Beached Az

Last updated

Beached Az
Genre Comedy
Created by Jarod Green, Nick Boshier, Anthony MacFarlane
Voices ofAnthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier, Jarod Green, India Patten, Archie Greig-Lawson, Bravo Child
Theme music composerJarod Green
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes21
Production
Executive producerThe Handsomity Institute
Running time1–2 mins
Original release
Network ABC2
Release10 September 2009 (2009-09-10) 
11 August 2010 (2010-08-11)

Beached Az is an animated cartoon series broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It is shown on both ABC1 and ABC2.

Contents

Concept

Beached Az follows the struggle of a whale beached on a New Zealand beach to get back into the ocean. During his time on the beach, the whale encounters a variety of sea life who discuss their various problems and ambitions. Each episode uniquely lacks any formal narrative arc, and the series is more a collection of comedic conversations highlighting social differences.

History

Beached Az is a continuation of the characters developed in the short film titled "Beached Whale" which was created in April 2008. The short film was animated/directed by Jarod Green and written/directed by Anthony MacFarlane and Nick Boshier. [1]

Appearing primarily on YouTube, the film gained widespread popularity in Australia and New Zealand through social media channels. In 2009, the same creators came together to write, direct and animate ten more episodes for ABC Television under the banner of their newly founded company The Handsomity Institute.

Writing for the series took place at Seal Rocks on the NSW coast whilst final recording took place in June at the ABC studios in Ultimo.

On 13 September 2009 the series debuted online one week before broadcast on ABC2. On 3 June 2010, season 2 premiered.

On 4 November 2010 Beached Az was launched into DVD format available nationally.

DVD release

The complete "Beached Az" collection was released nationally on 4 November 2010. The DVD includes all 21 episodes from season one and two of the cartoon plus exclusive never before seen footage from the creators. [2]

The DVD also includes pilot episodes of the 'failed Scottish children's TV show' "Breakfast with Bergerk".

Episodes

Season 1: 2009

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Seagull"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierAnthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier10 September 2009 (2009-09-10)
The first of the episodes, originally created as a standalone animation, follows the story of a blue whale that wakes up on a New Zealand beach. After a seagull approaches the whale, they have a conversation about chips, a play on the difference between the Australian and the New Zealand pronunciations of the word "chips", which includes the fact that the whale can't chew. The seagull then wanders off to find a bucket or a hose to help the whale because he is "beached as".
22"The Snail"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier17 September 2009 (2009-09-17)
Awoken by something tickling him, the whale meets an overly excited and constantly amazed snail who is leaving the sea in fear of salt.
33"The Baby Whale"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier24 September 2009 (2009-09-24)
The seagull and the whale are confused when a baby whale intentionally swims ashore to avoid getting his skin wrinkly.
44"The Squid"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier1 October 2009 (2009-10-01)
The seagull finds a bucket for the whale but discovers a squid, who inhabits it and appears extremely relaxed about being bait.
55"The Stingray"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier8 October 2009 (2009-10-08)
The whale tries to convince a really sad (or possibly dead) stingray to talk about his emotions by singing a song with the seagull.
66"The Duck"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier15 October 2009 (2009-10-15)
A duck takes some ducklings for an excursion but ends up in the trap of a fire breathing dragon.
77"The Turtle"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier22 October 2009 (2009-10-22)
The whale comes across a turtle who is in a hurry to bury her eggs before disaster strikes.
88"The Bluebottle"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier29 October 2009 (2009-10-29)
The whale and the seagull think a bluebottle is deaf when it refuses to chat with them.
99"The Starfish"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier5 November 2009 (2009-11-05)
The whale and the seagull mistake a disabled starfish for a tasty snack.
1010"The Crab"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier12 November 2009 (2009-11-12)
The whale is amazed by the size of the crab's giant claw, which turns out to be a sensitive topic.
1111"The Rope"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier19 November 2009 (2009-11-19)
The characters come up with a plan to get the whale "de-beached".

[3]

Season 2: 2010

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
121"The Koala Bears"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier3 June 2010 (2010-06-03)
The whale meets several koalas. Although koalas are not bears, only they can call themselves bears. They also find the quote "I'm Beached As!" funny.
132"The Pelican"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier10 June 2010 (2010-06-10)
A pelican, who loves drama and painting, meets the whale.
143"The Goats"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)
A pair of misguided goats discuss the medical implications of being "beached az".
154"The Walrus"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier1 July 2010 (2010-07-01)
A thumbless walrus turns to his best mate, a coconut, to finally get the whale off the beach.
165"The Barnacles"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier8 July 2010 (2010-07-08)
A community of seafaring barnacles take drastic action after realising they are not made for life on the beach.
176"The Dragon"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier14 July 2010 (2010-07-14)
The Duck and the Whale try to rebuild the deteriorating relationship of the Crab and his girlfriend
187"The Sea Slug"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier21 July 2010 (2010-07-21)
A nudity-embracing Sea Slug teaches an embarrassed Whale and Sea Snail how to manage their self-consciousness.
198"The Clams"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier28 July 2010 (2010-07-28)
Two blind Clams with an identity crisis (and plenty of rhythm) are spooked by anything that talks to them.
209"The Hermit Crab"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier4 August 2010 (2010-08-04)
A thrifty Hermit Crab discovers a unique home opportunity with amazing ocean views.
2110"The Tide"Jarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick BoshierJarod Green, Anthony MacFarlane, Nick Boshier11 August 2010 (2010-08-11)
Is this it? The tide is coming in, but can the Whale be convinced to stay Beached Az by his friends?

[ citation needed ]

Season 3: 2019

On 11 December 2018, Production House Robot Army Productions put up a video on Youtube announcing the "new home" of Beached Az, along with new episodes commissioned by The Government of Australia and Screen Australia. [4] The planned release date for this new season was March, 2019. [5] As in previous seasons, the humour is both comic and confrontational with episodes set to tackle issues such as coral bleaching, reverse racism, the impact of plastic and fishing on the ocean environment, genetic diversity of fish in fish farms, global warming, sexism, drug cartels and corporate deforestation.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Jetsons</i> American animated sitcom

The Jetsons is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. It originally aired in prime time from September 23, 1962, to March 17, 1963, on ABC, then later aired in reruns via syndication, with new episodes produced from 1985 to 1987. It was Hanna-Barbera's Space Age counterpart to The Flintstones.

<i>Aqua Teen Hunger Force</i> American adult animated television series

Aqua Teen Hunger Force, sometimes abbreviated as ATHF or Aqua Teen, is an American adult animated television series created by Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro for Cartoon Network's late night programming block Adult Swim. It is about the surreal adventures and antics of three anthropomorphic fast food items: Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad, who live together as roommates and frequently interact with their human next-door neighbor, Carl Brutananadilewski.

<i>Courage the Cowardly Dog</i> American animated comedy horror television series

Courage the Cowardly Dog is an American animated comedy horror television series created by John R. Dilworth for Cartoon Network. It was produced by Dilworth's animation studio, Stretch Films. The eponymous character is a dog who lives with an elderly couple in a farmhouse in the middle of Nowhere, a fictional town in Kansas. In each episode, the trio is thrown into bizarre, frequently disturbing, and often paranormal or supernatural adventures. The series is known for its dark, surreal humor and atmosphere.

<i>The Little Mermaid</i> (TV series) Animated musical television series

The Little Mermaid is an American animated musical television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation based on Disney's 1989 animated feature film of the same name. It features the adventures of Ariel as a mermaid prior to the events of the film. This series is the third Disney television series to be spun off from a major animated film. Some of the voice actors of the film reprise their roles in the series, among them Jodi Benson as Ariel, Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian, Kenneth Mars as King Triton, and Pat Carroll as Ursula. Other voice actors include Edan Gross as Flounder, and Jeff Bennett as Prince Eric.

<i>He-Man and the Masters of the Universe</i> 1980s American animated television series

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is an American animated television series produced by Filmation based on Mattel's toy line Masters of the Universe. The show was one of the most popular animated shows of the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Kricfalusi</span> Canadian blogger and animator (born 1955)

Michael John Kricfalusi, known professionally as John K., is a Canadian illustrator and blogger, as well as a former animator and voice actor. He is the creator of the animated television series The Ren & Stimpy Show, which was highly influential on televised animation during the 1990s. From 1989 to 1992, he was heavily involved with the first two seasons of the show in virtually every aspect of its production, including providing the voice of Ren Höek and other characters. In 2009, he won the Inkpot Award.

<i>Beast Wars: Transformers</i> Animated television series

Beast Wars: Transformers is a computer-animated television series that debuted on September 16, 1996 and ended on May 7, 1999, serving as the flagship of the Transformers: Beast Wars franchise. It was one of the earliest fully CGI television shows. The series is set in the future of the "original" Transformers franchise, 300 years after the events of The Transformers, and features the Maximals and Predacons, descendants of the Autobots and Decepticons respectively. While engaged in battle, small teams from each faction crash land on an unknown planet, and must find a way to return home while continuing their war.

<i>The Real Ghostbusters</i> American animated television series (1986–1991)

The Real Ghostbusters is an American animated television series, a spin-off/sequel of the 1984 comedy film Ghostbusters. The series ran from September 13, 1986, to October 5, 1991, and was produced by Columbia Pictures Television and DIC Enterprises, and distributed by Coca-Cola Telecommunications.

<i>Johnny Bravo</i> American animated television series

Johnny Bravo is an American animated comedy television series created by Van Partible for Cartoon Network and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. It is the second of the network's Cartoon Cartoons, which aired from July 14, 1997, to August 27, 2004. The titular Johnny Bravo, who is loosely based on Elvis Presley and James Dean, is a sunglasses-wearing, muscular young man who lives with his mother and attempts to get women to date him, though he always falls short because of his actions. He ends up in bizarre situations and predicaments, often accompanied by celebrity guest characters such as Donny Osmond or Adam West. Throughout its run, the show was known for its adult humor and pop culture references.

Wes Archer is an American television animation director and storyboard artist.

Van Partible is a Filipino-born American cartoonist, writer, producer, director, and animator best known for creating the animated television series Johnny Bravo.

The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure is a Saturday morning Filmation animated series that aired on CBS from 1967 to 1968. Premiering on September 9, 1967, this 60-minute program included a series of six-minute adventures featuring various DC Comics superheroes.

Casper's Scare School is an animated television series based on the animated film of the same name featuring the Harvey Comics cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost. The series premiered in Canada on YTV on January 11, 2009, and then in France on TF1's TFOU block on April 1, and later in the United States on Cartoon Network on October 4 the same year.

<i>The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!</i> 2010 American film

The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie! is a 2010 American adult animated parody musical black comedy film based on the Comedy Central animated sitcom Drawn Together written and executive produced by creators Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein, produced by Richard Quan, and directed by Greg Franklin. The film is the first Drawn Together release since the TV show's cancellation, and the film itself deals with the subject. It is the second animated film from Comedy Central, after South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.

The 14th season of the television series Arthur was originally broadcast on PBS Kids Go! in the United States from October 11, 2010 to April 29, 2011, and contains 10 episodes. Season 14 began screening at Israel in late August 2010 and on ABC2 of Australia on September 27, 2010. It has also screened in United Kingdom on CBBC since November 1, 2010. The second half started on Earth Day 2011 and ended the day before the Royal Wedding the next day.

<i>Octonauts</i> Childrens animated television series

Octonauts is an animated children's television series, produced by Silvergate Media for the BBC channel CBeebies, and based on the children's books written by Vicki Wong and Michael C. Murphy.

Mouk is a French animated television series produced by Millimages, adapted from the work of Marc Boutavant, and directed by François Narboux. 62 episodes were produced. The show has aired in Canada, United Kingdom and South Africa, as well as other countries.

The New Adventures of Figaro Pho is an Australian children's animated television series. It is the 2015 sequel to the 2012 series The Adventures of Figaro Pho.

References

  1. Asher, Josephone (22 October 2010). "Beached Az trio make whale of a business out of mocking Kiwis". The Courier-Mail . Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  2. "Beached Az - The Complete Az Collection". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  3. "Beached Az Cartoon Series". Big Cartoon DataBase . Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  4. Robot Army (11 December 2018), Beached Aziversary Teaser Trailer , retrieved 19 May 2019
  5. "Ten years on and the Beached Aziversary series is coming to a screen near you". Stuff. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2019.