Dark Oracle

Last updated
Dark Oracle
Created by Jana Sinyor
Developed by
  • Jana Sinyor
  • Heather Conkie
  • Bonita Siegel (for YTV)
Starring
Theme music composer Gary Koftinoff
ComposerGary Koftinoff
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Ron Murphy (S1)
  • Jana Sinyor
  • Suzanne French (S2)
Running time23 minutes
Production companies Cookie Jar Entertainment [lower-alpha 1]
Shaftesbury Films
Original release
Network YTV
ReleaseOctober 2, 2004 (2004-10-02) 
June 1, 2006 (2006-06-01)

Dark Oracle is a Canadian teen fantasy television series that premiered in 2004 on YTV. It was created by Jana Sinyor, and co-developed by Heather Conkie. In 2005, Dark Oracle won the International Emmy for Best Children's and youth program.

Contents

Premise

Dark Oracle follows the adventures of teenage twins Cally and Lance Stone who discover a comic book that gives them clues about the future of their lives. As they are suddenly thrust into a comic book world of danger, fear and uncertainty, the twins learn that Dark Oracle has a hidden agenda that threatens their very existence. In a unique blend of live action and comic book style animation, the two confront their animated alter egos, Violet and Blaze, who possess the uncanny ability to manipulate their future. With events in the comic book world influencing ones in their own world, Cally and Lance struggle to stay one step ahead of their dark counterparts, or face a very unpleasant fate. The stakes become higher still, with Violet and Blaze trying to escape into the real world to wreak further havoc.

Dark Oracle starred Paula Brancati and Alex House as Cally and Lance Stone, along with Jonathan Malen as Dizzy, Lance and Cally's long-time childhood friend and Danielle Miller as Sage, who sparks Lance's interest.

"One of the things that drew us to Dark Oracle, is that it applies a strong high concept, of a comic book coming to life, to the lives of ordinary high school kids. Visually it is going to look amazing, and it is a terrific arena for great dramatic stories as Lance and Cally have to figure out how to deal with the predictions of the comic," explained Suzanne French, producer at Shaftesbury Films.

Dark Oracle's second season took a different turn from the first season, with the comic book characters intervening directly with the main cast. Dizzy and Sage learned about the comic and are going to have their own experiences with it.

Cast and characters

Main

Supporting

Episodes

Season 1 (2004–05)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Dark Oracle"Ron MurphyHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorOctober 2, 2004 (2004-10-02)
2"Masquerade"Ron MurphyHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorOctober 9, 2004 (2004-10-09)
3"Meeting of the Quarter Moon"Ron MurphyHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorOctober 16, 2004 (2004-10-16)
4"Paintball Wizard"Ron MurphyJana SinyorOctober 23, 2004 (2004-10-23)
5"Fashion Queen"Craig PryceHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorNovember 6, 2004 (2004-11-06)
6"Scavengers"Ron MurphyTony ElliottNovember 13, 2004 (2004-11-13)
7"Crushed"Craig PryceNicole DemerseNovember 20, 2004 (2004-11-20)
8"Recruitment"Craig PryceHeather ConkieNovember 27, 2004 (2004-11-27)
9"Idolized"Craig PryceHeather ConkieJanuary 15, 2005 (2005-01-15)
10"Ticking Clock"Ron MurphyJana SinyorJanuary 29, 2005 (2005-01-29)
11"Trapped"Ron MurphyJana SinyorFebruary 5, 2005 (2005-02-05)
12"Marionette"Ron MurphyHeather ConkieFebruary 12, 2005 (2005-02-12)
13"Full Circle"Ron MurphyHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorFebruary 26, 2005 (2005-02-26)

Season 2 (2006)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
14"Boiler Room"Phil EarnshawHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorMarch 9, 2006 (2006-03-09)
15"It Happened at the Dance"Phil EarnshawHeather Conkie & Jana SinyorMarch 16, 2006 (2006-03-16)
16"Through a Glass Darkly"Phil EarnshawJana SinyorMarch 23, 2006 (2006-03-23)
17"The Game"Benjamin WeinsteinR.B. CarneyMarch 30, 2006 (2006-03-30)
18"House Party"Benjamin WeinsteinSkander HalimApril 6, 2006 (2006-04-06)
19"The Stalker"Benjamin WeinsteinJana SinyorApril 13, 2006 (2006-04-13)
20"The Familiar"Paul FoxTony ElliottApril 20, 2006 (2006-04-20)
21"Boot Camp"Paul FoxNicole DemerseApril 27, 2006 (2006-04-27)
22"The Trouble with Babysitting"Paul FoxHeather ConkieMay 4, 2006 (2006-05-04)
23"Ghosts from the Past"Paul FoxSkander HalimMay 11, 2006 (2006-05-11)
24"Life Interrupted"Ron MurphyHeather ConkieMay 18, 2006 (2006-05-18)
25"Trail Blaze"Ron MurphyJana SinyorMay 25, 2006 (2006-05-25)
26"Redemption"Ron MurphyHeather ConkieJune 1, 2006 (2006-06-01)

Production

Home media

Mill Creek Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 on August 17, 2010, which includes bonus episodes of Treasure and Mona the Vampire and the movie Sally Marshall Is Not an Alien . [1]

Accolades

Accolades received by Dark Oracle
AwardYear [lower-alpha 2] CategoryRecipientsResultRef.
Gemini Awards 2005 Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series Nominated
Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Dramatic Program or SeriesNominated
Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic SeriesWon

Notes

  1. Produced under the Coliseum brand name (a former Cookie Jar Entertainment label for shows not aimed at their main demographic of pre-school audiences at the time)
  2. The listed year refers to the date of the ceremony, not necessarily the year in which the corresponding season or episode aired.

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References

  1. "Dark Oracle DVD news: Announcement for Dark Oracle - the Complete Series | TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2011-01-05.