Hoops & Yoyo (stylized as hoops&yoyo) was an animated franchise created by Bob Holt and Mike Adair for Hallmark Cards that lasted from 2001 to 2015. Initially, it was for use on a line of e-cards, but the franchise would later see other releases, including a few TV movies and music albums. The franchise centers around the titular pair in comedic slice-of-life situations.
Hallmark artist Bob Holt was assigned to create an e-card for the Fourth of July in 2001. He sketched both a green bunny and a pink cat. The card premiered on Hallmark's website the same day, and Holt eventually got colleague Mike Adair to join him.[3] Early versions of the characters were created and subsequently voiced by Holt and Adair in 2001, simply named "Pink Kitty" and "Green Bunny." The pair weren’t given their final names until 2003.[4][5] While the franchise was primarily a line of greeting cards, the characters also had their own website that featured animated episodes, an "Ask Hoops & Yoyo" section, desktop and phone wallpapers, audio snippets, IM icons, fan photos, interactive monthly calendars, a blog, a podcast, games, and merchandise available for purchase. In 2006 , Hallmark made greeting cards of hoops&yoyo.[citation needed]
The premise for Hoops & Yoyo media mainly centers around Hoops & Yoyo in slice-of-life scenarios, along with other minor characters on occasion.[6][7] The last piece of content produced for the franchise was the fourth episode of its podcast in 2015.[8]
Hoops (Mike Adair) – Hoops (originally known as Pink Kitty) is one of the first main characters (publicly) of hoops&yoyo. Originally debuting in 2001 with the "Happy 4th of July!" e-card, he is the "leader" of the trio that consists of Yoyo, Piddles and himself. He is voiced by Mike Adair.
Yoyo (voiced by Bob Holt) – Yoyo (originally known as Green Bunny) is one of the main characters of hoops&yoyo. He is a member of the trio that consists of him, Hoops, and Piddles. He is voiced by Bob Holt.
Piddles (Bev Carlson) – Piddles (originally known as Sprinkles, and then Penelope) is one of the main characters of hoops&yoyo. She is a member of the trio that consists of her, Hoops, and Yoyo. She is voiced by Bev Carlson.
Chili Bear (Peter Martin) – Chili Bear (also spelled Chilibear or Chillibear) is a character that appears in hoops&yoyo.
Marshy (Mike Adair) – Marshy, also known as the Monster Marshmallow or the Giant Marshmallow, is a side character who is featured in hoops&yoyo animations. He is voiced by Mike Adair.
Puck – Puck is a background character in hoops&yoyo. Puck does not have a voice actor nor is heard speaking, however he is seen speaking in a card called "This day your Birthday" with Yoyo and also has some small bits of dialogue in a calendar, and a set of valentines cards, saying "No Duh." and "I really looove you" respectively, as well as various other print material.
Bluebird – Bluebird is an background character seen from the franchise. He is the only character who is still being used by Bob Holt currently.
Newbie - Newbie is a character that occasionally appears in hoops&yoyo. He is the final secondary character to be introduced, first being seen in 2009. He is primarily seen in print material. He was also an author on the official hoops&yoyo blog. He has only appeared in one known e-card to date.[1]
Television
The characters were featured on the Hallmark Channel in late 2009 through 2010 as part of a programming block titled Hallmark Channel's Movie Night with Hoops & Yoyo. It was the first time that Hallmark Cards and Hallmark Channel collaborated on a project.[10] On November 25, 2011, CBS premiered a Hoops & Yoyo Christmas TV special produced by Hallmark, titled Hoops & Yoyo Ruin Christmas.[11] On October 26, 2012, Hallmark Channel aired a sequel titled Hoops & Yoyo's Haunted Halloween.
Albums
In December 2005, Hallmark released a Hoops & Yoyo holiday CD entitled Jingle Jingle Wiggle. It features both vocal and instrumental music. The CD also features the animated short entitled A Bongo Christmas. A second CD, entitled One Donut a Day!, was made in collaboration with singer-songwriter Parry Gripp and was released on July 1, 2007. It includes 19 tracks and a few animated music videos which are accessible by inserting the disc into a PC.
↑Crump, William D. (2017). How the Movies Saved Christmas: 228 Rescues from Clausnappers, Sleigh Crashes, Lost Presents and Holiday Disasters. McFarland & Co. pp.122–123. ISBN9781476664880.
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