Lucas the Spider

Last updated
Lucas the Spider
Lucas the Spider character
Lucas the Spider.jpg
First appearance
  • Lucas the Spider
  • November 5, 2017
Created byJoshua Slice
Voiced byLucas Slice (shorts and YouTube Rewind 2018)
Simon Webster (series)
In-universe information
Species Jumping spider
GenderMale

Lucas the Spider is an animated character created by animator Joshua Slice, named after and previously voiced by his nephew. Lucas is based on a jumping spider and has starred in multiple short YouTube videos between 2017 and 2019.

Contents

History

The first Lucas the Spider video was uploaded on November 5, 2017. [1] [2] Lucas was met with a highly positive reception for his gentle and warm-hearted nature. [3] [4]

In 2018, a talking plushie of Lucas the Spider was released for sale online. In May 2018, the series was acquired by Canadian production company Fresh TV. [5] In December 2018, Lucas the Spider appeared in YouTube Rewind 2018.

2020 saw no new YouTube episodes. In various replies within posts to comments on his Instagram, Slice has stated that they "haven't posted any new content for a while because the team is hard at work on the TV show!" [6] A short upload on YouTube on July 29, 2021 announced then-upcoming episodes on the Cartoonito programming block on Cartoon Network. This was followed by more short cartoons and excerpts from television episodes.

A species of jumping spiders, Salticus lucasi, has been named after this character. [7] [8]

YouTube Episodes


YouTube episodes are between nineteen and eighty-five seconds in length.

No.TitleYouTube premiere date
1First Time Meeting HimNovember 5, 2017
2Cold Outside!December 1, 2017
3PlayDecember 24, 2017
4CapturedJanuary 20, 2018
5MusicalFebruary 10, 2018
6BearMarch 4, 2018
7Encore!March 30, 2018
8GiantMay 19, 2018
9NapJune 19, 2018
10Man BandAugust 31, 2018
11WebsSeptember 21, 2018
12ScaryOctober 12, 2018
13FriendNovember 10, 2018
14Don't EatDecember 20, 2018
15Starving!

Starving! Starving!

February 14, 2019
16What Is That?April 20, 2019
17Where Did It Go?June 3, 2019
18It SlippedJuly 6, 2019
19It's HotAugust 2, 2019
20Anybody Home?August 30, 2019
21The Sky is FallingOctober 4, 2019
22The ImposterOctober 25, 2019
23Jumping SpiderNovember 28, 2019
24Drawn TogetherDecember 20, 2019

Following these, three compilation shorts were posted:

In February 2020, it was announced that a Lucas the Spider TV series has secured a global distribution deal with Cartoon Network and Boomerang. It is shown on Cartoon Network's Cartoonito block. [9] A 'first look' cartoon titled "Fun with Findley" was uploaded on YouTube on July 29, 2021. In the following months, this was followed by more new shorts (initially introducing supporting characters from the TV series) and excerpts from the TV show (not mentioned in this table).

No.TitleYouTube premiere date
25Fun with FindleyJuly 29, 2021
26Arlo's LullabyAugust 13, 2021
27Extreme BodhiAugust 27, 2021
28Stand Up DimplesSeptember 12, 2021
29Marvelous MaizieSeptember 24, 2021
30Hey AvocadoOctober 8, 2021
31The Altogether SongOctober 23, 2021
32Web Practice [a] November 19, 2021

Characters

Television series

Lucas the Spider
Genre
Created byJoshua Slice
Directed byPaul Brown
Voices of
  • Simon Webster
  • Christian Campbell
  • Evie Loiselle
  • Antonina Battrick
  • McKenzie Cornelius
  • Ethan MacIver-Wright
  • Luxton Handspiker
Theme music composer Voodoo Highway Music
ComposerVoodoo Highway Music
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes77
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • George Elliott
  • Suzy Queen
  • Ameena Siddique
Editors
  • Annellie Samuel
  • Jason Pichonsky
Running time6-7 minutes
Production companiesWexworks Media
Fresh TV
Original release
Network Family Channel
ReleaseSeptember 18, 2021 (2021-9-18) 
December 1, 2023 (2023-12-1)

In March 2018, following the purchase of the series by Fresh TV, the company announced to produce a long-form series based on the web series. [5]

In February 2020, Cartoon Network acquired the US broadcast rights to the series for a broadcast in early 2021 on the main channel and on Boomerang. [10] However, the series instead became a launch series for the Cartoonito block, and began airing on the block on September 18, 2021. [11] The series left Cartoonito on September 23, 2022, and later HBO Max on September 30, leaving three episodes unaired in the US, however they would air in Canada. On August 31, 2023, the series returned to Max, with all episodes of Season 1. Season 1 began streaming on Netflix on October 30, 2023. [12] Unlike other broadcasts of it, the Netflix releases[ citation needed ] and Israeli airings are in PAL pitch. [13]

The series returned to the Cartoonito lineup on December 1, 2023 to air its last three episodes, but left the lineup again on April 5, 2024. In October 2024, the series began airing on Discovery Family.

Episodes

No.Title [14] [15] Written byOriginal release date [15] U.S. viewers (millions)
1"Too Hot to Handle"Amanda McNeiceSeptember 18, 2021 (2021-9-18) [b] 0.08 [16]
2"The Big Squeak" Bec Hill September 18, 2021 (2021-9-18) [17] [b] 0.08 [16]
3"Big Jumping Spider"Matt BakerSeptember 18, 2021 (2021-9-18) [b] 0.08 [16]
4"Ghost Camp"Kristen McGregorSeptember 25, 2021 (2021-9-25)0.06 [18]
5"Boo!"Dave InghamSeptember 25, 2021 (2021-9-25)0.06 [18]
6"Never Boop a Robot"Dave InghamSeptember 25, 2021 (2021-9-25)0.06 [18]
7"Lonesome Lucas"Josh GalOctober 2, 2021 (2021-10-2)0.12 [19]
8"I Can't See You"Josh GalOctober 9, 2021 (2021-10-9) [c] N/A
9"To Catch A Fly"Dave InghamOctober 16, 2021 (2021-10-16) [c] N/A
10"Sliding"Matt BakerOctober 23, 2021 (2021-10-23)N/A
11"Spinning Webs"Amanda McNeiceOctober 30, 2021 (2021-10-30)N/A
12"I'm Taking You In"Josh GalNovember 6, 2021 (2021-11-06)N/A
13"Something Up There"Kristen McGregorNovember 13, 2021 (2021-11-13)N/A
14"Home Sweet Home"Amanda McNeiceNovember 20, 2021 (2021-11-20)N/A
15"Bye Bye Bee"Amanda McGregorNovember 27, 2021 (2021-11-27)N/A
16"Jeepers Peepers"Dave InghamDecember 4, 2021 (2021-12-4)N/A
17"House is Breathing"Josh GalDecember 11, 2021 (2021-12-11)N/A
18"Boingo"Bec HillDecember 18, 2021 (2021-12-18)N/A
19"Findley’s Bad Day"Matt BakerDecember 25, 2021 (2021-12-25) [d] N/A
20"You Rang?"Dave InghamJanuary 9, 2022 (2022-1-9)N/A
21"Do You Speak Dance?"Bec HillJanuary 16, 2022 (2022-1-16)N/A
22"A New Spider in Town"Josh GalJanuary 16, 2022 (2022-1-16)N/A
23"Dollhouse Mates"Josh GalJanuary 16, 2022 (2022-1-16)N/A
24"Lucas We Have a Problem"Matt BakerJanuary 23, 2022 (2022-1-23)N/A
25"Egg-Scuse Me"Bec HillJanuary 23, 2022 (2022-1-23)N/A
26"Pokey Dokey"Amanda McNeiceJanuary 23, 2022 (2022-1-23)N/A
27"Boot Castle"Josh GalFebruary 3, 2022 (2022-2-3)N/A
28"Avocado’s Looooong Time Out"Dave InghamFebruary 3, 2022 (2022-2-3)N/A
29"Tanks Giving"Josh GalFebruary 3, 2022 (2022-2-3)N/A
30"Flying"Dave InghamFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-2-4)N/A
31"Dr. Lucas Is in the House"Josh GalFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-2-4)N/A
32"Arlo's Portrait"Dave InghamFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-2-4)N/A
33"House Flies Don't Dance"Josh GalFebruary 11, 2022 (2022-2-11)N/A
34"Flying the Nest"Dave InghamFebruary 11, 2022 (2022-2-11)N/A
35"The Insult"UnknownFebruary 11, 2022 (2022-2-11)N/A
36"I'll Do it in a Minute"Dave InghamFebruary 18, 2022 (2022-2-18)N/A
37"Cloud Gazing"Josh GalFebruary 18, 2022 (2022-2-18)N/A
38"Don't Do That Arlo"Dave InghamFebruary 18, 2022 (2022-2-18)N/A
39"Prickly Pals"Josh GalApril 29, 2022 (2022-4-29)N/A
40"A Sting in the Tale"Dave InghamApril 29, 2022 (2022-4-29)N/A
41"Tongue Twister"Josh GalApril 29, 2022 (2022-4-29)N/A
42"Sleeping Dogs"Josh GalMay 6, 2022 (2022-5-6)N/A
43"Skunked"Dave InghamMay 6, 2022 (2022-5-6)N/A
44"Arlo And The Snake"Dave InghamMay 6, 2022 (2022-5-6)N/A
45"Crack In the Tank"Dave InghamMay 13, 2022 (2022-5-13)N/A
46"Big Mouth"Dave InghamMay 13, 2022 (2022-5-13)N/A
47"Art From the Heart"Josh GalMay 13, 2022 (2022-5-13)N/A
48"Lucas and His Friends"Dave InghamMay 20, 2022 (2022-5-20)N/A
49"The Owl That Said Why"Amanda McNeiceMay 20, 2022 (2022-5-20)N/A
50"Happy Burpday"Josh GalMay 20, 2022 (2022-5-20)N/A
51"The Legend of Big Butt"Dave InghamMay 27, 2022 (2022-5-27)N/A
52"Arlo Needs a Nap"Amanda McNeiceMay 27, 2022 (2022-5-27)N/A
53"Everyone's a Critic"Josh GalMay 27, 2022 (2022-5-27)N/A
54"Flash and Boom"Josh GalJune 3, 2022 (2022-6-3)N/A
55"House Sitting"Amanda McNeiceJune 3, 2022 (2022-6-3)N/A
56"Findley is Sick"Dave InghamJune 3, 2022 (2022-6-3)N/A
57"A Song for Wimble"Josh GalJune 10, 2022 (2022-6-10) [e] N/A
58"I Want My Baby Acorn Back"Amanda McNeiceJune 10, 2022 (2022-6-10) [e] N/A
59"The Giggles"Dave InghamJune 10, 2022 (2022-6-10) [e] N/A
60"Puppy Love"Dave InghamSeptember 6, 2022 (2022-9-6)N/A
61"House Grand Prix"Amanda McNeiceSeptember 6, 2022 (2022-9-6)N/A
62"Farewell Sweet Ride"Dave InghamSeptember 6, 2022 (2022-9-6)N/A
63"The Mighty Boop and Fly Wonder"Amanda McNeiceSeptember 12, 2022 (2022-9-12)N/A
64"Lucas and Findley Get Antsy"Amanda McNeiceSeptember 12, 2022 (2022-9-12)N/A
65"Mock Me Not"Josh GalSeptember 12, 2022 (2022-9-12)N/A
66"Jumping Pal"UnknownSeptember 19, 2022 (2022-9-19)N/A
67"Trouble at the Top"UnknownSeptember 19, 2022 (2022-9-19)N/A
68"Avacado's Fan"UnknownSeptember 19, 2022 (2022-9-19)N/A
69"The Scent of a Dog"UnknownSeptember 21, 2022 (2022-9-21) [f] N/A
70"The Need for Seed"UnknownSeptember 21, 2022 (2022-9-21) [f] N/A
71"Bloom Patrol"UnknownSeptember 21, 2022 (2022-9-21) [f] N/A
72"Behind the Door"UnknownSeptember 22, 2022 (2022-9-22) [g] N/A
73"Findley the Brave"UnknownSeptember 22, 2022 (2022-9-22) [g] N/A
74"Fixing Up the Tree"UnknownSeptember 22, 2022 (2022-9-22) [g] N/A
75"Waiting for Maizie"UnknownDecember 1, 2023 (2023-12-1) [h] [i] N/A
76"Boops in the Night"UnknownDecember 1, 2023 (2023-12-1) [h] [i] N/A
77"Lucas the Pirate"UnknownDecember 1, 2023 (2023-12-1) [h] [i] N/A

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per season of Lucas the Spider
SeasonEpisodesFirst airedLast airedAvg. viewers
(millions)
DateViewers
(millions)
DateViewers
(millions)
1 74September 18, 2021 (2021-9-18)0.08 [16] December 1, 2023 (2023-12-1)TBD0.08

References

  1. Beggs, Scott. "The Adorable Lucas The Spider Is Cold And Wants To Come Inside". Nerdist. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  2. Hadley, Glenn (11 February 2018). "Lucas The Spider Movie: Fans Ask Disney Pixar For Film With Adorable Animated Arachnid, Viral YouTube Star". Inquisitr. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  3. McLean, Tom. "Fresh TV to Expand 'Lucas the Spider' Web Videos". Animation World Network. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. Rittmeyer, Brian. "YouTube sensation 'Lucas the Spider' challenges fears of arachnids". Tribune-Review. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  5. 1 2 Milligan, Mercedes (22 March 2018). "'Lucas the Spider' Snares Fresh TV in Its Adorable Web". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  6. "Joshua Slice on Instagram: "A few of my studio friends started an animation podcast and the latest episode (out today!) talks about my journey in creating Lucas the…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  7. Zamani, Alireza; Hosseini, Marzieh Sadat; Moradmand, Majid (March 2020). "New data on jumping spiders of Iran, with a new species of Salticus (Araneae: Salticidae)". Arachnologische Mitteilungen: Arachnology Letters. 59 (1): 63–66. doi: 10.30963/aramit5908 .
  8. Milligan, Mercedes (27 March 2020). "News Bytes: Awards Season Shifts, Real-Life Lucas the Spider, Community Resources & More". Animation Magazine.
  9. "Cake Q&A C21Kids Summer Special 2021". C21media. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  10. "'Lucas the Spider' Strikes Distribution Deal for Long-Form Series at Cartoon Network". 10 February 2020.
  11. "Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network". 16 August 2021.
  12. "Netflix Teases 'CoComelon Lane' with Preschool Toon Slate for 2024". 28 September 2023.
  13. "ערוץ הופ! - לגדול בידיים טובות - לוקאס העכביש פרק 2 - הציוץ הגדול". 1 November 2022.
  14. "Lucas the Spider". Zap2it . Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  15. 1 2 "Lucas the Spider". The Futon Critic . Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Saturday 9.18.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED". Showbuzz Daily. Mitch Metcalf. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  17. "Cartoonito Full Episodes Cartoon Network". Cartoon Network . Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Saturday 9.25.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED". Showbuzz Daily. Mitch Metcalf. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  19. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Saturday 10.2.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Mitch Metcalf. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  1. An 'anniversary original episode repost' with a new animated leader. Available for one day only.
  2. 1 2 3 This episode was first released on the Cartoon Network app and video-on-demand services on September 13, 2021.
  3. 1 2 This episode was first released on the Cartoon Network app and video-on-demand services on October 2, 2021.
  4. This episode was first released on the Cartoon Network app and video-on-demand services on December 18, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 This episode was first released on the Cartoon Network app and video-on-demand services on June 3, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 This episode was originally scheduled for September 26, 2022, but was pushed forward at the last minute
  7. 1 2 3 This episode was originally scheduled for October 3, 2022, but was pushed forward at the last minute
  8. 1 2 3 This episode was originally scheduled for October 10, 2022
  9. 1 2 3 This episode was first available to stream on Max on August 31, 2023 and Netflix on October 30, 2023.