Dee & Friends in Oz

Last updated

Dee & Friends in Oz
Genre
Created by
Based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Developed by
  • Keion Jackson
  • Halcyon Person
Directed by
  • Declan Doyle
  • Dan Nosella
Voices of
Composer Tarriona "Tank" Ball
Country of origin
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Ireland
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes17
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Fatimah Abdullah
  • Rory Dungan
  • Michael Pecoriello
Running time22 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Netflix
ReleaseFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05) 
present

Dee & Friends in Oz is an animated fantasy adventure musical television series re-telling the classic story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz . [1] It released globally on Netflix on February 5, 2024. [2]

Contents

Produced by 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films, animated by the same team who worked on Karma's World and Ada Twist, Scientist , the series is inspired by the L. Frank Baum 1900 children’s fantasy novel and has been adapted in a series format for a preschool audience for the first-time. [2] [3]

Premise

The series follows the story of a young girl named Dee, who uses a mysterious key to discover a magical land of Oz, where she meets new friends and gets challenged on a musical journey to save magic - and become a hero. [3]

Characters

Main

Villains

Supporting

Minor

Episodes

Series Overview

The series is split into two parts: Part 1 (The Prequel) and Part 2 (The Series). [6]

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
Prequel 1 [7] [8] February 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
1 16February 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)

Part 1/Prequel (2024)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"The Movie"Declan DoyleHalcyon Person & Keion JacksonFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee goes to Grandma's house for the summer. While there, she finds a portal to the magical world of Oz and goes on an adventure to save magic - and rewrite the story of Oz with herself as the hero.

Part 2/Series (2024)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
21"Dee and the Wonderful School of Oz"Aidan McAteer Angela C. Santomero February 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee returns to Oz after the prequel and starts her first day at the School of Oz. While there she meets new friends and tries to be the hero when a problem bubbles up in Witch Village.
32"Dee and the Ozling Rescue"Ray QuigleyJehan MadhaniFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee helps a baby Ozling in trouble and goes on adventure with Lion to find the Ozling's beloved Lovey.
43"Dee and the Magical Gemstone"Ray QuigleyKeion JacksonFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee discovers a magical gemstone and works with her friends to protect the gems from the villainous Stuffley.
54"Dee and the Ozberry Adventure"Ray QuigleyNicky PhelanFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and Tin visit Scarecrow's home of Strawland for the Ozberry Feast and help Scarecrow protect the ozberry field.
65"Dee and the Banana Gemstone"Aidan McAteerCaitlin HodsonFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee brings Grandma's banana pudding to share with her friends in Oz. They find a yellow gemstone, but it's stolen by the villainous Stuffley while they compete over who should protect it.
76"Dee and the Do-Your-Best-Fest"Aidan McAteerKeion JacksonFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and her friends start practicing for the "Do-Your-Best-Fest" in Oz. Dee and Tin worry that they may not be successful.
87"Dee and the Cloud Gemstone"Ray QuigleyJehan MadhaniFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee gets separated from her friends while riding the Cloud Tower and has to work together with the villainous Stuffley to find her way back.
98"Dee and the Heart Gemstone"Aidan McAteerHalcyon PersonFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and her friends go on a journey to find the final gemstone that will fix the Gemstone Loop and reconnect Oz.
109"Dee and the Crown of Oz"Ray Quigley Angela C. Santomero February 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and her friends visit Ozling city to help the Ozlings. Miss Ruby searches for the first piece of the Crown of Oz.
1110"Dee and the Trouble in Tinland"Ray QuigleyKerry CrowleyFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and Tin help repair the Tinland Clocktower and put a wrench in Miss Ruby's plans to tear the tower apart.
1211"Dee and the Giant Ozlings"Aidan McAteerJehan MadhaniFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and Eastyn help wrangle three Giant Baby Ozlings who escaped the Ozling daycare.
1312"Dee and the Shrink Bug"Aidan McAteerHalcyon PersonFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and her friends find a lost Wooho Bird egg and help return it to its nest.
1413"Dee, Tin and the Golden Ozberry"Ray QuigleyKeion JacksonFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and her friends go on an adventure to reach the only golden ozberry bush discovered in Oz.
1514"Dee and the Magic Balloon"Aidan McAteerKerry CrowleyFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
It's Oz-tastic Day in Oz. Dee and Lion learn to accept all feelings in order to save the holiday for their friends.
1615"Dee and the Oz Emergencies"Ray QuigleyJehan MadhaniFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and her friends try to clean up the messes caused by Miss Ruby. Miss Emerald teaches Dee how to take a break.
1716"Dee and the Wizard of Oz"Aidan McAteerHalcyon PersonFebruary 5, 2024 (2024-02-05)
Dee and her friends race to find the final Wizard of Oz crown piece before Miss Ruby does.

Production

The series is produced by 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films. Vince Commisso, Cathal Gaffney, Darragh O'Connell and Angela C. Santomero, Halcyon Person and Keion Jackson are co-executive producers for the series, while Fatimah Abdullah, Rory Dungan and Michael Pecoriello are producers. The series is directed by Declan Doyle and Dan Nosella. [9]

On September 28, 2023, Netflix announced the greenlight of the series, alongside an order for additional episodes of Gabby's Dollhouse and a trailer for its first CoComelon original series. The vice president of Netflix animation series, John Derderian, stated the series offers an exciting, character-forward way into a new social emotional curriculum through public domain characters like The Wizard of Oz that parents and kids are familiar with. [10]

The official trailer for the series was released on January 11, 2024. [3]

The show's first and second seasons premiered on Netflix on February 5, 2024. [3] All 16 episodes premiered on the same day, alongside a 44-minute prequel and released globally on Netflix.

Music

The show's original music is composed by Tarriona "Tank" Ball and inspired by music genres like R&B, hip-hop, funk, gospel, country, rock and more. The lyrics include affirmations about community, confidence and friendship. The show's first official soundtrack, Dee's Journey, was released globally on February 9 on all music streaming platforms, with the lead single "Proud to be Loud". [5]

Reception

The series has been received positively. Fernanda Camargo of Common Sense Media described the series as a "vibrant musical", saying that it "encourages kids to be their best selves" and brings a fresh take on familiar characters from the world of The Wizard of Oz. Herman also argued that the music in the series is "catchy with pop energy and lyrics that stay with you" and said that it uses song and dance to "inspire creative expression" calling it an enticing show providing good fun "for the entire family". [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz</i> 1900 childrens novel by L. Frank Baum

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. It is the first novel in the Oz series of books. A Kansas farm girl named Dorothy ends up in the magical Land of Oz after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their home by a cyclone. Upon her arrival in the magical world of Oz, she learns she cannot return home until she has destroyed the Wicked Witch of the West.

<i>The Marvelous Land of Oz</i> 1904 childrens novel by L. Frank Baum

The Marvelous Land of Oz: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, commonly shortened to The Land of Oz, published in July 1904, is the second book in L. Frank Baum's Oz series, and the sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). This and the following 34 books in the series were illustrated by John R. Neill. It was followed by Ozma of Oz (1907).

<i>Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz</i> 1908 novel by L. Frank Baum

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is the fourth book set in the Land of Oz written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by John R. Neill. It was published on June 18, 1908 and reunites Dorothy Gale with the humbug Wizard from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). This is one of only two of the original fourteen Oz books to be illustrated with watercolor paintings. It was followed by The Road to Oz (1909).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Gale</span> Fictional protagonist in Oz novels

Dorothy Gale is a fictional character created by the American author L. Frank Baum as the protagonist in many of his Oz novels. She first appears in Baum's classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels. She is also the main character in various adaptations, notably the 1939 film adaptation of the novel, The Wizard of Oz.

<i>The Lost Princess of Oz</i> Book by L. Frank Baum

The Lost Princess of Oz is the eleventh book in the Oz series written by L. Frank Baum. Published on June 5, 1917, it begins with the disappearance of Princess Ozma, the ruler of Oz and covers Dorothy and the Wizard's efforts to find her. The introduction to the novel states that its inspiration was a letter a young girl had written to Baum: "I suppose if Ozma ever got hurt or losted [sic], everybody would be sorry." It was followed by The Tin Woodman of Oz (1918).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glinda</span> The Wonderful Wizard of Oz character

Glinda is a fictional character created by L. Frank Baum for his Oz novels. She first appears in Baum's 1900 children's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and is the most powerful sorceress in the Land of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Country South of the Emerald City, and protector of Princess Ozma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land of Oz</span> Fantasy land created by L. Frank Baum

The Land of Oz is a magical country introduced in the 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow.

The Wicked Witch of the West, a fictional character in the classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by the American author L. Frank Baum, is the evil ruler of the Winkie Country, the western region in the Land of Oz. She is inadvertently killed by the child Dorothy Gale. In Baum's subsequent Oz novels, the Wicked Witch of the West is referred to occasionally.

<i>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz</i> (TV series) 1986 TV series

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, known in Japan as Ozu no Mahōtsukai (オズの魔法使い), is a Japanese anime television series adaptation based on four of the original early 20th century Oz books by L. Frank Baum. In Japan, the series aired on TV Tokyo from 1986 to 1987. It consists of 52 episodes, which explain other parts of the Oz stories, including the events that happened after Dorothy returned home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magician (fantasy)</span> Magicians appearing in fantasy fiction

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<i>Tin Man</i> (miniseries) 2007 television miniseries

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<i>Oz the Great and Powerful</i> 2013 film by Sam Raimi

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<i>Emerald City</i> (TV series) 2017 American fantasy TV series

Emerald City is an American fantasy drama television series developed for NBC by Matthew Arnold and Josh Friedman based on the early 20th-century Oz book series written by L. Frank Baum, set in the fictional Land of Oz. Directed by Tarsem Singh and starring Adria Arjona, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ana Ularu and Vincent D'Onofrio, Emerald City received a 10-episode order by NBC in April 2015, which premiered on January 6, 2017, with a two-episode debut, and concluded on March 3, 2017. On May 5, 2017, NBC canceled the series after one season.

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References

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  2. 1 2 Moore, Kasey (January 9, 2024). "'Dee & Friends in Oz' Heads to Netflix Globally in February 2024". What's on Netflix. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "First Look: Dee & Friends in Oz Launching on Netflix in 2024 - on the Brown Bag Labs blog". Brown Bag Labs. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Dee & Friends in Oz (TV Series 2024– ) - IMDb , retrieved February 7, 2024
  5. 1 2 Jones, Okla (February 6, 2024). "Tarriona "Tank" Ball On Creating Messages Of Positivity With 'Dee & Friends In Oz' Soundtrack". Essence . Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  6. "9 Story's "Dee & Friends in Oz" Debuts Globally on Netflix". 9 Story Media Group. February 5, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  7. "Watch Dee & Friends in Oz | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  8. "Dee & Friends in Oz on BBFC". www.bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  9. Milligan, Mercedes (February 5, 2024). "'Dee & Friends in Oz' Starring Tank Ball Makes Global Netflix Debut". Animation Magazine . Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  10. White, Abbey (September 28, 2023). "Netflix Announces Hot Wheels, 'Wizard of Oz' and Universal Monsters-Inspired Preschool Series, Sets 'CoComelon Lane' Premiere (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  11. "Dee & Friends in Oz TV Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved February 14, 2024.