Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse
Encyclopedia
Marvin The Tap-Dancing Horse is a Canadian animated television show produced by Nelvana
. It tells the stories of a young horse named Marvin who is part of a carnival. Among the Executive Producers are Michael Paraskevas
and Betty Paraskevas
, creators of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
who also created the book that the show is based on. The show first aired on the Treehouse block before moving to just before Tiny Pop
. The series also aired on PBS Kids
as part of the PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch
from 2000-2004. It can now be seen in the US on Qubo
. It also aired on Teletoon
for a brief time.
Some episodes include original songs to help illustrate the theme or accompany montages that carry the story forward.
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
. It tells the stories of a young horse named Marvin who is part of a carnival. Among the Executive Producers are Michael Paraskevas
Michael Paraskevas
Michael Paraskevas is an artist best known for creating Maggie and the Ferocious Beast. He is partnered with his mother Betty. They have authored 20 children's books and created three very popular animated series: Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, Marvin the Tap Dancing Horse, and The Kids from Room...
and Betty Paraskevas
Betty Paraskevas
Betty Paraskevas was a New York writer and lyricist best known for her work on Maggie and the Ferocious Beast. She is partnered with her son, illustrator Michael Paraskevas. Born in New Jersey, Betty Paraskevas moved to Southampton in the mid 1980s...
, creators of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast is an animated TV series based on the books by Michael Paraskevas and his mother Betty. It currently airs on the American Channel Nick Jr.....
who also created the book that the show is based on. The show first aired on the Treehouse block before moving to just before Tiny Pop
Tiny Pop
Tiny Pop is a free-to-air television channel in the UK. It is owned by CSC Media Group, and launched on 24 July 2004, and broadcasts cartoons and pop music videos for pre-schoolers.Its sister channel is Pop which was launched on 29 May 2003...
. The series also aired on PBS Kids
PBS Kids
PBS Kids is the brand for children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States founded in 1993. As with all PBS programming, PBS Kids programming is non-commercial. It is aimed at children ages 2 to 10...
as part of the PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch
PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch
PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch was a three-hour block of shows on PBS, produced by Canada's Nelvana animation studio.The block was typically shown on Saturday or Sunday mornings, depending on local station preference and scheduling. The various shows in Bookworm Bunch are based on then-popular children's...
from 2000-2004. It can now be seen in the US on Qubo
Qubo
Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media...
. It also aired on Teletoon
Télétoon (Canadian TV channel)
Télétoon is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel that specializes in animation programming. Télétoon is owned by Teletoon Canada Inc; a 50/50 partnership between Astral Media and Corus Entertainment...
for a brief time.
Some episodes include original songs to help illustrate the theme or accompany montages that carry the story forward.
Characters
- Marvin is a dancing brown horse with a black mane and tail who performs in Fast-Talking Jack's carnival. He used to be in movies and on BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
; his first big break was in the musical movie 43rd Street (a takeoff of 42nd Street42nd Street (film)-Cast:*Warner Baxter as Julian Marsh, director*Bebe Daniels as Dorothy Brock, star*George Brent as Pat Denning, Dorothy's old vaudeville partner*Ruby Keeler as Peggy Sawyer, the newcomer*Guy Kibbee as Abner Dillon, the show's backer...
), although he's not proud of his performance in it. His hoovesHoofA hoof , plural hooves or hoofs , is the tip of a toe of an ungulate mammal, strengthened by a thick horny covering. The hoof consists of a hard or rubbery sole, and a hard wall formed by a thick nail rolled around the tip of the toe. The weight of the animal is normally borne by both the sole...
are tuxedoTuxedoA tuxedo is a type of semi-formal dress for men.Tuxedo may also refer to:-Places:Canada* Tuxedo, Winnipeg, Manitoba, a city neighborhood** Tuxedo , a provincial electoral district in Manitoba...
-themed and they make the tapTap danceTap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
ping noises. He also wears a red bowtieBow tieThe bow tie is a type of men's necktie. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip....
around his neck. In the beginning of one of the episodes, it is taken off. - Stripes The Tiger: Stripes (the allegedly ferocious green-eyed tigerTigerThe tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
) is rather grouchy, and has a soft spot for "Mr. Grizzly," his torn-&-tattered stuffed bearTeddy bearThe teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. They are usually stuffed with soft, white cotton and have smooth and soft fur. It is an enduring form of a stuffed animal in many countries, often serving the purpose of entertaining children. In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items...
. It's mentioned in the episode "Stripes Takes Off" that he's a Bengal tigerBengal TigerThe Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
and weighs 400 pounds. His favorite meals are 32 chickens for dinner and a giant bowl of Crunchy Creatures cereal that are soaked for 10 minutes to have the right degree of sogginess for breakfast. He also enjoys reading the newspaper. He is often seen inside a cage. - Elizabeth The Emotional Pig: Elizabeth the Emotional Pig is easily upset; she has a tendency to moan and cryCryCry usually refers to crying, the act of shedding tears.Cry may also refer to:* Cry, Yonne, a commune in France* CRY , worldwide non-profit organization-Songs:* "Cry" , 1951...
. When things go right, she feels happy. She wears a turquoise dressDressA dress is a garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice or with a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment.Dress may also refer to:*Clothing in general*Costume, fancy dress...
with two yellow lines on her skirt with matching buttonButtonIn modern clothing and fashion design, a button is a small fastener, most commonly made of plastic, but also frequently of seashell, which secures two pieces of fabric together. In archaeology, a button can be a significant artifact. In the applied arts and in craft, a button can be an example of...
s, collar flaps and cuffs. Her specialty is jugglingJugglingJuggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
, usually pineapplePineapplePineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
s. In some episodes, she also juggles some othe things. - Eddy Largo (Edward Larue III): A nine year old boy. In the first episode he looks for a job and is hired on as a goferGoferA gofer or go-fer is an employee who is often sent on errands. "Gofer" reflects the likelihood of instructions to go for coffee, dry cleaning, or stamps, or to make other straightforward or familiar procurements. The term gofer originated in North America...
and all around assistant to owner Fast Talking Jack. He "changes" his name to Eddy Largo because his real name was apparently too bland. - Diamonds the Elephant: A fancy pink elephantElephantElephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
, she is the main attraction of the circus. She has a big cloth on her back with a yellow starStarA star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
as a decoration. Her act involves balancing on an inflated beach ball. - Fast-Talking Jack: The owner of the carnivalCarnivalCarnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
and ringmasterRingmasterThe term ringmaster may refer to numerous things:*Ringmaster , the leader of a circus* Ringmaster , the manager of a horse show ring*Ringmaster , a film starring Jerry Springer and Jaime Pressly...
of the big show (in which he also plays a lion tamerLion tamingLion taming is the practice of taming lions, either for protection, whereby the practice was probably created, or, more commonly, entertainment, particularly in the circus. The term is also often used for the taming and display of other big cats such as tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and pumas...
for Stripes' act). - Edna: The smart fortune teller who also makes the lemonadeLemonadeLemonade is a lemon-flavored drink, typically made from lemons, water and sugar.The term can refer to three different types of beverage:...
and lemon ice sold at the carnival. She is a stickler for using juice she hand squeezes herself. Her screechy singing voice can break glass. - Lyman Slime: The sleazy owner of a circusCircusA circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
, who sees Jack's carnival as unwelcomed competition. He sometimes sends his three clownClownClowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
s to spy on the carnival or to sabotage it. - The Penguin's Five: Band that accompanies the acts at the performance tent, made up of 5 penguinPenguinPenguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
s. - Eddy's Grandmother: Can be somewhat formidable, has a habit of firmly tapping the floor with her cane when wanting to emphasize a point. Eddy is spending the summer at her house while he works at the carnival. She still calls Eddy his real name, Edward.
- Squinty Pete: Proprietor of the Whack-A-Weasel game in the carnival's midwayMidway (fair)A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
. - Mr. P. Nutty: Sells peanuts during the big show and around the carnival. Wears a Peanut costume featuring a huge grin. His real name is Filbert; has a high-pitched voice and professes to be shy.
- Lula Belle Rose: A tan mareMareFemale horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
with a light brown mane and tail with red lips and a daisy on her ear and Marvin's girlfriend. She is great a tap-dancing just like him. Her only appearance is "The Importance of Being Eddy". - Lucy: Jack's niece who appeared in the episode "Eddy's Charm". Eddy has a crush on her.
Voices
- Ron PardoRon PardoRon Pardo is a Canadian actor, voice artist and impressionist, known for playing a wide variety of characters on the television show History Bites.-Life and Career:...
as Marvin the Tap Dancing Horse/Stripes the Tiger - Marlowe Gardiner-HeslinMarlowe Gardiner-HeslinMarlowe Gardiner-Heslin is a Canadian actor.Marlowe has lent his voice in Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse as Eddy Largo, the OAV anime Interlude as He and Beyblade as Tyson Granger....
as Eddy Largo - Sheila McCarthySheila McCarthySheila McCarthy is a Canadian film, stage, television actress, and singer. She is one of the most honoured actors in Canada, having won two Genie Awards , two Gemini Awards , and two Dora Awards among multiple nominations. As of 2007, she can be seen on the Canadian television series Little...
as Elizabeth the Emotional Pig - Fiona ReidFiona ReidFiona Reid, CM is a Canadian television, film and stage actress. She is best known for her role as Cathy on the TV series King of Kensington....
as Diamonds the Elephant - Robin DukeRobin DukeRobin Duke is a Canadian actress and comedian. Duke is most famous for her work on the NBC comedy series Saturday Night Live. In the 2000s, Women Fully Clothed, a sketch comedy troupe which she co-founded, toured Canada...
as Edna - Dwayne Hill as Fast Talkin' Jack
- Rummy Bishop as Lyman Slime
Season 1
| No. | Cartoon 1 | Cartoon 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eddy's Job | Elephants Almost Never Forget |
| 2 | Marvin's High Dive | Eddy's Wrong Order |
| 3 | Stripes' Sticky Situation | Stripes Takes Off |
| 4 | The New Band | Eddy's Video |
| 5 | Elizabeth's Victum | The Visit |
| 6 | Marvin's Roommate | Stripes' Dental Fuss |
| 7 | Marvin's Surprise | Eddy Learns to Dance |
| 8 | Visit to Grandma's | Gone Fishing |
| 9 | Marvin's Breakfast Jam | The Iron Claw |
| 10 | Elizabeth and the Haunted House | Marvin Horses Around |
| 11 | The Big Show | Eddy's Fortune |
| 12 | Eddy's Charm | Eddy and the Cowboy |
| 13 | When Pigs Fly | Mr. P. Nutty |
Season 2
| No. | Cartoon 1 | Cartoon 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Now You See It... | When the Stars Come Out |
| 15 | Eddy and the Record | Marvin in the Movies |
| 16 | Marvin and Eddy in the Middle of Nowhere | Stripes' Mis-Fortune |
| 17 | Just for Kicks | Edna the Singing Sensation |
| 18 | Elizabeth in Charge | Dare to Dream |
| 19 | The Importance of Being Eddy | Eddy's Sore Throat |
| 20 | Little Olaf | Jokers Go Wild |
| 21 | Pop Goes the Weasel | Marvin's Lucky Hat |
| 22 | To Flea or Not to Flea | Eddy's Sleepover |
| 23 | Marvin Keeps Track | Diamonds' Dance Party |
| 24 | Don't Paint Your Wagon | Truth or Bear |
| 25 | Elizabeth's Big Splash | Stripes' World Tour |
| 26 | Little Big Man | Fast Talkin' Jack's Real Class Act |