Ask the StoryBots

Ask the StoryBots is an American live action/animated children's television series based on the characters from the StoryBots educational website and videos. It premiered exclusively on Netflix on August 12, 2016.[1] Originally created and produced by JibJab Bros. Studios, the StoryBots media franchise was fully acquired by Netflix in May 2019.[2]

Ask the StoryBots
GenreChildren's television
Animated
Educational
Created byGregg Spiridellis
Evan Spiridellis
Based onStoryBots
Theme music composerGabe Sokoloff
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes22
Production
Production companiesJibJab Bros. Studios (2016-2018)
StoryBots Inc. (2019)
Release
Original networkNetflix
Original releaseAugust 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
Chronology
Followed byStoryBots Super Songs
A StoryBots Christmas
External links
Website

In its first season, the series was nominated for an Annie Awards, was a finalist for a Peabody Award,[3] was nominated in the International category at the British Academy Children's Awards[4] and received six nominations for the Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Preschool Children's Animated Program.[5] It won the 2017 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Media - Enhancement to a Daytime Program or Series.[6] Its second season, which premiered on Netflix on August 24, 2018,[7] received the Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Preschool Children and won two Daytime Emmy Awards for writing and directing.[8]

Ask the StoryBots also inspired a holiday special, A StoryBots Christmas, also on Netflix, which won two Daytime Emmy Awards. Starting in its second season, Ask the StoryBots has been translated into 22 languages and is available for streaming on Netflix in 190 countries.

A third season premiered on August 2, 2019.[9][10][11] A trailer for the new episodes was launched on YouTube ahead of the season's premiere.[12]

Plot

The StoryBots are curious little creatures who live beneath our screens. In every episode, the intrepid quintet of Beep, Bing, Bang, Boop and Bo of Team 341B go on an adventure to the human world to help answer kids’ biggest questions like “Why is the sky blue?” or “Why do I need to brush my teeth?” They deliver their answer in the end of each episode in the form of a musical video.[13]

Cast

Main cast

Episodes

Ask the StoryBots made its first-season debut with six half-hour episodes. Its second season premiered August 24, 2018 and includes eight half-hour episodes. Its third season premiered August 2, 2019 and includes eight half-hour episodes.[14]

Season 1 (2016)
EpisodeTitleGuest appearanceSongs*
S1E1How Does Night Happen?Jay Leno as King Yardstick the Ruler"You Need An N", "Love Is Red", "Chicken Bop", "How Does Night Happen?"
S1E2How Do Airplanes Fly?Kevin Smith as Super Mega Awesome Ultra Guy"Think Green", "In An Airplane", "Rockin' Radishes", "How Do Airplanes Fly?"
S1E3Why Do I Have To Brush My Teeth?Whoopi Goldberg as The Tooth Fairy "Wake Up", "Alright, It's White", "Big Brown Boogieing Bear" "Why Do I Have To Brush My Teeth?"
S1E4Why Is The Sky Blue?Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci of Garfunkel and Oates as The Molecules"The Sky Is Blue", "Clean Up", Calypso Carrots", "Why Is The Sky Blue?"
S1E5Where Do French Fries Come From?"Weird Al" Yankovic as the Spud Spa Yogi"Great Cities Paris", "Farmer", "Cars, Cars, Cars", "Where Do French Fries Come From?"
S1E6Where Does Rain Come From?Tim Meadows and Chris Parnell as The Reindeer"Where Does Rain Come From?" "Tiger Song", "I'm Scared", "Hooray For A"

* list not complete

Season 2 (2018)
EpisodeTitleGuest appearanceSongs*
S2E1How Do Computers Work?Snoop Dogg as the Operating System"Wheels On The Bus", "The Number 10", "Walk Like A Camel", "How Do Computers Work?"
S2E2Why Can't I Eat Dessert All the Time?Christina Applegate as the Baker"Stomach", "Time To Go", "Horses", "Why Can't I Eat Dessert All the Time?"
S2E3How Many Types of Animals Are There?Kristen Schaal as the Biologist"The Number 5" "So Many Animals", "Riding On A Train" "How Many Types of Animals Are There?"
S2E4How Do Ears Hear?Ali Wong as the Brain"Marconi", "Bones In Your Body", "Earth (Such A Beautiful, Beautiful World), "How Do Ears Hear?"
S2E5How Do Volcanoes Work?David Koechner as the Pirate“Black”, "Layers Of The Earth", "The Number 1", "Volcanoes Finale", “Lion”, "How Do Volcanoes Work?"
S2E6What Is Electricity?Edward Norton as Gary the Electronics Salesman"Thomas Edison", "Mouse Party", "Square Dancin' Squash" "What is Electricity?"
S2E7How Do Flowers Grow?David Cross as the Hippie"Cow", "Itsy Bitsy Spider - Rock Version", "Squares", "How Do Flowers Grow?"
S2E8How Do People Catch A Cold?Wanda Sykes as the Doctor"Wash Your Hands", "The Cold Song", "Apatosaurus", "How Do People Catch A Cold?"

* list not complete

Season 3 (2019)
EpisodeTitleGuest appearanceSongs
S3E1How Do You Make Music?John Legend as the King of Music"So Many Instruments", "The Number 3", "Chicken Rap", "How Do You Make Music?"
S3E2Where Do Planets Come From?Zoe Saldana as the Professor"We Are The Planets", "The Gravity Song", "Breakin' Brussel Sprouts", "How Are Planets Made?"
S3E3Why Do People Look Different?Reggie Watts as Bernard the Nurse"Rock-a-Bye Baby", "Let's Wait For Yellow", "Sheep, Sheep, Sheep", "Why Do People Look Different?"
S3E4Why Do We Have To Recycle?Tony Hale as Chuck the Recycling Plant Owner"Where Does The Garbage Go?", "Triangles", "Triceratops", "Why Do We Have To Recycle? (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle)"
S3E5How Do Cell Phones Work?Jennifer Garner as the Cell Tower Operators"The Hello Song", "Look For Purple", "He's A Rhino", "How Do Cell Phones Work?"
S3E6What Happens When You Flush the Toilet?Jason Sudeikis as the Plumber"The Toilet Bowl Song", "Captain Of The Boat", "Dance With The Elephant", "What Happens When You Flush the Toilet?"
S3E7Where Does Chocolate Come From?Alyssa Milano as the Chocolatier"Money Rap", "Amazing Frog", "Great Cities Beijing", "Where Does Chocolate Come From?"
S3E8How Do Eyes See?Maria Bamford as Dr. Pat the Mad Scientist"Inventions Everywhere", "Rain, Rain, Go Away", "Anklyosaurus", "How Do Eyes See?"

International

In Southeast Asia, the series started airing on Disney Junior on July 15, 2019.

Reception

Ask the StoryBots has been called the "best kids' show on Netflix" by both Wired[15] and Decider[16] and has received positive reviews, with critics specifically citing its educational quality and its entertainment value for both children and adults.[17] Common Sense Media wrote that “[It’s] both educational and entertaining in every scene yet is visually appealing as well as humorous enough to make both children and parents laugh out loud... While the premise of the show is to answer a child's question, the antics that the characters get themselves into are very funny, and each episode always has an educational twist without being obvious... [T]he magazine format of the show allows for things such as music videos, letter rhyming, songs, and field trips to different places."[18]

The Domestic Geek called the show "a really fun and great way for your the family to learn and laugh together,"[19] while Chico News & Review wrote that "parents and children alike will want to binge on Netflix’s new edutainment series, Ask the StoryBots... The StoryBots dive deep into the natural world, research well-rounded answers and report back through contemporary music, humor and repetition."[20]

Accolades
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result
2017 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children Ask the StoryBots Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Preschool Children's Animated Program Evan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Meridith Stokes, Megan McShane, Monica Mitchell Nominated
Outstanding Interactive Media - Enhancement to a Daytime Program or Series Evan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Mauro Gatti, Daniel Haack, Meridith Stokes, Rubens Cantuni, Nina Neulight, Romney Caswell, Jeff Gill, Jacob Streilein, Nikolas Ilic, Rohit Mohan, Bradley Roush Won
Outstanding Directing in a Preschool Animated Program Evan Spiridellis, Jacob Streilein, Ian Worrel Nominated
Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design Ian Worrel, Taylor Clutter, Jeff Gill, Nikolas Ilic, Kendall Nelson, Taylor Price, Evan Spiridellis, Jacob Streilein, Nate Theis, Eddie West Nominated
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Preschool Animated Program Leonardo Nasca, Jared Nugent, Jeffrey Shiffman Nominated
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program Jeffrey Shiffman, David Carfagno, Brad Meyer, Nicholas J. Ainsworth, Elliot Herman Nominated
Peabody Award Children's Programming Ask the StoryBots Nominated
Cynopsis Kids !magination Awards Educational Series/Special Ask the StoryBots Nominated
British Academy Children's Awards International Ask the StoryBots Nominated
2019 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children Ask the StoryBots Won
Directing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production Evan Spiridellis Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Preschool Children's Animated Series Evan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Sarah Kambara, Meridith Stokes Nominated
Outstanding Interactive Media for a Daytime Program Gregg Spiridellis, Evan Spiridellis, Daniel Haack, Greg Mako, Sarah Kambara, Roberto Tejeda Nominated
Outstanding Performer in a Children's, Family Viewing or Special Class Program Edward Norton as Gary the Electronics Salesman Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program Evan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Nate Theis, Jacob Streilein, Eddie West, Jeff Gill Won
Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program Jacob Streilein, Jeff Gill, Evan Spiridellis Won
2020 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children Ask the Storybots Won
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated / Television Broadcast Production Chris O'Hara Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Preschool Children's Animated Series Evan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Sarah Kambara Won
Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program Evan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Nate Theis, Jacob Streilein, Eddie West, Jeff Gill Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program Jacob Streilein, Jeff Gill, Evan Spiridellis Nominated
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program Jeff Shiffman, Nicholas J. Ainsworth, Tess Fournier, Jacob Cook, Ian Howard, Johnathan Lopez Nominated
Individual Achievement in Animation Chris O'Hara Won

Music

The show's first season soundtrack, Ask the StoryBots: Season 1 (Music from the Original Series), was released to digital vendors in September 2016 and is currently available for download and streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, ITunes and Amazon.com.[21] The series' second season soundtrack was released on August 31, 2018.[22]

Spinoffs

A companion series, StoryBots Super Songs, premiered on October 7, 2016, also on Netflix. A holiday special, A StoryBots Christmas, premiered on December 1, 2017, and features Ed Asner in a guest appearance as Santa Claus. It received two Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Special Class Animated Program, with an additional four nominations.

References
  1. Barrett, Brian. "Parents, Rejoice! Here Are Netflix's Kid-Friendly August Additions". Wired. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  2. "'StoryBots' Creators to Expand Children's Franchise Under Netflix Overall Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  3. "Announcing 76th Annual Peabody Awards Finalists". Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  4. "Nominations Announced for the British Academy Children's Awards in 2017". www.bafta.org. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  5. "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS FOR THE 44th ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". emmyonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  6. Andreeva, Nellie (2017-04-29). "Amazon & Netflix Lead Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Winners- Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  7. https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/25/17612334/new-netflix-movies-tv-shows-august-2018
  8. "The 46th Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominees – The Emmys". emmyonline.tv. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  9. "'StoryBots' Creators to Expand Children's Franchise Under Netflix Overall Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  10. "'Ask The Storybots' Season 3 Coming to Netflix in August 2019". What's on Netflix. July 6, 2019.
  11. Santoro, Alessia (2019-07-30). "If Your Kids Don't Watch Ask the StoryBots on Netflix, This Celebrity Lineup Might Change That!". POPSUGAR Family. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  12. Ask the StoryBots on Netflix | Season 3 Trailer | Premieres August 2nd Worldwide, retrieved 2019-07-30
  13. "Netflix Announces 'Ask the Storybots,' An Original Series from Jibjab". 2016-08-05. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  14. "Ed Norton, Snoop Dogg, Ali Wong to Guest on Netflix's 'Ask the Storybots'". TheWrap. 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  15. Barrett, Brian (2018-08-24). "The Very Online History of the Best Kids' Show on Netflix". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  16. "Netflix's Best Kids Show 'Ask the StoryBots' Is Back". Decider. 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  17. "They're Back! All-New StoryBots TV Series Premieres Today". StoryBots Blog. 2016-10-07. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  18. "Ask the Storybots - TV Review". Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  19. "Ask the Story Bots: Entertaining for kids...and twenty-somethings - The Domestic Geek Blog". The Domestic Geek Blog. 2016-09-09. Archived from the original on 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  20. "Netflix/JibJab - Ask the StoryBots - In the Mix - Special - Arts&Culture - September 22, 2016". Chico News & Review. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  21. "Ask the StoryBots: Season 1 Soundtrack Now Available!". StoryBots Blog. 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  22. "Ed Norton, Snoop Dogg, Ali Wong to Guest on Netflix's 'Ask the Storybots'". TheWrap. 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
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