Ella the Elephant is a Canadian animated television preschool series based on the books by Carmela D' Amico & Steven Henry. The series premiered on TVOKids in Canada on September 2, 2013 and also airs on Knowledge Kids and Tele-Quebec in Canada. The series premiered on Disney Junior in the United States on February 17, 2014. Although this is considered a Disney Channel series, the series is broadcast on Disney Junior and TVOKids. The series was produced by DHX Cookie Jar Inc., in association with TVOKids, Disney Junior and FremantleMedia Kids and Family Entertainment, with animation provided by Atomic Cartoons, with the series' funding provided by The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit. The series' completion guarantee was provided by Film Finances Canada Ltd. The series follows the adventures of Ella and her friends on Elephant Island. Ella is a spirited little girl elephant with a big heart, bigger imagination and a magic hat that can transform into almost anything. Everyday, there's a fantastic new adventure as Ella and her friends, Frankie, Belinda and Tiki, get themselves into some tricky situations. With a little determination, teamwork, a few missteps, and a touch of magic, Ella and her friends work to make everything work out in the end. The first season of Ella the Elephant aired on TVOKids in Canada from September 2, 2013 to January 23, 2014. The first season of the series also aired on Knowledge Kids and Tele-Quebec in Canada. The first season of Ella the Elephant aired on Disney Channel/Disney Junior in the United States from February 17, 2014 to December 13, 2014. It also aired on Canal Panda, Doordarshan, and Hop! Channel.
Plot
The series follows the adventures of Ella and her friends on Elephant Island. Ella is a spirited little girl elephant with a big heart, bigger imagination and a magic hat that can transform into almost anything. Everyday, there's a fantastic new adventure as Ella and her friends, Frankie, Belinda and Tiki, get themselves into some tricky situations. With a little determination, teamwork, a few missteps, and a touch of magic, Ella and her friends work to make everything work out in the end.
Production
The series was produced by DHX Cookie Jar Inc. for TVOKids and Disney Junior, with animation provided by Atomic Cartoons, and distributed by FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment. The series' funding provided by The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, with the completion guarantee provided by Film Finances Canada Ltd. Carmela D' Amico & Steven D' Amico are the adapters of the series, while Larry Jacobs is the director. Executive producers includes Michael Hirsh, Toper Taylor, and John Vandervelde for DHX Cookie Jar Inc., Sander Schwartz and Alyssa Cooper Sapire for FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment and Patricia Ellingson for TVOKids. Other staff for the series includes Jonah Stroh as producer and Brad Birch as executive story editor. Development for the series started in 2012. On February 7, 2012, Chris Arrant, news editor of Cartoon Brew, announced that the series entered production. Toper Taylor, president and COO of Cookie Jar was pleasantly thrilled for the production of Ella the Elephant and said: "Ella is a magical property about an ever ebullient, optimistic, responsible, compassionate little elephant whose kindred spirit will delight our preschool audience." "We are thrilled to be working with both Disney and Fremantle on the series' global launch." Sander Schwartz, President, Kids & Family Entertainment, FME, said "We are very pleased to be partnered with Cookie Jar on what we believe will be a hugely successful series. Bringing these wonderful books to life is a labour of love for everyone working on this stunning series".
Characters
Main characters
Ella is the main character and a young elephant with a red magic hat that she says her grandma gave to her in the theme song. Ella is a problem-solver who is nice and kind to all her friends. Her magic hat transforms into different items depending on what she needs it for.
Belinda is an elephant who is lucky enough to have Elephant Island's mayor for her father, as well as a friend to Ella. Belinda loves to dance and is a total diva.
Tiki is a smart female elephant who loves reading books and riding her bike. She has a pet monkey named Lola.
Frankie is a friend of Ella's who is a young elephant as well and is the only male of the group. Frankie's catchphrase is "Great Wolly Mammoth!"
Recurring characters
Lola is a pet monkey who is owned by Tiki.
Mrs. Briggs is Ella, Belinda, Frankie, Tiki, Ada, and Ida's teacher who likes interpretive dancing.
Ada and Ida are twin elephants who sometimes say things at the same time. When they do, they high-five and say "Jinx!" followed by a giggle. Ada and Ida are a little hard to tell apart, but they both love to sing.
Captain Kelp is an elephant who works in a lighthouse.
Mrs. Gray is Ella's mother who is a baker.
Captain Seamus Grey is Ella's father who is captain of the sea.
Mrs. Harriet Melba is Frankie's mother who owns a bakery.
Mr. Mercer is an elephant who sells lots of items. Ella and her friends visit him often. He can be grumpy sometimes.
Georgie is a little elephant who is Frankie's little brother.
Mayor Jeremiah Blue is an elephant who is Belinda's father. The mayor of Elephant Island.
Grandma Grey is an elephant who is Ella's grandma and the original owner of the magic hat. She appeared in the episode "Grandma's Visit".
Old Lady is a lady elephant with an unknown name who appeared in the episode "Hello Dolly", where Frankie accidentally sold Ella's doll to the lady.
Jasper is a little mouse who causes trouble with Ella and her friends.
E.L. Weathers is an elephant who writes books. She appeared in the episode "Tiki's Quest".
Mrs. Everheart is an elephant who is a librarian. She also appeared in the episode "Tiki's Quest".
Mrs. Potter is an elephant who carves pumpkins in Halloween time. She appeared in the episode "Frankie's Perfect Pumpkin".
Sammy is an elephant who does newspaper deliveries in Elephant Island. He appeared in the episode "Ella's Special Delivery".
Mikey in an elephant who helps Sammy do newspaper deliveries. He also appeared in the episode "Ella's Special Delivery".
Caretaker is an elephant who operates the museum. He appeared in the episode "Jurassic Sleepover".
Mayor's Assistant is an elephant who helps Belinda's dad. She appeared in the episode "Mayor Belinda".
Mrs. Brim is an elephant who works at a hat store. She appeared in the episode "Ella's Haywire Hat".
Max von Mastodon is an elephant who is a famous filmmaker. He appeared in the episode "Lights, Camera, Ella".
Episodes
All episodes were directed by Larry Jacobs.
Episode #
Title
Directed by
Written by
TVOKids air date
Disney Junior air date
Prod. code
Distribution
Broadcast
Ella the Elephant premiered on TVOKids, Knowledge Kids and Tele-Quebec in Canada on September 2, 2013. The series premiered on Disney Channel and Disney Junior in the United States on February 17, 2014. Other broadcasters includes Tiny Pop in the UK, ABC 4 Kids in Australia and RTÉjr in Ireland. Since June 23, 2014, Disney Junior started airing the show. TiJi, Clan, MiniMini+ and MTV3 Juniori had recently acquired the show and will add it to their lineup in 2014.
DHX Media and FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment have appointed Jazwares Inc. as the global master toy partner on preschool property Ella the Elephant for the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Latin America, Middle East, Australia, Spain and Norway. The deal will enable Jazwares to launch worldwide Plush, Dolls Figures and Play Sets, Vehicles, Role Play and Musical Instruments, based on the animated preschool series about an adventurous elephant and her magic hat. In December 2014, it was announced that DHX Brands and Penguin Young Readers were developing a series of books based on the series, which were released in late 2015.
Critical reception
rated the show 4 stars out of 5, with the review stating that "Strong messages of friendship and kindness are central to each story, and the young characters use their imaginations to solve the little troubles they and their neighbors face.".
