Codename: Kids Next Door

Codename: Kids Next Door
Genre	Action Comedy-drama Espionage
Format	Animated series
Created by	Tom Warburton
Written by	Tom Warburton Mo Willems Andy Rheingold Alison Wilgus
Directed by	Tom Warburton
Voices of	Ben Diskin Lauren Tom Dee Bradley Baker Cree Summer Tom Kenny Grey DeLisle Tara Strong Jeff Bennett Maurice LaMarche Jennifer Hale Frank Welker
Composer(s)	Thomas Chase Steve Rucker
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	78 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Tom Warburton Richard Winkler
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	Curious Pictures Cartoon Network Studios
Distributor	Warner Bros. Television
Broadcast
Original channel	Cartoon Network
Original run	December 6, 2002 (2002-12-06) – January 25, 2008 (2008-01-25)
External links
Website
Production website

Codename: Kids Next Door, also known as Kids Next Door or by its initialism KND, is an American animated television series created by Tom Warburton and produced by Curious Pictures in Santa Monica, California. The series debuted on Cartoon Network on December 6, 2002, and aired its final episode on January 25, 2008. The series came about as the result of a viewer's poll by Cartoon Network.

The main characters of the series are five 10-year-old children who operate from a high-tech tree house. Their mission is to fight "crimes" against kids, such as homework and flossing, committed by adults, senior citizens, teenagers, and other evil children. They make up what is known as Sector V of a worldwide organization called the Kids Next Door. The show was also part of Cartoon Network's series, Cartoon Cartoons, and is the 13th cartoon of the series. Since it no longer makes new episodes, It returns on this show called Cartoon Planet.

Overview

From left to right: Numbuh 2, Numbuh 4, Numbuh 3, Numbuh 1, and Numbuh 5

Production history

Mr. Warburton created a pilot episode for another show, Kenny and the Chimp. Originally, there was a group of children who called themselves "The Kids Next Door" among the recurring characters, and would often get Kenny into trouble. The plot-line was then changed to focus on the group of kids alone, and later, the kids battling adulthood. In 2001, the show's pilot episode, "No P in the OOL", won a Cartoon Network viewer's poll, and as a result, Codename: Kids Next Door was greenlit to become a series.

Storylines

The episodes are titled as the Kids Next Door's missions, denoted as "Operation:" followed by an acronym which often gives viewers clues as to what the episode is about. The episodes have little continuity, although occasionally missions make a reference to earlier episodes or lead to consequences in another. Stories in the earlier episodes were often about typical childhood problems, but magnified and exaggerated; as the series progressed, a more complex storyline developed.

The show frequently does very obvious parodies of theatrical films, especially in the later seasons, such as Planet of the Apes, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and the James Bond film series.

KND Organization

The Kids Next Door Organization is a worldwide group comprising thousands of kids joined in mutual struggle against adult tyranny. They fight villains that embody specific menaces to children overall (such as dental hygiene or school lunch). For every member of Kids Next Door, upon following a period of training, they then choose a number or alphanumerical code (deliberately spelled "numbuh") and sent to a "sector", that is, a tree house of ludicrous proportions. The main headquarters of the Kids Next Door is a tree house Moon Base. Kids follow their oath of protecting other kids as well as battling adulthood until the age of 13, when they are "decommissioned", a process of wiping their minds of memories of any past KND activity, as they are then teenagers, and a threat to KND. Such a practice has inevitably led to the creation of many KND villains (notably Cree, Numbuh 5's older sister, and Chad, formerly numbuh 274 and supreme commander of the Kids Next Door). The practice of strict decommissioning at age 13 was later on revealed to be subject to exceptions: kids who have proved to be exceptional agents are offered the chance to carry on in KND as spies infiltrating the teen organization. Decommissioning has also proved reversible due to a "re-commissioning" module used twice in the series.

Technology

KND agents utilize a vast array of mechanical, electronic gadgets, and machinery; collectively referred to as 2x4 (two-by-four) technology. The KND 2x4 technology was originally conceived as an assortment of common household objects, being put to use in combat situation; a theme that their weapons continued to adhere to. However, as the series progressed, the complexity of their defensive weaponry and transportation advanced to such absurd levels as to be considered science fiction, despite all of it still being constructed with nothing but household materials. In addition to the technology, many KND operatives also wear helmets similar to kabuto or samurai helmets — an example being Supreme Leader Numbuh 362.

A common theme of the show is the introduction of a new never-before-seen device, complete with its own acronym, in a sidebar screen that temporarily interrupts the storyline. It is interesting to note that many of these devices require military-level driving or piloting skills, in order for them to operate effectively. However not all of the technology is made of other items.

Main characters

Kids Next Door

• Numbuh 1 / Nigel Uno (voiced by Ben Diskin) - A bald English boy who is rarely seen without his trademark sunglasses and does not put complete trust in anyone but his teammates. He is a workaholic who consistently puts business before himself. His uncommon baldness is due to an unexplained event involving the Delightful Children from Down the Lane, and Numbuh 5's shirking of duties.^{[citation needed]} Throughout the series, his girlfriend is Lizzie Devine, but their relationship came to an end in the final season when she explained that she was tired of him always putting KND priorities over her. He is the only operative on his team without a sibling, though he shares a sister-like relationship with his cousin Numbuh 10. He is the first KND operative to be selected for Galactic Kids Next Door from planet Earth. His last name Uno is Spanish for one.
• Numbuh 2 / Hoagie Gilligan (voiced by Ben Diskin) - An inventor and pilot with a passion for flight, who wears an old fashioned aviator hat. Numbuh 2 builds all the technology used by his sector. He is an overweight German American boy who enjoys cracking puns at every chance possible. Hoagie is also Numbuh 1's best friend. His interests besides flight include trading cards and being a detective. His little brother is Tommy Gilligan who was once an enemy of the KND, but later on he became a recurring hero.
• Numbuh 3 / Kuki Sanban (voiced by Lauren Tom) - A happy Japanese girl whose love for every creature often interferes with her responsibilities. She is a fan of Rainbow Monkeys, a stuffed monkey toy series, and irrationally defends her love for them, occasionally allowing her aggressive side to show. Her last name, "Sanban" is Japanese for "number three". In contrast with her innocent, gentle, and happy-go-lucky personality, she is the pilot of a giant robotic rabbit named H.I.P.P.I.E.-H.O.P. (Hare Inspired Piston Powered Ingenious Exoskeleton Hops Over Parents), which is thoroughly armed with missiles; however, the robot is destroyed in every episode it appears in, with Numbuh 3 parachuting out afterwards. In "Operation: H.O.T.S.T.U.F.F.", Numbuh 3 was the main villain who became very furious about her house being warm claiming for once she could feel her toes, not have to wear sweaters to take baths or eating her cereal with ice picks. Her powers are then similar to that of Father's overpowering her fellow teammates/friends Numbuhs 2 and 5 but not enough to stop Numbuh 1 as she returned to her normal self when the house's temperature went back to normal. She has been shown on numerous occasions to scare her teammates with her fierce anger letting out. Her ears become pointy, her teeth turns sharp, and her eyes become fiery. Her sibling is her younger sister Mushi Sanban who happens to be a recurring villain.
• Numbuh 4 / Wally Beatles (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) - A short, Australian boy known for acting impulsively. Numbuh 4 wears an orange hooded sweater and blue jeans and has a blond bowl haircut. He is the most capable one of the team when it comes to physical fighting; however, his lack of intelligence leads to him being easily fooled and selected for dangerous missions. He is ignorant in basic knowledge of English and mathematics, reflected by his grades in school. He did show a brief intelligence in "Operation P.O.O.L." when he was able to tell his teammates from the Negative counterparts. He later on went to that world to take on his counterpart Negative Numbuh 4 and eventually made him scared by saying "Well if you're supposed to be my opposite, then that makes you a coward." He has a little brother named Joey Beatles who appears throughout the series. He also has a crush on his teammate, Numbuh 3.
• Numbuh 5 / Abby Lincoln (voiced by Cree Summer) - An intelligent and laid back tomboy of African American and French descent. Abigail rarely overreacts in their missions, instead opting to calm her friends. She talks in third person much of the time, and loves sweets — especially ice cream. In Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S it is shown that she takes over sector V in wake of Numbuh 1's departure and becomes the supreme leader of KND.
• Numbuh 86/ Fanny Fullbright (voiced by Jennifer Hale) - Head of decommissioning, she speaks with a heavy Scottish accent and yells when she speaks. She is also known to underestimate boys, often calling them "stupid" and believing girls are far superior. Due to this, the only character with a positive attitude of Numbuh 86 is the happy-go-lucky Numbuh 3. Late in the series, it is revealed her father is the villain Mr. Boss.
• Numbuh 274 / Chad Dickson (voiced by Jason Harris) - The so-called "best" Kids Next Door operative, who rose through the ranks after becoming famous for defeating an infamous gang of adult tyrants. However, in the season 2 finale "Operation: E.N.D." he betrayed his fellow operatives by hiding that he turned 13 years old. In the following seasons, he joined the teenagers and became a recurring villain. In the season 6 finale "Operation: T.R.E.A.T.Y.", it is revealed that he was working undercover for the KND. He is the son of villains Mega-Mom and Destructo-Dad.
• Numbuh 362 / Rachel T. McKenzie (voiced by Rachael MacFarlane) - The Supreme Leader of the Kids Next Door Organization, and one of the major recurring and supporting characters in the show. Numbuh 362 gained a major role beginning with the season two episode "Operation: F.U.G.I.T.I.V.E.", where it is explained that she is the KND's top spy. It is revealed in the season three episode "Operation: G.R.A.D.U.A.T.E.S." that she had taken the position of supreme leader after Numbuh 274's was decommissioned.

Villains

• The Delightful Children From Down the Lane / Sector Z Operative (voiced by Ben Diskin, Dee Bradley Baker, and Cree Summer) - Five well-behaved children who move and talk in perfect synchronization. They obey all adults, especially their father: they and Father are the most recurring villains of the series. Rather than interfere themselves, the Delightful Children usually stand back and let a giant robot or super-powered minion do their work. In Operation: Z.E.R.O., it is revealed that they are the lost KND operatives of Sector Z, having been "delightfulized" by Father. Their names are: George (short blonde boy), Percy (helmet boy), David (tall boy with a beret), Sandra (tall, blonde girl) & Brittany (chubby, brunette girl).
• Father / Benedict Uno (voiced by Maurice LaMarche in Father mode and Jeff Bennett in Benedict mode) - An adult who constantly wears a suit of shadows, and is the KND's greatest enemy. He first appeared in the season 1 finale: Operation: G.R.O.W.-U.P.. His powers include pyrokinesis, levitation, mind control, and shape-shifting. Father's body is completely black with a red outline along his body and eyebrows, giving him a silhouette-like appearance with few other discernible features, which include his bright yellow eyes. In Operation: Z.E.R.O., it is revealed that he's Numbuh 1's paternal uncle.
• Mr. Boss (voiced by Jeff Bennett) - A child-hating corporate executive, who acts as the de-facto leader of the KND's standard rogue's gallery. He is very physically large, has a bald head, a mustache, an over-sized cigar in his mouth, and a hunched back. He often holds gatherings for the other villains of the series. He also is Numbuh 86 and 85's father, He is the second in command of the villains after Father.
• Knightbrace / Mr. Larry Jelly (voiced by Tom Kenny) - A villain obsessed with dental and oral hygiene and has a weakness for taffy. Mr. Jelly had dreamed of being a dentist all his life, but used extreme methods and was kicked out of dental school for trying to put braces on babies. He was then forced to work in his family's candy store, thus damaging children's teeth rather than cleaning them. He then became Knightbrace and sought out to repair the damage he had done.
• Stickybeard (voiced by Mark Hamill) - A candy-hunting pirate who sails the suburbs in his ship, The Sweet Revenge, with his crew of pirates, robbing kids of their candy. his name references the notorious real-life pirate Blackbeard, much like his ship references Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge, as well as the fact that his beard has pieces of candy stuck to it. The candy of Stickybeard and his crew is very prominent to the point that parts of the ship itself is made of candy, and they use weapons made of candy, such as candy cane swords and gumball cannons.
• Toiletnator / Lou (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) - The most pathetic villain in the series and an embarrassment to the other villains, to whom he is constantly trying to prove himself. He has control over toilets and toiletries. He is the self-proclaimed arch-nemesis of Numbuh 4, who is revealed to be his nephew in the comic story "Operation: H.I.S.T.O.R.I.E."
• Count Spankulot (voiced by Daran Norris) - A spoof of Count Dracula, he is a vampire who spanks naughty children. The count made his brief debut in the episode Operation: C.A.N.N.O.N to spank the KND for not returning their library books on time and has become a recurring character ever since. By removing one of his gloves, he can turn people into spank-happy vampires like himself, and they can only change back to normal if he himself is spanked.
• Crazy Old Cat Lady (voiced by Grey DeLisle) - A old woman who lives with thousands of black and white cats. She is an exaggeration of the common archetype of an old woman owning cats. Her bond with her cats is so strong that she possesses the power to control them and can order them to attack enemies when threatened. In extreme situations, the cats form together into the shape of a giant cat around her, which she directly controls.
• Grandma Stuffum (voiced by Grey DeLisle) - A huge German woman who creates gross armies of living food to fatten kids up to obese proportions so they will not cause trouble. She commands an army of living food that aggressively feeds itself to kids. Among these are Grandma Stuffum's constant companions, Liver and Onions. Stuffum has twice also exhibited above-average strength.
• Mr. Fizz / Pablo Fizz (voiced by Jeff Bennett) - The head of the Soda Control Board, who has raised the legal soda drinking age to thirteen. He enforces this law strongly, putting him in conflict with the Kids Next Door; ironically, he himself loves soda. Mr. Fizz speaks with a Spanish accent and wears a fancy white suit and purple glasses. He uses weapons based on soda bottles and barrels, but he cannot stand the sound of children.
• Mr. Wink and Mr. Fibb / John Wink and Timothy Fibb (voiced by Tom Kenny and Dee Bradley Baker) - A pair of villains who use robotic Super Chairs to fight the KND during the early seasons. They are almost always seen sitting next to each other and have an alternating speech pattern, often asking rhetorical questions to each other and addressing the other by name at the end of each sentence. They were inspired by Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd from the James Bond novel and film Diamonds are Forever.
• Henrietta "Heinrich" Von Marzipan (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker and Candi Milo) - He is Numbuh 5's chubby German candy-hunting rival with blond hair, blue eyes and a monocle. He speaks with a German accent and loves candy, just like his rival Numbuh 5. He is based on the Nazis from Indiana Jones films. In "Operation: C.A.R.A.M.E.L." it is revealed that Heinrich is actually a girl. In the episode, magic caramels can be created by ritual that takes away one's most cherished quality. In turn for this sacrifice, the caramels become the most delicious candies in the world. Henrietta created the caramels using her femininity and ate what she believed to be all of them. Numbuh 5 kept the last remaining caramel that contained Heinrich's femininity and was able to reverse the ritual.
• Ice Cream Men (voiced by Tom Kenny, Dee Bradley Baker, Kevin Michael Richardson and Daran Norris) - The men who operate Ice Cream Trucks. In the KND universe, Ice Cream Men are portrayed as villains who mainly serve as henchmen to The Delightful Children From Down the Lane and Father. They sell ice cream only to "responsible adults", referencing the real life tendency of ice cream trucks to drive by potential customers without stopping, to the point of it appearing intentional.
• Senior Citizen Squad (voiced by Candi Milo, Tom Kenny, Kevin Michael Richardson and Daran Norris) - A group of senior citizens led by Numbuh 2's grandmother, Lydia Gilligan who use an anti-aging cream that turns them into very physically agile teenagers. Apart from Lydia, the group consists of Sheldon and Maurice. The Senior Citizen Squad first appears in "Operation: T.A.P.I.O.C.A.", where they are first seen hijacking a truck of Tapioca Pudding and being attacked and defeated by the Kids Next Door. Later, when they attack the Sector V Treehouse, the effects of the anti-aging cream wear off and their true identities are revealed.

Other characters

• Numbuh 0 / Monty Uno (voiced by Frank Welker in adult mode and Dave Wittenberg in Numbuh mode) - Father of Nigel Uno, the Elder son of Grandfather. In Operation: Z.E.R.O., he is revealed to be Numbuh 0, the founder of the modern age of the KND Organization (the 7th Age of the KND), as well as the older brother of Benedict Uno and the adoptive uncle of the Delightful Children From Down the Lane.
• Numbuh 11 / Cree Lincoln (voiced by Cree Summer) - Numbuh 5's teenage sister and Father's apprentice, Cree first appears in the season 2 episode "Operation: S.U.P.P.O.R.T." She is a former KND operative, going by the name Numbuh 11, who served as leader and 2x4 tech officer of Sector V three years prior to the start of the series. She was the one who gave Numbuh 5 her trademark hat. Numbuh 2 has a mild crush on her, despite her constantly hurting and offending him, but in "Operation: K.I.S.S." when he accidentally turned into a teenager, she started liking him.
• Numbuh 49 / Lizzie Abbott (voiced by Grey DeLisle) - She is Numbuh 1's chubby American girlfriend with ginger hair and glasses. She is very possessive over him and will often go out of her way to try to get him to spend more time with her. She gets angry when he puts his KND work before her and his tendency to jilt her or break off dates just to go on missions. Even though she continues to tolerate it, she eventually breaks up with him after realizing that his job is what he truly loves. The rest of the team find her to be more of an annoyance or a topic to pester Nigel about rather than a helpful ally, though she has been useful in a few instances.
• Numbuh T / Tommy Gilligan (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) - Numbuh 2's little brother, first appearing in "Operation: T.O.M.M.Y." He originally sought to join the KND as "Numbuh T" (despite, as was continuously pointed out to him, T not being a number), which the others agreed to after his helping them in the season 2 finale "Operation: E.N.D." However, he was forced to quit to save them from Father in "Operation: G.R.A.D.U.A.T.E.S." and, due to a computer safeguard, was unable to rejoin. As such, he continued to defend kids as a vigilante, "The Tommy".
• Mushi Sanban (voiced by Tara Strong) - A seven-year-old kindergartener, Mushi is the younger sister of Numbuh 3 and daughter of Kani and Genki Sanban. Like her sister, Mushi is very childish and overly happy, but beneath her outward personality has a very sinister and conniving personality despite her age.
• "Super Duper Safety Patrol" - A group of kids who operate safety at Gallagher Elementary School. Their leader is Joe Balooka, who helped make apple crumble using kids's pinkeye crust as crust for the crumble, which is extremely disgusting. There are six of them: Joe, Stewie, Andy, Polly, Thad, & Wilma.

Episodes

Main article: List of Codename: Kids Next Door episodes

Season		Episodes	Originally aired		DVD release dates
			Season premiere	Season finale	Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
	Pilots	2	November 6, 1998 (November 6, 1998)	July 20, 2002 (July 20, 2002)	TBA	TBA	TBA
	1	13	December 6, 2002	March 7, 2003	TBA	TBA	TBA
	2	13	October 3, 2003	June 4, 2004	TBA	TBA	TBA
	3	13	June 11, 2004	November 12, 2004	TBA	TBA	TBA
	4	13	November 19, 2004	July 22, 2005	TBA	TBA	TBA
	5	13	September 20, 2005	August 24, 2006	TBA	TBA	TBA
	6	13	August 25, 2006	December 7, 2007	TBA	TBA	TBA
	Movies	2	August 11, 2006	January 25, 2008	TBA	TBA	TBA
	Specials	1	November 11, 2007		TBA	TBA	TBA

There are six seasons, each with 13 episodes (two half-length episodes counting as one), adding up to 78 episodes altogether. There have been two TV movies, the first taking place between the second and third episodes of season 6 (Operation: Z.E.R.O.), and the second at the end of season 6 (Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S.).

Other media

DVD releases

Two DVDs in two volumes were released of Codename: Kids Next Door, totaling 16 episodes.

Title	Episodes	Release date			Description
		Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
Sooper Hugest Missions: File One	9	October 26, 2004	May 15, 2006	February 13, 2008	Includes the episodes "Operation: I.-S.C.R.E.A.M.", "Operation: P.I.R.A.T.E.", "Operation: L.I.C.E.", "Operation: L.I.Z.Z.I.E.", "Operation: T.H.E.-F.L.Y.", "Operation: C.A.T.S.", "Operation: S.P.A.N.K.", "Operation: S.U.P.P.O.R.T.", and "Operation: G.R.O.W.-U.P." as well as a bonus Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends cartoon, 2x4 technology profiles, and game tips for Operation: S.O.D.A.
Sooper Hugest Missions: File Two	7	August 23, 2005	N/A	N/A	Includes the episodes "Operation: C.A.N.N.O.N.", "Operation: C.A.M.P.", "Operation: C.H.A.D.", "Operation: S.H.A.V.E.", "Operation: T.R.I.P.", "Operation: T.R.A.I.N.I.N.G.", and "Operation: D.A.T.E." as well as a bonus The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy episode and game tips for Operation: V.I.D.E.O.G.A.M.E..

Episodes were also featured in other DVD releases by Cartoon Network

• Scooby-Doo and the Toon Tour of Mysteries—"Operation: T.E.E.T.H.", "Operation: P.O.I.N.T.", "Operation: I-S.C.R.E.A.M."
• Cartoon Network Halloween 2—"Operation: T.R.I.C.K.Y."
• Cartoon Network Christmas 2—"Operation: P.I.A.N.O."
• Cartoon Network Halloween 3—"Operation: J.E.W.E.L.S."
• Cartoon Network Christmas 3—"Operation: N.A.U.G.H.T.Y."
• Toon Foolery — Laugh Your 'Ed Off!—"Operation: C.A.K.E.D"

In other series or works

On an episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy entitled "Sickly Sweet", a scene depicts Grim watching Codename: Kids Next Door. Also, in the MAD episode "Taking Nemo / Once Upon a Toon", Numbuh One cameos as one of the cartoon characters who has forgotten his identity.

Publications

Stories featuring the Kids Next Door have been featured in the comic series Cartoon Cartoons, Cartoon Network Block Party, and Cartoon Network Action Pack. The characters are also featured in the books 2x4 Technology Handbook and Sooper Secrets and Boomerang Bloopers, both by Alison Wilgus.

Trading cards

A trading card game based on the series was launched by Wizards of the Coast in July 2005.

Video games

Two video games were released for the series: Operation: S.O.D.A. in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance and Operation: V.I.D.E.O.G.A.M.E. in 2005 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube.

In Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, Numbuhs One through Five, and villains Father, Toiletnator, and Stickybeard appear as non-playable characters. KNDefense armor and 2x4 Tech weapons are available for players, Sector V's treehouse can be explored, and KND S.C.A.M.P.E.R.s can be used for transport. In Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion, Father and Numbuh 1 are playable, Sector V Treehouse and the C.O.O.L.-B.U.S. are arenas, and Numbuh 2 and Stickybeard are assist characters. In the console versions, Toiletnator is a playable character, Numbuh 4 is an assist character, and KND Moonbase is an arena.

External links

• Official website
• Official website from 2004 to 2009
• Global KND web
• Codename: Kids Next Door at Curious Pictures
• Codename: Kids Next Door at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• Codename: Kids Next Door at the Internet Movie Database
• Codename: Kids Next Door at TV.com