Holly Hobbie & Friends | |
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![]() Title card | |
Genre | Children's series Comedy Drama Adventure |
Created by | Holly Hobbie |
Developed by |
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Written by | Kate Boutilier Eryk Casemiro Mario Piluso (additional material) |
Directed by | Mario Piluso Brenda Piluso (animation) |
Voices of | |
Theme music composer | Jared Faber |
Opening theme | "Twinkle in Her Eye" performed by LeAnn 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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Producers | Mario Piluso Dina Buteyn (line, episodes 1–4) |
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 | |
Holly Hobbie & Friendsis a series of American animated specials produced by Nickelodeon, American Greetings and American Greetings Properties. [1] It is the first series to star the Holly Hobbie doll, albeit redesigned from her traditional look. The specials aired on both Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block and the separate Noggin channel. [2]
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-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 and Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products. [4]
DVD releases for the specials were released by Paramount Home Entertainment, but later transitioned to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. [5] [6]
A video game based on the series for the Nintendo DS released on October 8, 2007.
The show's theme song "Twinkle in Her Eye" was performed by the country singer LeAnn Rimes. [7] She also voices Kelly Deegan in the Christmas episode, Christmas Wishes.
Holly 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.
Holly Hobbie & Friends is produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, American Greetings and American Greetings Properties, with animation provided by Wang Film Productions and Toon City Animation. It was distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment for episodes 1–3 and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for episodes 4–8. Producers on the series include Mario Piluso and Dina Buteyn. Ramsey Ann Naito, Maureen Taxter, Jeff Weiss, Jeffrey Conrad, Tamra Knepfer and David Polter served as executive producers. Voice directors of the series were Charlie Adler and Mario Piluso.
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |||||
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1 | "Surprise Party" | Mario Piluso | Kate Boutilier and Eryk Casemiro | February 10, 2006 (TV) [8] March 7, 2006 (DVD) | |||||
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] | |||||
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) | |||||
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) | |||||
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" | |||||||||
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" | |||||||||
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. McGee 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. McGee to submit her idea for the student award show. |
Holly Hobbie & Friends premiered the first special "Surprise Party" on February 10, 2006 and ended with the fourth special "Best Friends Forever" on September 7, 2007 on Nick Jr. block, and on Noggin channel from December 22, 2006 [11] to 2007.
Four episodes that aired on Nick Jr. block and Noggin channel have been released to DVD: Surprise Party, Christmas Wishes, Secret Adventures and Best Friends Forever.
The last four episodes for the last two DVDs that feature two twenty-two minute episodes: Fabulous Fashion Show, which includes "Inside Out" and "Hats Off", and Marvelous Makeover, which includes "Cover Girl" and "Reboot".
A video game based on the series for the Nintendo DS released on October 8, 2007. The game was developed by FrontLine Studios and published by Majesco Entertainment.
The specials received positive reviews. Regina McMenomy, a researcher at Washington State University specializing 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. [12] Writing for The 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's Holly Hobbie & Friends airing Monday, Nov. 13, is for you." [13] The Dove Foundation awarded 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." [14]