Wimzie's House

Wimzie's House
Format	Children's television series
Starring	Sonja Ball Tyrone Benskin Thor Bishopric Bruce Dinsmore Holly Gauthier-Frankel Liz MacRae Jennifer Seguin Jane Woods
Country of origin	Canada
No. of episodes	65
Production
Running time	30 Minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	YTV CBC Television (1997) This TV (November 1, 2008-2009) (Canada) PTV (October 1, 1997-September 5, 1999) PBS Kids (September 6, 1999-August 31, 2001) (United States)
Original run	March 4, 1995 – August 31, 1996

Wimzie's House is a Canadian children's television program which ran on YTV from 1995 to 1996, and in the United States on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) from October 1, 1997 to August 31, 2001. The show has also aired at least as early as 1995 and through the late-1990s on CBC Television, and on Radio-Canada (as La Maison de Ouimzie). Reruns of the show currently air in the United States and Canada on the Cookie Jar Toons block on This TV and in syndication as part of the Cookie Jar Network block. The series was produced by Cinar (now Cookie Jar Entertainment), with the PBS telecasts presented by Maryland Public Television. The show's puppetry is in the style of Sesame Street, which led to some legal troubles with The Jim Henson Company, in 1999.

Main characters

(Voices listed here are for the English-language version.)

• Wimzie (performed by Sonja Ball) - The main character of the show, she is a dragon/bird hybrid with a unique appearance, with yellow-orange skin, purple hair tied in pigtails decorated in baby blue bows and red wings on the top of her head. She is five years old. She also introduces the episodes in the beginning of the series. In musical numbers, she performs a few of her solo songs which are titled "When There's A Job To Do", "Turtles", "Be Exactly Who You Are", "Something In My Head", "Left Out" and "I Love You". She has a baby brother named Bo.

• Rousso (performed by Tyrone Benskin) - Wimzie's father. He is a calm dragon with orange skin and blond hair. He works as a firefighter. When not on the job, Rousso likes to relax. It has been revealed that he has a sister named Alice who is also Wimzie's aunt.

• Graziella (performed by Jennifer Seguin) - Wimzie's mother. She is a bird with pink skin and blond hair in a beehive hairdo. She works as a pilot and is often away from home for extended periods. She has the same voice as Doris from Calliou.

• Bo (performed by Liz MacRae) - Wimzie's baby brother. Being still a baby, he often gets most of Yaya's attention, and the others keep tabs on him as well. He mostly resembles his father and is completely dragon and not a hybrid like his big sister. He is still learning to talk, so he mostly communicates in gibberish.

• Yaya (performed by Jane Woods) - Wimzie's grandmother and Graziella's mother. She runs a daycare in Wimzie's house for Wimzie and her friends while their parents are working. Her complexion is lavender and her hair is a stack of orange, blond and purple. Despite her old age, she is full of energy, often being more than a match for a housefull of children and her daughter and son-in-law.

• Jonas (performed by Thor Bishopric) - This goblin is five years old and loves science. He collects dirt and has a surprisingly large collection. His skin is green with purple hair and he wears eyeglasses and a propeller cap. Often in his explanations, he would include his catch phrase "It's very scientific." Lou Lou is his little sister.

• Loulou (performed by Holly Gauthier-Frankel) - Jonas' three-year old sister. She wants to be like the bigger kids, yet isn't quite ready to make the jump. She is capable of understanding Bo's baby-jabber. Her complexion is yellow-green and she wears eyeglasses and has purple hair like her brother, tied in a high ponytail decorated in a bow.

• Horace (performed by Bruce Dinsmore) - A four-year old troll, Horace isn't as smart as the other kids, but is always asking questions and learning things. He is the strongest of all the children, but angers easily and can sometimes be rough. He gets along best with Bo and Wimzie. His skin is light blue and his hair is reddish-blonde and straight. He has the same voice as Binky Barnes from Arthur.

Funding

• Boscov's
• Chuck E. Cheese's
• National Science Foundation
• Corporation For Public Broadcasting
• Viewers Like You

Legal troubles

In 1999, The Jim Henson Company issued a lawsuit against the company, claiming the series' puppets and resultant merchandise violated its copyright and trademark rights on The Muppets. CINAR and its licensees Eden LLC and Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company denied and continue to deny any wrongdoing or liability for infringement.

A confidential settlement allowed CINAR to continue broadcasting the series, selling show merchandise, and a "mechanism for preserving the distinctive look of Jim Henson's Muppets in CINAR's future productions."

Ronald A. Weinberg, CINAR President and Co-CEO:

We are delighted that it's been settled and that the agreement leaves an open door between the two companies. It's also good news that WIMZIE'S HOUSE will continue to enjoy such a broad audience on PBS in the U.S. and on other channels in over 100 countries around the world. Furthermore, it means that the licensing initiative we launched last year will continue to flourish with both established and new licencee partners.

Media

Video releases

• Babies Have It Made
• Happy Holidays
• It's Magic Time
• Pet Tales
• You're Special

DVD releases

On July 27, 2010, Mill Creek Entertainment released a 10 episode Best-of collection entitled Wimzie's House: A World of Enchantment on DVD in Region 1.

References

• "CINAR and Jim Henson Company Settle Wimzie Lawsuit", Business Wire, 18 January 2000.

External links

• Wimzie's Website
• TV.com page
• Wimzie's House at the Internet Movie Database