Hi-5 (Australian TV series)
| Hi-5 | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Children's Edu-tainment |
| Created by | Helena Harris Posie Graeme-Evans |
| Starring | Casey Burgess Lauren Brant Stevie Nicholson Tim Maddren Fely Irvine |
| Voices of | Natalie Duarte |
| Theme music composer | Chris Harriott |
| Opening theme | "Five in the Air" |
| Country of origin |  Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 11 |
| No. of episodes | 480 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Helena Harris |
| Producer | Kris Noble |
| Production location | TCN-9 Sydney |
| Running time | Variable |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Release | 1999 – present |
Hi-5, an Australian children's television program, was first shown on the Nine Network in 1999. Hi-5's new Australian cast was announced in Australian talk show Morning with Kerrie-Anne, in February 2009. Hi-5 is now shown in 83 countries. Hi-5 is known as a children's pop music group as well as being a television show, much like peer children's entertainers The Wiggles. They also teach arts and crafts. It aired on Discovery Kids.
The Nine Network has committed to five new seasons of the series, stretching the series' run to at least 2013.[1]
Hi-5 celebrating 10 years in 2009 and hits the big 500th episode to air from series 12 in September this year.
Origins of the program
In 1998, Producer Helena Harris, creator of Bananas in Pajamas, created "Hi-5" when her two children outgrew 'Bananas'. She and co-producer Posie Graeme-Evans decided the new show would be aimed at 2-8 year-olds, would include educational trends as fun and games, and would feature music and movement that would attract children's attention. Hi-5 aims to cater to a wide range of young children with a wide range of cognitive abilities and learning styles.
Child-development experts work with writers on every script. Each show is built around a simple theme like colours, music, animals, or numbers. Each show is then divided into segments that teach the concept different ways. Music is seen as the method of joining the segments of the program together as well as highlighting the concepts and themes of each program.
The auditions for the Australian hosts were held in June 1998 and the first program was broadcast in 1 January 2005. Since then, the original Australian show won five ARIA awards for "Best Children's Album" (in 2005), won three consecutive Australian Logie Awards (the Australian awards for Television performance and production recognition) for "Most Outstanding Children's Preschool Program" in 2005.
Cast members
- Current members
- Stevie Nicholson replaced Tim Harding from 2007-2009, and Nathan Foley from 2009
- Casey Burgess replaced Charli Delaney (Robinson) from 2008-2009 and Kellie Crawford (Hoggart) from 2009
- Fely Irvine replaced Sun Park from 2009
- Tim Maddren replaced Tim Harding (whose segment was already hosted by Stevie since 2007) from 2009
- Lauren Brant replaced Charli Delaney (Robinson) (whose segment was already hosted by Casey since 2008) 2009
- Former members
- Sun Park replaced Kathleen de Leon Jones from 2006 - 2008 (completed 2 series, 90 episodes)
- Original cast
- Kellie Crawford 1998 - end 2008 (completed 10 series, 420 episodes)
- Nathan Foley 1998 - end 2008 (completed 10 series, 420 episodes)
- Charli Delaney (Robinson) 1998 - early 2008 (completed 10 series, 420 episodes)
- Tim Harding 1998 - 2007 (completed 9 series, 374 episodes)
- Kathleen de Leon Jones 1998 - 2006 (completed 8 series, 330 episodes with 3 episodes in Series 9)
Puppets
- Jup-Jup (puppet)
- Voiced by Tim Harding 1998-2007 (Series 1-9)
- Voiced by Noni McCallum 2007-2008 (Series 9-10)
- Voiced by Natalie Duarte 2009 (Series 11)
- Chatterbox (Chats)
- Voiced by Charli Robinson 1998-2002 (series 1-4)
- Voiced by Sophie Katinis 2003 (Series 5) (Hi-5 Live Come on and Party Concert)
- Voiced by Erin Marshall 2005-2006 (Series 7-8) (Live Space Magic Concert)
- Voiced by Noni McCallum 2006-2008 (Series 9-10) (Live Action Heroes, Live Circus Stageshow, Playtime tour)
- Voiced by Natalie Duarte 2009 (Series 11)
Former members' reasons for leaving
In order, first to last:
- Kathleen de Leon Jones: left following the birth of her first child with former Savage Garden member Daniel Jones in 2007
- Tim Harding: left following a serious motorcycle accident in 2007 where he fractured both legs and suffered a serious spinal injury that required intensive care and reconstruction
- Charli Delaney : in February 2008 she left to pursue other interests in presenting work, and acting in film and television, in order to "challenge herself".
- Kellie Crawford : left to pursue other acting opportunities and to settle down for family, announced in October 2008 that her last show would be at Carols by Candlelight on 24 December 2008.
- Nathan Foley : left to concentrate on solo career. Announced in November 2008 that his last show would be at Carols by Candlelight on 24 December 2008.
- Sun Park : Quit as she wishes to settle down and get married and maybe have kids. She also noted that she felt she was only temporary replacement for Kathleen de Leon Jones. She announced in December 2008 that her last show would be at Carols by Candlelight on 24 December, 2008.
Live tours
The band tours annually and visits several countries in which they are popular. These include Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Tour themes
- 2000 It's A Party (series 2)
- 2001 Hi-5 Alive (series 3)
- 2002 Celebrate (series 4)
- 2002-2003 Hi-5 Alive (covering songs and acts from series 4)
- 2003-2004 Come On And Party (series 5)
- 2005-2006 Space Magic (series 6)
- 2006-2007 Live Action Hero (series 7)
- 2007-2008 Circus Stage Show Live (series 8 and 9)
- 2008 Party Street Tour (Live appearances in regional Australia only, series 8 and 9 reprised)
- 2008 Playtime Tour (Series 10) Australia Only . Official DVD Tour on sales.
- 2009 Series 11 Promo was in the Philippines
- 2009-2010 Hi-5 Surprise! Live Tour (series 11) Official DVD in June
Christmas eve concert
There have been seven special Christmas Eve concerts, in which the cast sang at Carols by Candlelight. These concerts have been held annually since 2000.
Show's
On 30 October 2009, there was a Hi5 performance at UK shopping centre Westfield London for its first birthday party.
Hi-5 CDs
All Hi-5 CDs are released in Australia by SonyBMG. At least four of them gone platinum and gold and one of the top ten music in Australia. Hi-5 CDs are sold in UK and Australia.
CD releases
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Hi-5 Videos and DVDsEach season of Hi-5 is edited and compiled into video and DVD releases. Three titles are released for each season, except in 2003, which featured an all-new Christmas video as one of the releases. In 2005, Hi-5 also released "Dance Hits", featuring a "greatest hits" collection of Songs-of-the-week, plus dance lessons related to them. Video Series Releases
Special releases
Opening historyFirst intro animation[1]The Hi-5 tile is displayed on the yellow background, and the five original members are displayed doing jumps, holding umbrellas, doing somersaults and leaping up, thinning to air and being replaced by hands. Their pictures are displayed and form the title in midair.The part "there smile on my face" was when the cast shown instead of their animated character. That part was change for series 2 and 3 to show differences in each series. Second introThe intro had a total new makeover. The animated cast was more 3D then the previous intro. Their animated version was drawn very close to what the cast wore.The animinated them jumped into the screen with dance step unlike previous version. The cast was shown in the first part of "1234 Hi-5" this time they transformed into their animated version. That part was update in series 4,5,6,7 and the animated version clothes and hairstyle too to show it was a newer series. The animation ends as the cartoons put their hand together and released the Hi-5 Logo in the air. The animation last from series 4 until 7 Third intro[2]Hi-5 took its animation to the next level with more vibrant colours and 3D. The animated members was closely matched the real character. The members jump onto the green, red, aqua, regular and orange variations of the logo for dancing, a lightly-rainy day at a city made of blocks with hands and shapes on them, their pictures appear on the ferris wheel, dance on a road made of xylophones and trumpetsthat is where animated Jup-Jup and Chats in the Hi-5 Car. Casey's symbols passes the dancing members. The Animation ends with the real cast running towards the screen and butterflies passes them which magically changed into their animated version. The animation last only for series 8 and was the inspiration for the intro of the UK version of the programme. Fourth introHi-5's fourth intro closely resemble's their 3rd intro. It just features a change in characters which is Stevie taking over Tim. The animation last from series 9 to 10. Fifth introThe Hi-5 logo hits the screen, the cast land on the floor, an umbrella spins up, the cast jump outside the Hi-5 house, and they form a circle. Special intros
"Hi-5 Alive, all jump together, Hi-5 Alive, run in any weather (in which Hi-5 are wearing wet weather costumes), Hi-5 alive, (a brief shot of the theme and the Hi-5 logo before a clip of a Hi-5 song) the party's on at your place, Hi-5 Alive, there's a smile on my face (the turning logo is replaced by the clip) Five, Five, Five, Five, five together (the clip continues), one, two, three, four, five alive, (the normal theme continues) one, two, three, four, five alive (a swirling background of stars replaces the fuchia background) five, (the clip is continued until the end) Hi-5 alive, lets do it together, five alive!"
Change of the set through history1999-2000 (series 1-series 2)At the beginning of the show, there was a large hand on the stage with small, multicolor hands inside it. Two large, blue walls stood by the stage with a different pattern on the wall each week. 2001-2004 (series 3-series 6)In 2001, the Hi-5 set changed. It featured a large Hi-5 logo on the stage inside a yellow circle. Three large blocks were piled on each side. 2005-Present (series 7-Series 10)The set was changed again. Now it has a large hi-5 logo inside a bigger circle with colourful patterns. Three large blocks were also put but the design was different. 2009-present (Series 11-present)The set stayed the same except for in each song there are brand new backgrounds that were not used with the original cast. Also, the cheering of the audience has changed and you hear the cast cheering along with the children. Episodes and seriesIn every series there are nine feature songs (the titles of which are shown below). With the exception of series six, each series has run for nine weeks, allowing each song to be featured for a full week's schedule of five episodes. 430 episodes of Hi-5 have been aired so far. Each section indicates the year in which each season was produced. With the exception of the first season, these were each aired in the following year. As with all the skits, each song focuses on teaching the audience general common values in life and childhood, such as love, growth, imagination, fun, acceptance, adventure and more. Each week, there is a theme of the week that the song goes along with. The theme is given in the beginning of each episode in animation. It always includes a smiling face doing something that goes with the theme. Then, the theme appears in colorful letters(Children announce the theme) and the show begins.
Series 11 (2009) All new cast
UK versionThere was no sparsity in episode themes, instead focusing on only eight different themes; family, animals, pretend, friends, music, feelings, senses, colours Educational segments of Hi-5Each presenter hosts an education centric segment of the show. At times, they're assisted by their co-presenters to display social skills and group problem solving skills. In 2009, it was announced in the [official site][3] that the cast are switching roles in their segment.
Chats' Spelling SegmentFollowing are the weekly theme words used for Casey/Kellie's segments in each series. These are used very briefly to bridge from the prior scene into the scene with Casey/Kellie and Chats.
Sharing StoriesRead some stories in each series from 1 to 11. International BroadcastsHi-5 now airs in more than 80 countries, including:
Credits
See alsoReceptionThe cast to be hi-5 old and new! NotesA notes in news or orders from Hi-5. References
Further readingFun with reading from hi-5. External links | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||