Toot the Tiny Tugboat is a British 2D-animated preschool television series developed from Sebastien Braun’s Toot and Pop! picture book by Lupus Films and animated by Cloth Cat Animation.[2] The series has been airing on Channel 5 Milkshake! since October 2014, and started showing on the 9am time slot from October 2015.[3] Additionally, the series broadcasts on the Cartoonito channel, with the Welsh language version airing on S4C Cyw.[4][5] The series is also available on UK Netflix.[6]
| Toot the Tiny Tugboat | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Preschool Animated Series |
| Based on | The original Toot and Pop! picture book by Sebastien Braun |
| Written by | Ian Carney Andrew Bernhardt Jo Clegg Alison Gentleman Stuart Kenworthy Moya O’Shea Paul Parkes Kate Scott |
| Directed by | Matthew Hood |
| Starring | Osian Gatehouse John Hasler Menna Spittle |
| Composer | Ben Lee-Delisle Paul Kissaun |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Jon Rennie |
| Producer | Camilla Deakin Ruth Fielding |
| Production location | Animated in Cardiff |
| Editor | Garry Smith |
| Running time | 11 mins |
| Production company | Toot Enterprises[1] Cloth Cat Animation Lupus Films |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 5 Milkshake! |
| Release | 20 October 2014 – present |
The show follows the nautical adventures of a young tugboat called Toot as he helps out with jobs around the harbour, with episodes involving themes such as taking responsibility, respecting wildlife, being a good friend, helping those in need, working in a team and believing in yourself.[7] The large cast of characters includes other boats, seaside animals, harbourside workers, the Harbour Master and his twin grandchildren Bethan and Caleb.
Toot’s catchphrase is “Heave-ho, let’s go!”.
Broadcast edit
| Country | Local Title | Channel | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Toot the Tiny Tugboat | Channel 5 Milkshake! | 20 October 2014 |
| Wales | Tŵt Anturiaethau’r bad bach | S4C Cyw | 21 October 2014 |
| United Kingdom | Toot the Tiny Tugboat | Cartoonito | 2 March 2015 |
| United Kingdom | Toot the Tiny Tugboat | Netflix | 1 August 2015 |
| United Kingdom | Toot the Tiny Tugboat | Tiny Pop | TBA |
| France | Toot les Tiny Tugboat | Piwi+ | TBA |
| Germany | Toot die Tiny Tugboat | Super RTL | TBA |
| Italy | Toot i Tiny Tugboat | Frisbee Rai YoYo |
TBA |
| Spain | Toot las Tiny Tugboat | Clan | TBA |
| Ireland | Toot the Tiny Tugboat | Be3 | TBA |
| Poland | Toot Tiny Tugboat | MiniMini+ | TBA |
| Canada | Toot the Tiny Tugboat | Toon-A-Vision | June 18, 2018 |
| Australia | Toot the Tiny Tugboat | ABC Kids | TBA |
| United Kingdom | Toot the Tiny Tugboat | CBeebies | January 6, 2024 |
Merchandise edit
Books edit
The series was developed from an original picture book by Sebastien Braun called Toot and Pop!.[8]
Apps edit
The first official Toot app, Toot’s Harbour, was created by Thud Media and released in the Apple iOS App Store in March 2015. The open-world exploration game allows pre-school players to sail Toot around the Harbour in 3D, meeting friends, playing mini-games, towing boats and collecting rewards along the way.[9] Toot's Race was the second, where you play as Toot, racing around the harbour, overtaking others like Hattie, the Posh Yachts, Paula, Marge, H.P. and more. The other characters will watch the race, like Ol' Graham, Pop, Bryan and more.
Cinema edit
Toot the Tiny Tugboat has been screened at Picturehouse Cinemas around the UK as part of Toddler Time, a cinema experience specially designed for very young children and their families.[10]
Awards edit
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | BAFTA Cymru Games and Interactive Awards | Sound and Music Commendation[11] | Winner |
| 2015 | Cairo International Cinema and Arts Festival for Children | Best TV Series | Bronze |
Festivals edit
| Country | Festival | Year |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Animation Block Party | 2015 |
| United States | Kaleidoscope Kids TV International Film Festival | 2015 |
| Italy | Cartoon on the Bay - International Panorama of Cartoons on the Bay | 2015 |
References edit
- ^ "Turner ties up Toot the Tiny Tugboat". TBI Vision. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "Toot the Tiny Tugboat: Interview with Ruth Fielding (Lupus Films) & Jon Rennie (Cloth Cat Animation)". Skwigly. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ "Toot the Tugboat to get prime slot on Milkshake". Licensing.Biz. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "Toot the Tugboat docks at Turner". Broadcast Now. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ Brown, Maggie (12 April 2014). "British cartoons boom as industry is reanimated by tax relief deal". The Observer. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ^ "Global Sales for Toot the Tiny Tugboat". World Screen. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "C5 orders Toot the Tiny Tugboat from Lupus Films". Televisual. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "Toot the Tiny Tugboat Series 1". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "Lupus Films launches first Toot the Tiny Tugboat app". Licensing.Biz. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "The Hive and Toot the Tiny Tugboat head to Picturehouse Cinemas". Licensing.Biz. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "A Mechanical Story wins the British Academy Cymru Award for Games & Interactive Experience". BAFTA Cymru. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
