Olivia (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Olivia is a British
-American
children's animated television series produced by media company Chorion
and based on Ian Falconer
's books. It is seen on Nick Jr. in the US, Milkshake!
, Nick Jr. in the UK and Ireland, and Disney Junior
in Latin America and Brazil, Treehouse TV
in Canada. The show has won a silver Parents' Choice Award
for its positive story lines and characters.
The other characters do not seem to know about her Rules of Life except Oscar and Otto in one episode and Ian in one episode. Olivia breaks the fourth wall
when she addresses the viewer with her rule for that episode.
William is Olivia's baby brother and typically sleeps, eats, and cries.
Mom, Olivia's mother (voiced by Joyce Beverley), who runs her own party-planning business from home.
Dad, Olivia's father (voiced by Danny Katiana) is an architect and occasionally absent-minded. He often provides his paternal wisdom to Olivia and her siblings in "little talks".
Grandma, Olivia's grandmother (voiced by Yvonne Craig
). In her late-fifties, but still fun and adventurous.
Uncle Garrett, Olivia's uncle (her mother's younger brother) is a professional football player and is bit of a comedian. He performs ballet with Olivia in one episode.
Perry and Edwin, Olivia's dog and cat. Perry is energetic and loves to play with the children, while Edwin is generally lethargic and prefers to sleep.
Francine is Olivia's friend who can be snobby and mean at times. She acts more "girly" than Olivia and will not touch any thing gross. Her birthday is eight months after Olivia's. In the second season, Francine gets better and nicer to Olivia and her classmates.
Gwendolyn is Francine's yellowish orange tabby. She is very talented and likes Edwin. In one episode Francine reveals she sometimes dresses her in Barbie Fashions to have a tea party and makes Gwendolyn fish sticks.
Herman is Francine's dog, only seen in one episode. He can ride a skateboard and also knows tricks like Gwendolyn.
Alexandra is Olivia's classmate and female best friend. She often agrees only with Francine.
Sam, a classmate. He rarely talks. He has a pet opossum named Sally.
Harold Hockenberri, a classmate. Harold is allergic to parsley, wears glasses, and his mom does not 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 whose recurring catchphrase is, "It's cool."
Daisy, a small classmate who wears a purple dress. She gets meaner and tough in the second season. She kinda like Francine in the first season.
Connor, a classmate similar to Sam but talks more.
Olivia 2, a one-time character. Olivia is a new student in Olivia's class, much to the original Olivia's annoyance. They reconcile having the same name at the end of the episode.
William Eats (And Burps)
Olivia in the Bathroom
Olivia and Her Toy
Olivia Scares Ian
Olivia Builds a Tower
Olivia Cheers Up William
Olivia's Bookbag
William Goes for a Ride
Ian Wants to Play
Olivia's Hidden Talent
Olivia Slides
Perry Plays Fetch
Olivia's Trivia
Olivia's Many Sandwiches
Olivia's Picture
Edwin's Surprise
Olivia's Metamorphosis
Olivia's Sculpture
The Chase
Olivia's Magic Trick
Olivia's Inflated Pirate Ship
The mailman brings a package for Olivia. He knocks on the door and walks away. Olivia opens the door and sees the package and opens it. When Olivia sees another box. She opens it and so on. 5 boxes are there and Olivia sees a purple flat cube. She pulls the string and it inflates into a inflated pirate ship. At the end, Olivia plays in the inflated pirate ship.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
children's animated television series produced by media company Chorion
Chorion (company)
Chorion Limited is a major international media production company with offices in London, New York and Sydney. The company produces TV shows and feature films, and is best known for the heritage properties included in its portfolio. These include children's characters such as Paddington Bear, Peter...
and based on Ian Falconer
Ian Falconer
Ian Woodwark Falconer is an American illustrator, children's book author, and costume and set designer for the theater. He has created 30 covers for The New Yorker as well as other publications...
's books. It is seen on Nick Jr. in the US, Milkshake!
Milkshake!
Milkshake! is a television programming block on Channel 5, aimed at children 2 to 7 years old. The strand debuted in 1997 and is broadcast on weekdays from 06:00 to 09:00, and from 07:00 to 10:00 on weekends. Sunday and Monday Mornings its broadcast 05:00 to 09:15/10:00. It used to air on 5*...
, Nick Jr. in the UK and Ireland, and Disney Junior
Disney Junior
Disney Junior is a current program block on Disney Channel and an upcoming American basic cable and satellite television network intended to replace SOAPnet in February 2012. It began airing on February 14, 2011, replacing Playhouse Disney....
in Latin America and Brazil, Treehouse TV
Treehouse TV
Treehouse TV is a Canadian English language cable television specialty channel with programming targeted towards preschoolers that was launched on October 17, 1997. Its name comes from YTV's old children's programming block, The Treehouse...
in Canada. The show has won a silver Parents' Choice Award
Parents' Choice Award
The Parents' Choice Award is an award presented by the non-profit Parents' Choice Foundation to recognize "the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels." It is considered a "prestigious" award among children's products, and has been...
for its positive story lines and characters.
Plot
Taking place in a world where all people are pigs, Olivia revolves around the title character and her family. The plots are mostly everyday situations in which Olivia finds herself and her unique way of dealing with them. In almost every episode Olivia also dispenses her "Rules of Life". In each episode, Olivia dreams on having a job from the episode's experiences, such as being an artist after visiting the art gallery or being her mom's assistant after helping plan her friend's birthday party)Episodes
Over two seasons, there have been 33 episodes of Olivia.Rules of life
Olivia has a list called "Rules of Life" 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. Whatever the question, Costumes are always a good answer.
- 8. Never miss a very important party.
- 12. Sometimes other people's idea of fun is very different from your own.
- 14. If you wake your baby brother up from a nap, sometimes he'll get upset, and sometimes your mother will too.
- 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.
- 24. Just because it's called a veggie loaf, it doesn't mean it can't be something more exciting, like a veggie castle.
- 27. One good thing about little brothers: sometimes they get how funny you are.
- 28. I know this is hard to believe, but more of something isn't always better.
- 30. Just because your 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.
- 36. If you are cow #2, having a moon to jump over is always good.
- 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 of bringing 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.
- 48. If you really really really want something, it helps to use triple please.
- 49. Little brothers always want the same thing you want.
- 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.
- 52. Never seat your customers under an angry squirrel with acorns, unless they insist.
- 53. When playing a cowbell, never underestimate the importance of enthusiasm.
- 55. If your teacher says 'no' to a sea lion or an elephant, a tiger is probably out of the question.
- 55. When you walk dogs, it is better if you only walk dogs.
- 65. For some reason, headbands make you feel faster.
- 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.
- 110. It's important to use fancy French words when you're talking about ballet.
- 111. No matter what planet your brother is from, he's still going to have bad manners.
- 114. Be nice to your toys and stuffed animals, because one day they may end up helping your best friend.
- 147. Most of a time, Little brothers ask silly questions and sometimes they ask really good ones.
- 312. Even a plain old peanut and butter jelly sandwich tastes special when you pull a really good trick on your little bother.
The other characters do not seem to know about her Rules of Life except Oscar and Otto in one episode and Ian in one episode. Olivia breaks the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
when she addresses the viewer with her rule for that episode.
Characters
Olivia (voiced by Emily Gray), a 6-year-old pig, is the main character of the show. She is imaginative and fantasizes about different roles, such as pop star or super hero. She displays good behaviour and shows kids how to share, use their imaginations, be physically active, and be self-confident.Olivia's family
Ian (voiced by Michael van Citters) is Olivia's 4-year-old younger brother. He looks up to Olivia and enjoys being included in her activities, but often becomes the typical annoying "little bother". He likes, among other things, dinosaurs, robots and baseball. In season 2, he becomes less annoying, is on better terms with his sister, has a small planet on his t-shirt and a deeper voice.William is Olivia's baby brother and typically sleeps, eats, and cries.
Mom, Olivia's mother (voiced by Joyce Beverley), who runs her own party-planning business from home.
Dad, Olivia's father (voiced by Danny Katiana) is an architect and occasionally absent-minded. He often provides his paternal wisdom to Olivia and her siblings in "little talks".
Grandma, Olivia's grandmother (voiced by Yvonne Craig
Yvonne Craig
Yvonne Joyce Craig is an American actress best known for her role as Batgirl from the 1960s TV series Batman, and as the Orion Marta in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Whom Gods Destroy”.-Early life and career:...
). In her late-fifties, but still fun and adventurous.
Uncle Garrett, Olivia's uncle (her mother's younger brother) is a professional football player and is bit of a comedian. He performs ballet with Olivia in one episode.
Perry and Edwin, Olivia's dog and cat. Perry is energetic and loves to play with the children, while Edwin is generally lethargic and prefers to sleep.
Friends
Julian (voiced by Jeremy Herzig) is Olivia's male best friend. He's smart with a self-deprecating sense of humor, but shy and lets Olivia take the lead. While often reluctant to go along with Olivia's ideas, he finally always does.Francine is Olivia's friend who can be snobby and mean at times. She acts more "girly" than Olivia and will not touch any thing gross. Her birthday is eight months after Olivia's. In the second season, Francine gets better and nicer to Olivia and her classmates.
Gwendolyn is Francine's yellowish orange tabby. She is very talented and likes Edwin. In one episode Francine reveals she sometimes dresses her in Barbie Fashions to have a tea party and makes Gwendolyn fish sticks.
Herman is Francine's dog, only seen in one episode. He can ride a skateboard and also knows tricks like Gwendolyn.
School
Mrs. Hoggenmueller, Olivia's teacher, is a dedicated educator, if a bit eccentric. She is an avid cat fancier and cowbell-playing virtuoso, with a penchant for the outdoors and a great enthusiasm for learning and life.Alexandra is Olivia's classmate and female best friend. She often agrees only with Francine.
Sam, a classmate. He rarely talks. He has a pet opossum named Sally.
Harold Hockenberri, a classmate. Harold is allergic to parsley, wears glasses, and his mom does not 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 whose recurring catchphrase is, "It's cool."
Daisy, a small classmate who wears a purple dress. She gets meaner and tough in the second season. She kinda like Francine in the first season.
Connor, a classmate similar to Sam but talks more.
Olivia 2, a one-time character. Olivia is a new student in Olivia's class, much to the original Olivia's annoyance. They reconcile having the same name at the end of the episode.
Shorts
The shorts are small, generally wordless segments in each episode (two per). They include the following:William Eats (And Burps)
- William is hungry so Mom puts him in his highchair and goes to get him some baby food. 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 does not want his baby food. 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
- William is upset. 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 short 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 toys slide many different ways in the park.
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 is 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 is 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 tries to make her cookie disappear.
Olivia's Inflated Pirate Ship
The mailman brings a package for Olivia. He knocks on the door and walks away. Olivia opens the door and sees the package and opens it. When Olivia sees another box. She opens it and so on. 5 boxes are there and Olivia sees a purple flat cube. She pulls the string and it inflates into a inflated pirate ship. At the end, Olivia plays in the inflated pirate ship.