Holly Hobbie & Friendsis a series of American animated specials produced byNickelodeonandAmerican Greetings.[1]It is the first series to star theHolly Hobbiedoll, albeit redesigned from her traditional look. The specials aired on bothNickelodeon'sNick Jr. blockand the separateNogginchannel.[2]
| Holly Hobbie & Friends | |
|---|---|
 Title card | |
| Genre | Children's series Comedy Drama |
| Created by | Holly Hobbie |
| Developed by |
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| Written by | Kate Boutilier Eryk Casemiro Mario Piluso (additional material) |
| Directed by |
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| Voices of | |
| Theme music composer | Jared Faber |
| Opening theme | "Twinkle in Her Eye" performed byLeAnn Rimes |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No.of seasons | 1 |
| No.of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Running time | 44 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | February 10, 2006– February 3, 2009 |
| Related | |
In this incarnation of Holly Hobbie, Holly is a 10-year-old girl who forms a secret club (called the Hey Girls) with her two best friends, Amy and Carrie. Holly is the great, great granddaughter of the original Holly Hobbie character. According to American Greetings, the intention was for Holly to "look pretty much the same, but with new, contemporary colors and patterns."[3]
The first special, "Surprise Party," premiered during the Nick Jr. block on February 10, 2006. Eight episodes were made in total. A line of merchandise was also made as a partnership between American Greetings andNickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products.[4]
DVDreleases for the specials were released byParamount Home Entertainment,but later transitioned toSony Pictures Home Entertainment.[5][6]
A video game based on the series for theNintendo DSreleased on October 8, 2007.
Music
editThe show's theme song "Twinkle in Her Eye" was performed by the country singerLeAnn Rimes.[7]She also voices Kelly Deegan in the Christmas episode, Christmas Wishes.
Premise
editHolly Hobbie is a 10-year-old girl from a big city. She often visits her best friends Amy Morris and Carrie Baker in a small country town called Clover. The specials feature themes like friendship, dreams, music and aspirations.
Characters
editMain
edit- Holly Hobbie (voiced byAlyson StonerandNicole Boumain episodes 5-8) is a kindhearted girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She likes to do cartwheels and design her own clothes. Holly and her friends are part of a secret club called the Hey Girls Club. She has acocker spanielnamed Doodles.
- Amy Morris (voiced byLiliana MumyandMaryke Hendriksein episodes 5-8) is a silly and imaginative girl with shortbrown hairand green eyes. She likes to daydream and ride horses. She has her own horse named Cider.
- Carrie Baker (voiced byTinashe Kachingweand Dorla Bell in episodes 5-8) is a smart and determinedAfrican Americangirl with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She’s the most straight-laced and sensible of the Hey Girls, and she often acts the voice of reason.
Supporting
editKids
edit- Robby Hobbie (voiced byJansen Panettiereand Kelly Metzger) is Holly's 8-year-old little brother. He can be a little annoying and weird at times.
- Kyle Morris (voiced byPaul Butcherand Kelly Metzger in episodes 5-8) is Amy's younger brother and Robby's best friend. He hangs out with Robby most of the time.
- Devon (voiced byKim Mai Guest) is a teenage girl and an honorary member of the Hey Girls Club. She works as a waitress at Aunt Jessie's Café. She studies the ocean in college.
- Joey Deegan (voiced by Spencer Ganus).
- Paul Deegan (voiced by Harrison Fahn).
- Portia (voiced byKathleen Barr) is Holly's friend in New York City. She can be a little bit bossy and snobby but she has a good heart and loves fashion.
Adults
edit- Aunt Jessie (voiced byRusty SchwimmerandHeather Doerksenin episodes 5-8) is Holly's aunt who runs a café. She has a cat named Bonnet.
- Uncle Dave (voiced byDiedrich BaderandBrian Dobsonin episodes 5-8) is Holly's uncle.
- Joan Hobbie (voiced byJane LynchandSaffron Hendersonin episodes 5-8) is Holly's mom.
- Gary Hobbie (voiced byRob PaulsenandIan Corlettin episodes 5-8) is Holly's dad.
- Jim Bidderman (voiced by Michael McShane).
- Willie Scranton (voiced byDee Bradley Baker).
- Bud Morris (voiced byBill Mumy) is Amy's dad.
- Teresa Morris (voiced byMolly Hagan) is Amy's mom.
- Carolyn Baker (voiced byDawnn Lewis) is Carrie's mom.
- Kelly Deegan (voiced byLeAnn Rimes).
- Annabelle Crow (voiced byMarion Ross) is a town witch and old lady.
- Mayor Whitman (voiced byMaurice LaMarche) is a mayor of the country town Clover.
- Andy Lieberman (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) is Uncle Dave's friend.
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Surprise Party" | Mario Piluso | Kate Boutilierand Eryk Casemiro | February 10, 2006(TV)[8] March 7, 2006(DVD) | |||||
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Holly visits Clover to plan a surprise birthday party for her Aunt Jessie. While there, she plays a prank on Robby by cutting fake crop circles in a corn patch, making him think aliens made them. | |||||||||
| 2 | "Christmas Wishes" | Mario Piluso | Kate Boutilier and Eryk Casemiro | October 24, 2006(DVD) November 13, 2006(TV)[9] | |||||
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Holly and her friends take part in a play that retells the story of Christmas and they bring Christmas cheer to a widowed mother and her twin sons. Meanwhile, Robby dresses up as Santa to earn some extra money. | |||||||||
| 3 | "Secret Adventures" | Mario Piluso | Kate Boutilier and Eryk Casemiro | February 16, 2007(TV)[10] February 20, 2007(DVD) | |||||
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Holly, Amy and Carrie help Holly's mom and Aunt Jessie gather sap for the family's famous maple syrup recipe. When they accidentally spill it, they are all afraid to tell the truth. | |||||||||
| 4 | "Best Friends Forever" | Mario Piluso | Kate Boutilier and Eryk Casemiro Mario Piluso (additional material) | September 7, 2007(TV)[2] September 18, 2007(DVD) | |||||
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Holly and her friends meet Mrs. Annabelle Crow, the "town witch" who’s actually a nice old lady. When they find out that Annabelle's house is set to be demolished, they come up with a way to save it. | |||||||||
| 5–6 | "Inside Out" | Mario Piluso Brenda Piluso (animation) | Mario and Brenda Piluso (story) Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser (script) | August 12, 2008(DVD) | |||||
| "Hats Off" | |||||||||
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Holly and her friend from the city, Portia, visit Clover to attend a library auction. However, Portia ends up being mean to Amy and Carrie. Amy and Carrie come to visit Holly in New York City, but Carrie feels homesick from the countryside. | |||||||||
| 7–8 | "Cover Girl" | Mario Piluso Brenda Piluso (animation) | Mario and Brenda Piluso (story) Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser (script) | February 3, 2009(DVD) | |||||
| "Reboot" | |||||||||
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Holly moves to Clover, but when she starts school, she gets assigned to a different class than Amy and Carrie. There, Holly meets a shy girl named K.T. who’s constantly picked on by her classmates. The school is holding an open house. Holly, Amy and Carrie encourage their new friend K.T. to submit her idea for the student award show. | |||||||||
Reception
editThe specials received positive reviews. Regina McMenomy, a researcher atWashington State Universityspecializing in female pop culture, praised how Holly embraces her girlishness while still being a "strong, independent" thinker. In comparison, "so many [other] newer girl characters focus on power and gender equality that they've lost their femininity," said McMenomy.[11]Writing forThe World,Jacqueline Cutler said that the show keeps the "sweet spirit" of the original Holly Hobbie brand. She also said that it would connect to its target audience: "If you're a traditional little girl and love copious amounts of sugar and everything cute, then Nickelodeon'sHolly Hobbie & Friendsairing Monday, Nov. 13, is for you. "[12]The Dove Foundationawarded the series its "Dove Family-Approved Seal" and wrote that "Holly Hobbie is a wonderful role model for children and adults. She has a way of brightening your day."[13]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^Animation outsourced toWang Film ProductionsandToon City Animation.
References
edit- ^Ball, Ryan (June 9, 2005)."Nickelodeon Animates Holly Hobbie".Animation Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on July 18, 2022.RetrievedJuly 18,2022.
- ^ab"Noggin September TV Schedule".Noggin.com.Archived fromthe originalon September 16, 2007.
- ^"Holly Hobbie is alive and well and making a comeback".Deseret News.May 2, 2005.
- ^Baisley, Sarah (February 13, 2006)."Nickelodeon Unveils Three New Toy Lines at Toy Fair".Animation World Network.
- ^"HOLLY HOBBIE: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER".Sony Pictures Entertainment.Archivedfrom the original on 12 September 2022.Retrieved19 February2023.
- ^"HOLLY HOBBIE: SECRET ADVENTURES".Sony Pictures Entertainment.Archivedfrom the original on 12 September 2022.Retrieved19 February2023.
- ^"Holly Hobbie and Friends Christmas Wishes: Just in time for the holidays".People.November 22, 2006.Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2021.RetrievedDecember 20,2021.
- ^"Nick Jr. Schedule - Week of February 06".NickJr.com.Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2006.
- ^"Nick Jr. Schedule - Week of November 13".NickJr.com.Archived fromthe originalon November 13, 2006.
- ^"Nick Jr. Schedule - Week of February 12".NickJr.com.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2007.
- ^Critchell, Samantha (December 1, 2006)."Time for girls to be girls?".Associated Press.
- ^Cutler, Jacqueline (November 11, 2006)."Holly Hobbie keeps sweet spirit in 'Christmas'".The World.Archivedfrom the original on July 19, 2022.RetrievedJuly 19,2022– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Holly Hobbie and Friends: Best Friends Forever review".The Dove Foundation.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-07-19.Retrieved2022-07-19.