The Magic School Bus

Last updated

The Magic School Bus
Created by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
Owner Scholastic Corporation
Print publications
Book(s) The Magic School Bus book series (1986–2021)
Specific books include:
Films and television
Animated series
Games
Video game(s) The Magic School Bus video game series (1994–2001)

The Magic School Bus is an American edutainment media franchise that includes a book series, a TV series, a streaming series, and video games. Each of the stories within the franchise focuses on the antics of a fictional elementary school teacher, Ms. Frizzle, and her class (with Carlos, Keesha, Phoebe, Arnold, Tim, etc.) who board a "magic school bus", which takes them on field trips to unusual times and locations, such as the Cretaceous Period, outer space, and inside a human body. [1]

History

The first medium in which this franchise was developed was the Magic School Bus book series. Craig Walker, vice-president and senior editorial director at Scholastic Co., stated that the concept began with the idea of combining science with fictional stories, and the late Joanna Cole (who had written both science and humor before) and Bruce Degen were then approached with creating such a series. Walker also explains that his own memories of school field trips and of a teacher he had once, served as further inspiration. [2] The first book, The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks, was published in 1986. [3] [4] The books are written in the first person from the point of view of an unnamed student in "the Friz's" class.[ citation needed ]

Cole and Degen started a new series called Ms. Frizzle's Adventures in 2001, which teaches social studies, eventually producing three books in that series. Microsoft Home began publishing Magic School Bus software in 1994, the same year The Magic School Bus concept was also adapted into an animated television series of the same name by Scholastic Entertainment along Canadian animation studio. The series premiered on PBS in September 10, 1994, with its theme song performed by musican Little Richard. Scholastic Entertainment president Deborah Forte says that adapting the books into an animated series was an opportunity to help kids "learn about science in a fun way". [5] Around that time, Forte had been hearing concern from parents and teachers about how to improve science education for girls and minorities. [5] As noted by Marcel LaFollette, "accomplished women were exceptions in a universe of male luminaries" when it came to science television. [6] :185 Ms. Valerie Frizzle, the magic school teacher, was the closest approximation to an expert female host. [7] [6] :183,185–195 She was voiced by Lily Tomlin in the series. [8] The series was followed by another animated series, The Magic School Bus Rides Again, which premiered on Netflix in 2017.

Scholastic Entertainment, the American Meteorological Society and Texan Children's Museum of Houston created a Scholastic's the Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm, a 2,600 sq ft (240 m2) traveling exhibit funded in part by the National Science Foundation, which premiered at the Children's Museum of Houston in 2003 (a copy of it opened in New Jersey the month after that). [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lily Tomlin</span> American actress (born 1939)

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin is an American actress, comedian, writer, singer, and producer. Tomlin started her career in stand-up comedy and sketch comedy before transitioning her career to acting onstage and on-screen. In a career spanning over fifty years, Tomlin has received numerous accolades, including seven Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and two Tony Awards. She was also awarded the Kennedy Center Honor in 2014 and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Pope Osborne</span> American childrens writer (born 1949)

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scholastic Corporation</span> American publishing company

Scholastic Corporation is an American multinational publishing, education, and media company that publishes and distributes books, comics, and educational materials for schools, teachers, parents, children, and other educational institutions. Products are distributed via retail and online sales and through schools via reading clubs and book fairs. Clifford the Big Red Dog, a character created by Norman Bridwell in 1963, serves as Scholastic's official mascot.

The Magic School Bus is a series of children's books about science, written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen. Designed for ages 6-9, they feature the antics of Ms. Valerie Felicity Frizzle and her class, who board a sentient anthropomorphic Type A school bus which takes them on field trips to impossible locations, including the solar system, clouds, the past, and the human body. The books are written in the first person from the point of view of an unnamed student in "the Friz's" class. The class has a pet lizard named Liz, who accompanies the class on their field trips.

<i>The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks</i> 1986 book by Joanna Cole

The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks is the first book in The Magic School Bus classic series books. Written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, it is a picture book and introduces most of the main characters of the series, including Ms. Frizzle, Arnold, Dorothy Ann, Ralphie, Tim, Wanda and Liz as well as several students who did not appear in the TV series or any other multimedia outside of the original series books. Carlos, Keesha and Phoebe do not appear in this book, though a student called "John" in the book bears an uncanny physical resemblance to Carlos.

<i>The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System</i> 1994 childrens book

The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System is the fourth book in Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen's The Magic School Bus classic series books. The book depicts arguably the most well-known adventure of the series and introduces the character of Janet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Herbert</span> American educational television host

Donald Jeffry Herbert, better known as Mr. Wizard, was the creator and host of Watch Mr. Wizard and Mr. Wizard's World (1983–90), which were educational television programs for children devoted to science and technology. He also produced many short video programs about science and authored several popular books about science for children. It was said that no fictional hero was able to rival the popularity and longevity of "the friendly, neighborly scientist". In Herbert's obituary, Bill Nye wrote, "Herbert's techniques and performances helped create the United States' first generation of homegrown rocket scientists just in time to respond to Sputnik. He sent us to the moon. He changed the world." Herbert is credited with turning "a generation of youth" in the 1950s and early 1960s on to "the promise and perils of science".

<i>Watch Mr. Wizard</i> Television series

Watch Mr. Wizard was an American television program for children that demonstrates the science behind ordinary things. The show's creator and on-air host was Don Herbert. Author Marcel LaFollette says of the program, "It enjoyed consistent praise, awards, and high ratings throughout its history. At its peak, Watch Mr. Wizard drew audiences in the millions, but its impact was far wider. By 1956, it had prompted the establishment of more than five thousand Mr. Wizard science clubs, with an estimated membership greater than one hundred thousand."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanna Cole (author)</span> American author (1944–2020)

Joanna Cole was an American author of children's books, best known as the author of the Magic School Bus series, which sold more than 93 million copies in 13 countries. She wrote more than 250 books, ranging from her first book Cockroaches to her famous series Magic School Bus, which is illustrated by Bruce Degen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22nd Daytime Emmy Awards</span> Award ceremony

The 22nd Daytime Emmy Awards were that were held on May 19, 1995, on NBC to commemorate excellence in daytime programming from the previous year (1994). The nominees were announced on March 29, 1995. Winners are in bold.

The 23rd Daytime Emmy Awards were held on May 22, 1996, on CBS to commemorate excellence in daytime programming from the previous year (1995). At this ceremony, Erika Slezak set a then record with five Emmy Awards for Lead Actress. She would beat her own record in 2005. The telecast aired two-hours. The Creative Arts Emmy celebration took place on May 18, 1996.

<i>The Magic School Bus In the Time of the Dinosaurs</i> 1996 video game

The Magic School Bus In the Time of the Dinosaurs is the sixth book in Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen's The Magic School Bus series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Degen</span> American writer

Bruce Degen is an American illustrator and writer with over forty children's books to his credit. He may be known best for illustrating The Magic School Bus, a picture book series written by Joanna Cole. He has collaborated with writers Nancy White Carlstrom, on the Jesse Bear books, and Jane Yolen, on the Commander Toad series. He has written and self-illustrated Jamberry, Daddy Is a Doodlebug, and Shirley's Wonderful Baby.

<i>The Magic School Bus</i> (TV series) Animated childrens television series

The Magic School Bus is an animated educational children's television series, based on the book series of the same name by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. Running originally from 1994 to 1997, the series received critical acclaim for its use of celebrity voice talent and combining entertainment with an educational series. The series stars Lily Tomlin as the voice of Ms. Frizzle. Its theme song is performed by Little Richard.

Deborah Forte is an American producer of family television series and movies, websites and digital media including Clifford the Big Red Dog, Clifford's Puppy Days, Maya & Miguel, WordGirl, The Magic School Bus, the series Goosebumps, Sony's films Goosebumps and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, Horrible Histories, Dragon, I Spy, The Baby-Sitters Club, The Golden Compass, and Astroblast. She created Scholastic Media, a division of Scholastic Inc. She is the founder of Silvertongue Films and under that banner is currently producing a television adaptation of His Dark Materials. She is attached to produce The 39 Clues and Spirit Animals for Universal and Clifford the Big Red Dog for Paramount. Her productions have won six Emmys, one Academy Award, the Humanitas Prize, and the Annenberg Public Policy Center Award for Outstanding Educational Program on a Commercial Broadcast Station.

The Magic School Bus is a series of educational software video games developed by Music Pen and published by Microsoft via their Microsoft Home brand. The interactive adventures are part of the larger franchise and based with The Magic School Bus original series books and public television series.

This is a list of winners of the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer In An Animated Program. The award was presented between 1995 and 2021. It recognized a continuing or single voice-over performance in a series or a special. The performance generally originated from a Children's Animated, Special Class Animated Program.

<i>The Magic School Bus Rides Again</i> Television series

The Magic School Bus Rides Again is an animated children's television series, based on the book series of the same name by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. It also serves as a continuation of the 1994–1997 PBS Kids series The Magic School Bus, with Lily Tomlin reprising her role as Ms. Frizzle. The series premiered on Netflix on September 29, 2017. The second season premiered on April 13, 2018.

<i>Karmas World</i> Animated streaming television series

Karma's World is an animated musical comedy television series created by Chris Bridges and developed by Wendy Harris, Rachel Kalban, and Jennie Stacey for Netflix. It was released on October 15, 2021.

References

  1. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 714–715. ISBN   978-1476665993.
  2. Lodge, Sally (July 27, 2006). "Two Decades of Fun and Learning on the Magic School Bus". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  3. Mancini, Mark (July 16, 2020). "12 Magical Facts about The Magic School Bus". Mental Floss . Minute Media. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  4. Terrill, Marshall (July 23, 2020). "Ms. Frizzle Creator Leaves Behind a Legacy of Learning". News.ASU.edu. Arizona State University . Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Clarke, Melanie M. (June 20, 2005). "A Scholastic Achievement". Broadcasting & Cable. 135 (25). Cahners Publishing Co. and Reed Publishing (USA) Inc.: 30.
  6. 1 2 LaFollette, Marcel Chotkowski (2013). "Rarae Aves: Television's Female Scientists". Science on American television : a history. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press. pp. 185–195. ISBN   978-0-226-92199-0.
  7. Halpern, Paul (2015). "On the Air". Distillations. 1 (2). Chemical Heritage Foundation: 44. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  8. "Lily Tomlin". IMDb. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  9. McCallum, Cheryl D.; Nazarani, L.; The Children's Museum of Houston (January 4, 2007). "Scholastics the Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm Museum Exhibit". ams.confex.com. American Meteorological Society. Retrieved March 23, 2009.