the twins accidentally drop the ship, but instead of breaking it flies into the air and reveals the four penguins are actually the crew of a real spaceship - the United Federation Rockhopper. The twins are then pulled into the ship, using the crew's Gileezle gun, and taken on a galactic adventure. The adventure that ensues then ties into whatever moral dilemma that Jason and Michelle had struggled with in the shows opening scene. For example, in the episode Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn', the twins are struggling with taking turns on a new video game. Subsequently, they and the penguins are called upon to help an alien planet that is in danger of burning up in its sun because the indigenous race is incapable of waiting their turns-thus the ".

Characters

Main characters

Zidgel: The Rockhopper's captain who appears to be a cross between heroic James T. Kirk and vain Ted Baxter. He is always concerned about his appearance, especially his hair. Zidgel also should wear glasses, but his vanity doesn't allow it.

Zidgel was voiced by Ron Wells and is currently voice by John Payne.

Midgel: The Rockhopper's pilot of the ship who is short and speaks with an Australian accent. Midgel sometimes says "Bonsai!" before driving the ship, before pulling out a Bonsai Tree and trimming a branch. He also does mechanical work around the ship.

Midgel was voiced by Greg Mills and is currently voice by Paul Dobson.

Fidgel: The doctor/scientist of the Rockhopper's crew. Many of his inventions are odd, such as the Gileezle which is the crew's object resizer gun, but can also be useful. From photos in the first episode, we see that Fidgel physially resembles Jason and Michelle's grandpa, Grandmum's deceased husband.

Fidgel was voiced by Page H. Hearn and is currently voice by Lee Tockar.

Kevin: While Kevin has no specific job on the ship, other than cleaning, he is always ready to help when needed by the others. He also sometimes answers questions or solves problems without being aware of it.

Kevin was voiced by Ron Smith and is currently voiced by Mike Donovan.

Jason Conrad: 8-year-old twin brother of Michelle who goes on adventures with the penguins.

Jason was voiced by Mark Marten and is currently voiced by Quinn Lord.

Michelle Conrad: 8-year-old twin sister of Jason who also goes with him on his adventures.

Michelle was voiced by Melissa Peterson and is currently voiced by Claire Corlett.

Episodes

Direct-To-Video

1. "Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn" (November 14, 2000): In the premier episode, Michelle and Jason are struggling with taking turns on a new video game. They and the penguins are then called upon to help an alien planet that is in danger of burning up in its sun because the indigenous race (who resemble old style Electrolux canister vacuum cleaners) is incapable of waiting their turns. Its theme is patience is a virtue.
2. "The Cheating Scales of Bullamanka" (May 15, 2001): Michelle and Jason play a game of 'Squid Tac Toad' and Michelle wins the game by cheating. She is then taken to the planet of Bullamanka to play the Lizard King in a real life game of Squid Tac Toad and after finding out that the Lizard also cheats, learns the importance of playing fairly. Its theme is playing by the rules. Includes the video: "Fair and Square".
3. "The Amazing Carnival of Complaining" (November 16, 2001): Jason and the crew go on a leisure trip to a carnival turns, but are confronted by Uncle Blobb and his diabolical intergalactic real estate scheme as he attempts to turn them into "Seeds of Discontent." Its theme is not complaining about the things we don't have. Includes the video: "The Shinin' Star Swing".
4. "The Doom Funnel Rescue" (November 1, 2002): Jason and the penguins, along with Kevin's robot friend, B.I.N.G., are called on to save a peaceful colony in the Doublewide Constellation which is being threatened by a huge space tornado. Its theme is helping others. Includes the video: "Spaceship Driving Man".
5. "Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt (June 28, 2002): Michelle joins the Penguins on a mission to restore the signal beacon at Lightstation Kilowatt before the F.S.S Emperor's Pride crashes into a giant cosmic reef. Its theme is pride. Includes the music video: "Space Surfin' Superstar".
6. "Moon Menace on Planet Tell-A-Lie" (April 3, 2003): Jason and the penguins are called on to save planet Tell-a-Lie before its giant moon flattens the planet. But with its people telling only lies, figuring out the truth about what is causing their moon to plummit towards the planet isn't easy. Its theme is honesty. Includes the music video: "The Legend of Galaxy Gus".

DVD Compilations

1. "Save The Planets!" (September 1, 2008): Includes three stories. The first, "The Green-Eyed Monster", features the penguins attempts to restore peace between two groups of sheep. Its theme is jealousy. The second, "More is More", features the penguins trying to save the planet Gutt as the citizen's overeating threatens to throw their planet off course. Its theme is gluttony. The third, "Give and Let Give", features Jason and the penguins teach fueding lawn ornaments to get along. Its theme is sharing.
2. "Blast In Space!" (February 1, 2009): Includes three stories. The first, "Wiki Tiki", features the penguins attempt to save the island planet of Wiki Tiki from a volcano. Its theme is patience. The second, "Lazy Daze", features Jason and the penguins' struggle against giant ants who have overrun their picnic. Its theme is laziness. The third, "Compassion Crashin'", features Michelle and the penguins after they crashland on an asteroid and the aliens make Michelle queen. Its theme is compassion.
3. "Escape from Planet Hold-A-Grudge!" (October 20, 2009): Includes three stories. In the first, "Do Unto Brothers", the Penguins are captured by the evil Cavitus and Jason and Michelle jet to the rescue, but fall into the trap of a Jelly Worm Hole. Its theme is teamwork. In the second, "Oh, Mercy!", Zidgel is thrown into prison after smashing the Crown Jewel of the Gator King of Mercy-Falls. Its theme is forgiveness. In the third, "Between an Asteroid and a Hard Place", The Rockhopper is zapped by a Glue-Ray gun and is trapped on an asteroid with Cavitus and his hideous minions. Its theme is kindness.

External links

• Official website from Big Idea
• 3-2-1 Penguins! at the Internet Movie Database