Cyberchase


Cyberchase is a Canadian-American animated educational children's television series on PBS Kids. The series focuses around three children from Earth: Jackie, Matt, and Inez. They were brought into Cyberspace, a digital universe, in order to protect the world from the villain Hacker. These kids are able to prevent Hacker from taking over Cyberspace by means of problem-solving skills in conjunction with basic math. In Cyberspace, they meet Digit, a "cybird" who helps them on their missions.
Cyberchase was created by Thirteen and debuted on January 21, 2002. In 2010, after the season eight finale, Cyberchase went on hiatus, but it returned in 2013 for a ninth season, followed by a tenth season in 2015. The eleventh season premiered on October 23, 2017, and the twelfth season premiered on November 22, 2019.

Plot

When three ordinary kids, Jackie, Matt, and Inez, accidentally allow the Hacker access to Motherboard, the supreme ruler of Cyberspace, she becomes severely weakened by a virus from Hacker. The kids are brought into Cyberspace and join forces with Digit, in an effort to protect the world from the Hacker and his clumsy, semi-intelligent assistants, Buzz and Delete, until they can recover the Encryptor Chip, a device stolen by Hacker that can nullify the virus and bring Motherboard back to full strength.
Motherboard is the "brain of the giant computer system that oversees all of Cyberspace". Her technician computer scientist, Dr. Marbles, kept her functioning properly. Dr. Marbles created Hacker as an assistant, but Hacker turned against Motherboard. Digit was Hacker's assistant and witnessed him stealing the Encryptor Chip. After Dr. Marbles drained Hacker's battery and banished him to the Northern Frontier, Digit was able to escape from Hacker's grasp. Eventually, Hacker was able to find a way to recharge himself, build Buzz and Delete, and formulate a plan to launch a virus that would attack Motherboard. When Jackie, Matt, and Inez interacted with a library map, this opened a door for Hacker to infect Motherboard with the virus.
Cyberspace consists of planet-like bodies called Cybersites which are based on themes such as Ancient Egypt, the American Old West, Greek mythology, and amusement parks. The Cybersquad travels to many of these locations in order to protect Cyberspace from Hacker. Each inhabited Cybersite has their own type of Cybercitizen. They are meant to represent the diversity of websites on the Internet, and reflect the many ecosystems and neighborhoods of today's world.

Characters

Main

Cyberchase has had many guest stars over the years, including Jasmine Guy, Tony Hawk, and Al Roker. These guest stars appear as citizens of Cybersites, villains, friends, or even rulers of the site.

Episodes

Cyberchase For Real

Each Cyberchase episode is followed by Cyberchase For Real, a live-action educational supplement linking concepts learned in the show to real life experiences. The actors Bianca DeGroat and Matthew A. Wilson are in their thirties, but amusingly act in a manner similar to the age of the target audience. For Real is produced by WNET in and around New York City after production is completed on the animated segments. These For Real segments are broadcast exclusively on PBS in the United States where the program runs longer and fills the time gap where there might be breaks for commercials. Some For Real segments can also be viewed online. In 2012, "Oh Noah", shorts that teach kids to speak Spanish, have been used instead of re-running the "For Real" segments. The "For Real" segment returned in season nine.

Development

Conception

Cyberchase was conceived in 1999 as an educational show that aims to show kids that math is everywhere and everyone can be good at it. The series encourages viewers to see, think, and do mathematics in their world. The show and supporting activities have been designed to support math education and reflect the curriculum standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The show's philosophy is to foster enthusiasm for math, to model mathematic reasoning, to help children improve their problem-solving skills and to inspire all children to approach math with confidence and a "can-do" attitude. Later seasons place less emphasis on math and more on environmentalism. For example, in season 11, the theme of episode 2 is habitat fragmentation, episode 3 is about the effects of temperature on marine ecology, and episode 4 discusses using plants to improve indoor air quality.

Production

Originally, Thirteen produced the show in partnership with Nelvana for PBS Kids. It aired on PBS Kids from 2002–04 and 2013–2020, and on V-me, PBS, and on PBS Kids Go! from 2004–13. Cyberchase has been animated by Pip Animation Services Inc. since season five; Right Path Pictures did post-production, and Curious Pictures did the original character design. Twelfth Root Music produces the sound track for Cyberchase. Thirteen/WNET New York and Nelvana produced the first five seasons, while Thirteen, in association with Title Entertainment, Inc. and WNET.ORG, produced seasons six through twelve.

Broadcast syndication

The show was syndicated worldwide to countries like the U.K. until 2004.

Brand extension

There are two apps that Cyberchase has released to date:
  1. Cyberchase 3D Builder
  2. Cyberchase Shape Quest

    Reception

Critical response

On the site Common Sense Media, the show was for ages 5 and up and rated four out of five stars. The reviewer, Joly Herman, commented that "the adventures aren't scary, violent, or sexually inappropriate" but "require fortitude and brain power". Proposed discussion points sprouting from the series include "Can your child take the skills learned in each episode and figure out how to apply it to everyday life?" Herman noted that the only downside was that the adventures did not take place in the "real world" but added that the "For Real" segments solved this problem. The show was given a rating of three out of five smiley faces under "The Good Stuff" section.
Carey Bryson of About.com gave the show a rating of four out of five stars. Bryson noted that the series' explanations of "simple mathematical idea" are "usually explained well and woven throughout the story in a fun and interesting way". The review commended the series for its accessibility: "Children can easily learn from the example in the cartoon story" and praised the "Cyberchase For Real segment that follows each episode". Citing an example from the series using codes, Bryson explained how the show could be used to expand upon the curriculum: "Not only did learn about codes, but she also got in a ton of spelling practice". Bryson commended the series: "Educationally, Cyberchase delivers".

Awards

Cyberchase has been nominated for five Daytime Emmys and won in 2007 in the Outstanding Broadband Program category. Cyberchase also won a CINE Golden Eagle in 2006.
YearCategoryRecipientResult
2003Parent's Choice Award for Spring 2003 TelevisionCyberchaseSilver Honor
2006Parent's Choice Award for Spring 2006 WebsiteCyberchaseApproved
2007Outstanding Broadband Program – Children's
2008Outstanding New Approaches – Children's
2008Outstanding Performer in an Animated ProgramChristopher Lloyd
2009Outstanding New Approaches – Daytime Children's
2009Parent's Choice Award for Spring 2009 TelevisionCyberchaseRecommended
2010Parent's Choice Award for Spring 2010 TelevisionCyberchaseRecommended
2010Parent's Choice Award for Fall 2010 WebsiteCyberchaseSilver Honor
2012Outstanding New Approaches – Daytime Children's
2014Parent's Choice Award for Spring 2014 TelevisionCyberchaseSilver Honor
2014Parent's Choice Award for Spring 2014 TelevisionCyberchase For RealSilver Honor
2016Parent's Choice Award for Spring 2016 TelevisionCyberchaseSilver Honor
2016Parent's Choice Award for Spring 2016 Mobile AppsCyberchase Shape QuestRecommended

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