Olivia (TV series)

Olivia
Genre	Children, Animated
Created by	Ian Falconer
Written by	Jill Gorey
Starring	Emily Gray Jeremy Herzig Danny Katiana Michael Van Citters Brianna McCracken Yvonne Craig
Opening theme	"Olivia!"
Country of origin	United States United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	26 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	15-30 minutes
Original release
Network	Nick Jr. US Milkshake! Nick Jr. UK Playhouse Disney Latin America Treehouse TV
Release	January 26, 2009 – present

Olivia is a British-American children's animated television series based on Ian Falconer's books. It is seen on Nick Jr. in the US, Milkshake!, Nick Jr. in the UK and Ireland, and Playhouse Disney Channel in Latin America and Brazil, Treehouse TV in Canada.

Episodes

Main article: List of Olivia episodes

Plot

Taking place in a world where people are pigs, Olivia revolves around the title character and her family. The plots are mostly everyday situations that Olivia finds herself in and her unique way of dealing with them. In each episode Olivia also dispenses her "Rules of Life". Examples of those are "Rule of Life #3: If you have to sit next to a little brother eating spaghetti, you better wear a raincoat" and "Rule of Life #52: If your mom is having a baby and she asks you whether you want a brother or a sister, that does not mean you're really going to get the kind you ask for."

Rules of life

Olivia has a list called "Rules of Life" on her show including:

• 3. If you have to sit next to a little brother eating spaghetti, you'd better wear a raincoat.
• 4. If you really want to hide your baby brother, change his diaper first.
• 5. Not everyone looks good in red, especially when you're pink.
• 7. Costumes are always a good option.
• 15. If your little brother eats like a wild animal, it doesn't mean he is.
• 19. Sometimes you just have to use your big voice.
• 21. Little brothers don't know anything about being a mommy.
• 24. If you have a pet that never, ever, ever moves, watch out 'cause one day he will.
• 28. I know this is hard to believe, but more of something isn't always better.
• 30. Just because your little brother eats like a wild animal doesn't mean he is one.
• 31. Most people think animals don't talk, but they do. They just talk very quietly.
• 34. Sometimes your lucky tights are luckier than you thought.
• 38. Just because a dog looks cute in a nurse's hat doesn't mean he's a very good nurse.
• 41. What's the point to take kids to work if they can't help.
• 42. If it weren't for mothers, little brothers would be very stinky.
• 44. Sometimes children know better than their parent, but we never tell them.
• 47. Walking up things is harder than walking down them, but the view is beautiful.
• 47. School glue has many uses.
• 52. If your mom is having a baby and she asks you whether you want a brother or a sister, that does not mean you're really gonna get the kind you ask for.
• 55. If your teacher says 'no' to a sea lion or an elephant, a tiger is probably out of the question.
• 68. If you build a really big solar system, make sure you have a really big bedroom door.
• 74. A crying baby is not ALWAYS a bad thing.
• 88. A while can be a very, very, very long time when you're 6¾.
• 100. Red is the very best color for absolutely, positively everything.
• 111. No matter what planet your brother is from, he's still going to have bad manners.

The other characters don't seem to know about her Rules Of Life expect Oscar and Otto in one episode and Ian in one episode. By saying these to the viewers, she is breaking the Fourth Wall.

Characters

Olivia

Olivia is today's girl. She is a 6 and 3/4 year old dynamo who believes she can do anything and sees every day as an opportunity to try new things. Her vivid imagination takes her on grand adventures, both real and fantasy, and like all children, her antics occasionally result in endearing misadventures.

Ian

Olivia's little 'bother', Ian is 6years old. He looks up to his big sister, but also enjoys teasing her. He's very interested in space, robots, and dinosaurs. He is a messy eater, considering that he gulps the milk instead of sipping it, slurps spaghetti and meatballs sloppily, and winds up getting it on Olivia. Though Olivia feels very grown up compared to Ian, they play together often.

William

William is Olivia and Ian's baby brother. He is 10 months old, and not yet walking. He is nearly always seen with his mother, although Olivia was allowed to watch him once while her mother did some work upstairs. William wears a blue shirt and a diaper. Mom and Dad agree he is a "good eater." He had a favorite blanket which shrunk in the wash which made him reject it in favor of Olivia's "lucky tights". William sleeps in a crib at night and for naps and has a playpen and stroller.

Mom

Mother to Olivia, William and Ian, she's a work-at-home mom who loves her family very much. She also has great patience with Olivia, especially when Olivia tries to haggle with her over things such as how many books to read at bedtime or what time to go to bed. She is a party planner organizing her clints' parties over the phone from her home office. Her mother, called Grandma by the kids, lives close enough to babysit as needed.

Dad

Father to Olivia, Ian and William, Dad works as an architect. He often throws scientific facts into the conversation, such as how physics are involved in a jumprope. Somewhat absent minded, he almost forgot Ian at the store during one episode. When not at the office he spends time caring for the children including playing with them and reading to them. He does not ice skate. He does at least part of the family's grocery shopping. He is supportive of his wife and kids.

Perry

Olivia's dog, Perry is a playful mutt who causes mischief sometimes. Olivia likes to involve him in her fantasies such as the time she dressed him up as a baby and named him Little Olivia Two. Edwin the cat was Little Olivia.

Edwin

Olivia's black cat, Edwin is usually seen lounging around the house. Unlike Perry, he usually escapes being involved in Olivia's plans. However he seems to be quite good natured about it when she does involve him. He is somewhat shiftless and is usually sleeping.

Julian

Olivia's classmate and best friend, Julian is an aspiring musician. Unfortunately he can't stand to sing in front of people. He enjoys playing soccer and is pretty willing to help out Olivia when she asks him.

Mrs. Hoggenmuller

Olivia's teacher, she's always seen wearing a green T-shirt. She loves cats and can be seen walking her two cats on leashes around Olivia's neighborhood. A dedicated teacher, she loves to make up little rhymes for the children and is quite proud of them, such as "1, 2, 3… Eyes on me!", "Yodel-lay-HEE-hoo, it's time for me to teach you!", or "7, 8… Sit up straight!". She can play the cowbell and is almost a hunchback. She may have a stuffy nose due to her voice. Mrs. Hogenmuller is often seen at her desk on her green laptop.

Francine

Olivia's neighbor, and classmate, Francine is quite confident, a neat-freak who strives to be the best at everything. Her household consists of Francine, her parents (both neat-freaks), and her cat Gwendolyn. There is frequently competition between Olivia and Francine. In 'Olivia Trains Her Cat' she gets a new dog named Herman whom she teaches tricks. She is a little snobby and her mother encourages her a lot. She has a fear of frogs and dirty objects. Francine won an award for selling the most cookies of her Young Pioneers Troop.

Gwendolyn

Francine's yellowish orange tabby. She is very talented and likes Edwin. In one episode Francine reveals sometimes she dresses her in Barbie Fashions to have a tea party and makes Gwendolyn fish sticks since she is a cat and cats like fish.

Herman

Francine's dog whom is only seen in one episode. He can ride a skateboard and also knows tricks like Gwendolyn.

Grandma

Olivia's maternal grandmother, Grandma sometimes visits the family and in one episode the family went to visit her. She is very supportive of Olivia's endeavors. Grandma still lives in the home she raised her daughter in.

Sam

An overweight classmate of Olivia. He rarely speaks and has only spoken in one episode. He has a pet possum.

Harold

A classmate of Olivia, Harold is allergic to parsley, wears glasses, and his mom doesn't like frogs. He can juggle but hiccups when nervous. He has a parrot that says things such as Hi There three times.

Oscar and Otto

Identical twin classmates of Olivia, their recurring catchphrase is, "It's Cool".

Daisy

A small classmate of Olivia. She wears a purple dress.

Uncle Garrett

Olivia's younger uncle who is younger than Mom. He is a professional football player and is bit of a comedian.

Connor

A classmate of Olivia, Connor is similar to Sam but talks more.

Mr.Buzzbee

An aquarium director that seems to like Mrs. Hoggenmuller. Mr. Buzzbee wears glasses.

Juilian's Parents

Julian's parents are mentioned and shown.

Grandpa

Olivia's unseen grandpa.

The Vet

A vet that inspires Olivia.

Shorts

Each episode consists of two shorts including the following:

William Eats

William is hungry so Mom puts him in his highchair and goes to get him some babyfood. While she is gone, everyone else gives him tidbits of food. At the end, Mom says she thought he was hungry, but it appears William doesn't want his babyfood. She is surprised when he burps.

Olivia in the Bathroom

While Dad is shaving, Olivia keeps taking her stool, getting up on it and doing something in front of the sink and mirror such as brushing her ears. At the end of the short she gets on her stool and kisses Dad.

Olivia and Her Toy

Olivia tries to get her favorite doll to stand up straight, but it won't so she tapes it to the wall and the two have a tea party.

Olivia Scares Ian

Olivia tries to scare her little 'bother' but she can't time it right. Later Ian scares her.

Olivia Builds a Tower

Olivia is building a tower of random items and Ian, Perry, and William try to knock it down, but Mom and Dad forbid it. At the end Olivia knocks it down.

Olivia Cheers Up William

Olivia tries to cheer William up. At the end (when Olivia is in her cow costume) she hurts her leg and cheers him up.

Olivia's Bookbag

Olivia is stuffing her bookbag for school with Perry and Ian taking her things then returning them each time she leaves the room. In the end, her bookbag becomes too heavy for her to carry and when she puts it on she falls over backwards.

William Goes for a Ride

Olivia takes her brothers for a ride in her wagon. At the end all the kids are pulled in the wagon by Dad.

Ian Wants to Play

Olivia and Julian are jumping rope and Ian wants to play, also. Throughout the entire episode Ian is trying to get their attention but he is not successful. Finally at the end he gets their attention and Olivia and Ian jump rope.

Olivia's Hidden Talent

When Olivia sees a bowl of oranges she discovers she has a hidden talent for juggling. When she throws four oranges in the air they disappear. When she looks up, she realizes Ian who is standing on the stairs above her has caught them.

Olivia Slides

Olivia and her toy slide many different ways.

Perry Plays Fetch

Olivia throws three different balls to Perry. The first two he retrieves. The last, a beachball, he returns walking on. Olivia then throws a smaller ball and he walks on the beachball to fetch the smaller ball.

Olivia's Trivia

Olivia gets three pails and a ball which she puts under the red pail. She mixes them up and finally Perry guesses which pail the ball is under and gets the ball and Olivia chases Perry for the ball.

Olivia's Many Sandwiches

Olivia makes herself a sandwich and walks away. When she returns it is gone, and she blames it on Perry. After a couple of sandwiches Ian covers Olivia's favorite toy in peanut butter and at the end the toy falls to the floor and Perry licks it as Olivia chases Ian.

Olivia's Picture

Olivia paints a picture of a pig with a blue background. The short ends showing the fridge filled with many copies of the same picture and Olivia replies "I think I'm done with my blue period," a reference to Pablo Picasso's blue period.

Edwin's Surprise

Olivia is trying to draw a picture, but Edwin keeps laying on top of the picture resulting in Olivia moving him again and again. At the end the viewers see that the picture is of Edwin.

Olivia's Metamorphosis

Olivia is about to go outside but Mom warns her it's about to get very cold. When Olivia opens the front door she imagines emperor penguins and snow. William flies away but Dad catches him. Olivia goes to her room and dresses for winter, but when she goes to the door again, it is hot outside. Olivia dresses like it is summer and Mom ask her why she keeps changing clothes. Olivia says it's the weather that's changing.

Olivia's Sculpture

At the beach, Olivia finds a pile of sand and decides to make a sand sculpture of herself by shaping it and adding shells.

The Chase

Olivia chases Perry.

Olivia's Magic Trick

Olivia trys to make her cookie disappear.

Pigs

The characters refer to themselves as people and act humanly, having dogs, cats, frogs and birds as pets. Instead of combing their hair, they comb their ears. They speak of their pets as if they are animals, but they never refer to themselves as animals. Different places and character names in the show play off the pig theme with terms such as hog and swine turning up again and again. Olivia's teacher and school name are just two examples.

External links

• Olivia on Milkshake!
• Olivia on Nick Jr. US
• Olivia on Playhouse Disney Brazil
• Olivia on Playhouse Disney Latin America
• Olivia on Treehouse