Amazing Planet
National Geographic's Amazing Planet is a 1998 children's educational television show that teaches children about the many locations on Earth. It was also produced by National Geographic Kids Video.[1]
Premise
On the planet Miptor three alien janitors Rip Rayon, Squeege and Kidogo were cleaning a spaceship until their boss Admiral Lump checks in on them. His presence frightens Squeege so much that Squeege accidentally starts the engine launching the ship into outer space. The janitors then assume roles: Rip Rayon as Captain, Squeege as Pilot and Kidogo as Engineer. Joining them as information officer on their exploration of Earth, is Orb, a hovering metal orb that provides information to the aliens.
Theme song
The spaceship was all set to go, just waiting to be cleaned. But one small slip and off they went now Admiral Lump is steamed. ( "Rayon come back here!" ) Rip Rayon is the captain now, Squeege he learned to fly, Kidogo tries to fix things up and Orb she answers why. They're heading toward that big blue ball and doing the best they can. Exploring this new place called Earth it's an Amazing Plan...et. A-ma-zing Planet. A-ma-zing Planet. A-ma-zing Planet.
Format
Each episode begins with the aliens and Orb traveling to a specific location on Earth. Rip Rayon orders Squeege to land the spaceship gently on the ground but Squeege's landings are often rough. When they arrive, the aliens at first glance are frightened by an object in that location. Then they ask Orb what that object is. Whenever the aliens mentioned their boss Admiral Lump, Admiral Lump appears via the ship's view screen and orders the aliens to get to the bottom of the situation and report their findings back to him when they are done. At the end of the episode, the aliens present their report to Admiral Lump either in spoken detail or music video obviously leaving Admiral Lump in a bad mood. He then tells them to find something that would please him or they're never going back to their home planet. The aliens would start to say something bad about Admiral Lump but when Admiral Lump demands to know what they said, the aliens correct their sentence. Then the aliens would do a fun activity.
Home media
Shark-a-Thon
Release Date: April 7, 1998
In this episode, Rip, Kidogo, Squeege and Orb take a look at sharks, one of the ocean's deadliest predators.
Lava Blast
Release Date: April 7, 1998
In this episode, the aliens and Orb examine volcanoes.
Mummies Unwrapped
Release Date: July 14, 1998
After crashing down the side of a pyramid in Egypt, Orb tells the aliens about mummies. When Rip decides to bring some treasure aboard the ship, a "curse" is placed upon the cabin. At the episode's end, the aliens beamed the treasure back to its rightful owner. Then they present to Admiral Lump their report about mummies. Then Kidogo reports something strangely familiar. Rip tells Kidogo to beam it up but the object turns out to be the mummy seen earlier in the episode frightening all three aliens.
Mystery Quest
Release Date: July 14, 1998
In this episode, the aliens and Orb take a look at the mysteries of Earth, including the sudden disappearance of the Mayan civilization. The aliens think that the mysteries were caused by their arch rivals the Argoonians but the mysteries weren't caused by the Argoonians. At the end of the episode, Kidogo informs Rip that they're about to enter another one of earth's mysteries: The Bermuda Triangle. Orb tells Rip and Squeege that many planes and ships disappeared without a trace upon entering the triangle. Rip thinks that what Orb was telling them is nonsense and tells Squeege to fly the ship into the triangle. Suddenly the ship (with Rip, Squeege, Kidogo and Orb inside) disappeared. The episode ends with a sign saying To Be Continued.... on the screen.
Creatures of the Deep
Release Date: December 8, 2010
In this episode of Amazing Planet, Rip, Squeege, Kidogo and Orb take a dive into the ocean and examine the creatures of the deep.
Explosive Earth
Release Date: December 8, 2010
This DVD of Amazing Planet features the aliens and Orb looking at earthquakes and volcanoes.
References
- "About Amazing Planet Show". National Geographic. National Geographic. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b36qs5TOR_U&t=1985s - Amazing Planet Mummies Unwrapped & Earth Mysteries. Retrieved October 1, 2018.