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Dark Oracle

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Dark Oracle
Created byJana Sinyor
Developed by
  • Jana Sinyor
  • Heather Conkie
  • Bonita Siegel (for YTV)
Starring
Theme music composerGary Koftinoff
ComposerGary Koftinoff
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Ron Murphy (S1)
  • Jana Sinyor
  • Suzanne French (S2)
Running time23 minutes
Production companiesCookie Jar Entertainment[a]
Shaftesbury Films
Original release
NetworkYTV
ReleaseOctober 2, 2004 (2004-10-02) –
June 1, 2006 (2006-06-01)

Dark Oracle is a Canadian teen fantasy television series that premiered in 2004 on YTV. It was created by Jana Sinyor, and co-developed by Heather Conkie. In 2005, Dark Oracle won the International Emmy for Best Children's and youth program.

Premise

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Dark Oracle follows the adventures of teenage twins Cally and Lance Stone who discover a comic book that gives them clues about the future of their lives. As they are suddenly thrust into a comic book world of danger, fear and uncertainty, the twins learn that Dark Oracle has a hidden agenda that threatens their very existence. In a unique blend of live action and comic book style animation, the two confront their animated alter egos, Violet and Blaze, who possess the uncanny ability to manipulate their future. With events in the comic book world influencing ones in their own world, Cally and Lance struggle to stay one step ahead of their dark counterparts, or face a very unpleasant fate. The stakes become higher still, with Violet and Blaze trying to escape into the real world to wreak further havoc.

Dark Oracle starred Paula Brancati and Alex House as Cally and Lance Stone, along with Jonathan Malen as Dizzy, Lance and Cally's long-time childhood friend and Danielle Miller as Sage, who sparks Lance's interest.

"One of the things that drew us to Dark Oracle, is that it applies a strong high concept, of a comic book coming to life, to the lives of ordinary high school kids. Visually it is going to look amazing, and it is a terrific arena for great dramatic stories as Lance and Cally have to figure out how to deal with the predictions of the comic," explained Suzanne French, producer at Shaftesbury Films.

Dark Oracle's second season took a different turn from the first season, with the comic book characters intervening directly with the main cast. Dizzy and Sage learned about the comic and are going to have their own experiences with it.

Cast and characters

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Main

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  • Cally Stone (Paula Brancati): Twin sister of Lance, pretty and prides herself on being level-headed. She's also the last person who would believe in a comic book that could warp you into new worlds. When she finds herself surrounded by the supernatural, she's faced with believing that anything can happen. In the comic book she is the figure Violet.
  • Lance Stone (Alex House): Cally's twin brother, prefers video games and comics to real people. Unlike his sister, he is very shy and tends to keep to himself. When he finds himself drawn into the comic world and meets Sage, this self-proclaimed oddball starts to come out of his shell. In the comic book he is the figure Blaze.
  • Dizzy (Jonathan Malen): Lance's best friend, and like Lance he shares a passion for gaming and comics. It's no question that high school poses challenges for Dizzy, especially with his crush on Cally. But with a little time he is able to shake his geek persona and become not-quite-cool... but almost. After a while Lance and Cally decide to tell him about the comic book.
  • Sage LaPierre (Danielle Miller): She works at Gamers Cave Comic Book Store and becomes Lance's girlfriend. She doesn't notice the supernatural events around her, although at one point she and Dizzy are told by Lance and Cally all about the comic book. She and Lance break twice over the course of the series due to the comic's influence. Vern has often tried to get her from Lance, but never succeeds.

Supporting

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  • Doyle (Mark Ellis): He is the owner of Gamers Cave Comic Book Store. He spends a great deal of time in the back of his store, which also doubles as a meeting place for the secretive club of Necromancers. Lance and Cally have a suspicion that he is somehow connected to the strange comic book.
  • Annie (Barbara Mamabolo): She is Cally's best friend. She and Cally fight very often since the appearance of the comic. When they fight, Annie hangs out with Kathleen until they make up again. Annie will support Cally in almost everything. She disappears in season 2, never learning about the comic book, and is never mentioned again.
  • Omen (Kristopher Turner): He was turned into a frog by Doyle so he could keep his magic under control. In the first episode of the series, Omen sees Lance and overhears his comment on "how you can learn a lot from a comic". Omen then uses the remainder of his magic to transform a previous comic into Dark Oracle. When Lance was invited to Doyle's gaming group, Omen escapes from his cage, hiding in Cally's backpack. Omen is unknowingly taken to the Stone household. Cally names him Nemo, getting the name from the comic. He doesn't regain his human form until Lance gives Nemo a kiss (taken from the story of the frog prince) and Omen's curse is lifted.
  • Vern (David Rendall): He is a fellow goth classmate of Lance and Cally. He is neither a friend, nor a true enemy. He always hangs around Simone who might have feelings for him and tries to learn of the powers Omen and Doyle possess. Sometimes he causes trouble for the twins and other times he comes to their aid. Vern saved Lance's life when he was pushed into the mirror by Vern who meant it to be a harmless prank. The outcome was Lance's evil alter-ego taking over Lance's identity, but Vern helped Cally and her friends dispel him from Lance's body.
  • Emmett (Nathan Stephenson): He begins to like Cally, but because of the comic, and Omen, their relationship ends.

Episodes

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Season 1 (2004–05)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Dark Oracle"Ron MurphyHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorOctober 2, 2004 (2004-10-02)
2"Masquerade"Ron MurphyHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorOctober 9, 2004 (2004-10-09)
3"Meeting of the Quarter Moon"Ron MurphyHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorOctober 16, 2004 (2004-10-16)
4"Paintball Wizard"Ron MurphyJana SinyorOctober 23, 2004 (2004-10-23)
5"Fashion Queen"Craig PryceHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorNovember 6, 2004 (2004-11-06)
6"Scavengers"Ron MurphyTony ElliottNovember 13, 2004 (2004-11-13)
7"Crushed"Craig PryceNicole DemerseNovember 20, 2004 (2004-11-20)
8"Recruitment"Craig PryceHeather ConkieNovember 27, 2004 (2004-11-27)
9"Idolized"Craig PryceHeather ConkieJanuary 15, 2005 (2005-01-15)
10"Ticking Clock"Ron MurphyJana SinyorJanuary 29, 2005 (2005-01-29)
11"Trapped"Ron MurphyJana SinyorFebruary 5, 2005 (2005-02-05)
12"Marionette"Ron MurphyHeather ConkieFebruary 12, 2005 (2005-02-12)
13"Full Circle"Ron MurphyHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorFebruary 26, 2005 (2005-02-26)

Season 2 (2006)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
14"Boiler Room"Phil EarnshawHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorMarch 9, 2006 (2006-03-09)
15"It Happened at the Dance"Phil EarnshawHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorMarch 16, 2006 (2006-03-16)
16"Through a Glass Darkly"Phil EarnshawJana SinyorMarch 23, 2006 (2006-03-23)
17"The Game"Benjamin WeinsteinR.B. CarneyMarch 30, 2006 (2006-03-30)
18"House Party"Benjamin WeinsteinSkander HalimApril 6, 2006 (2006-04-06)
19"The Stalker"Benjamin WeinsteinJana SinyorApril 13, 2006 (2006-04-13)
20"The Familiar"Paul FoxTony ElliottApril 20, 2006 (2006-04-20)
21"Boot Camp"Paul FoxNicole DemerseApril 27, 2006 (2006-04-27)
22"The Trouble with Babysitting"Paul FoxHeather ConkieMay 4, 2006 (2006-05-04)
23"Ghosts from the Past"Paul FoxSkander HalimMay 11, 2006 (2006-05-11)
24"Life Interrupted"Ron MurphyHeather ConkieMay 18, 2006 (2006-05-18)
25"Trail Blaze"Ron MurphyJana SinyorMay 25, 2006 (2006-05-25)
26"Redemption"Ron MurphyHeather ConkieJune 1, 2006 (2006-06-01)

Release

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Home media

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Mill Creek Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 on August 17, 2010, which includes bonus episodes of Treasure and Mona the Vampire and the movie Sally Marshall Is Not an Alien.[1]

Accolades

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Accolades received by Dark Oracle
Award Year[b] Category Recipients Result Ref.
Gemini Awards 2005 Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Nominated
Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Dramatic Program or Series Nominated
Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series Won

Notes

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  1. ^ Produced under the Coliseum brand name (a former Cookie Jar Entertainment label for shows not aimed at their main demographic of pre-school audiences at the time)
  2. ^ The listed year refers to the date of the ceremony, not necessarily the year in which the corresponding season or episode aired.

References

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  1. ^ "Dark Oracle DVD news: Announcement for Dark Oracle - the Complete Series | TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
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