Poko is a little boy. Every day he plays in his bedroom, or out in his backyard. Poko, however, has a magic finger. When he says "Poko pippity pop!" he can draw objects, which then become real, by tracing in the air with his finger. Poko often encounters obstacles and gets cranky or upset, but then cheers up with the help of an unseen narrator.
Minus is Poko's pet dog. He is very playful, and often causes trouble. Minus is named for the sign minus. Although he can't always understand what is going on, he sometimes shows much more human-like behaviour, such as being able to walk on his hind feet, play soccer, or dance. He is named for his ability to erase Poko's creations from existence by using his nose like an eraser. His silly antics often cause Poko to laugh and say "Silly Minus!"
Mr. Murphy is Poko's stuffed toy monkey, who usually just sits around. He can sometimes be seen to have moved his hands, but is never seen actually moving.
Bibi is a young girl who is Poko's friend. She comes over sometimes to have a play date with Poko. Bibi can use her magic sticker book in a way that resembles Poko's ability, by opening the book to a sticker of an object and then making that object real. Bibi first appeared in the second season.
There are two segments in each episode. The first one is indoors, after Poko wakes up. The second is outdoors, in the garden. In both, Poko encounters a problem, but usually overcomes it after observing a smaller creature solving a similar problem. Also beneficial to children, the narrator helps Poko to name and understand his feelings, and find appropriate ways to deal with them: for example, on some occasions, when Poko has become angry at Minus, he has gone and given a blast on his tuba to release his frustration. Another common solution is for Poko to give Mr. Murphy a hug. In this way, the show suggests positive methods of dealing with problems. When this happens they usually sing..."hug a monkey...hug him tight...hug him till you feel alright". Poko does either that, or, if Mr. Murphy isn't available, Poko releases his frustration by doing a dance called "The Poko Polka". He also has choices to release his frustration. Either spend time alone on his swing, or shake his frustration out. In the second season, a new segment was added called "Poko's Playhouse", in which Poko Minus and Bibi perform for a stuffed toy audience on a "Grand Ole Opry" type play-stage, with children singing a background song.
Play sequence
There are two thirty-second shorts in each episode where Poko, Minus and Mr. Murphy play against a monocolour background. They may be swimming, surfing, riding an imaginary Roller coaster, or doing other activities or even dressing up like a ball
Mighty Murph
In the middle of each show in season one, Poko reads a Mighty Murph story. Each one is made using Macromedia Flash, in cartoon style, and involves a baby Mr. Murphy in some dilemma, such as being hungry, or having nowhere to play. He then imagines he is Mighty Murph, and flies around to find a solution to his problem. His search is fruitless, and he realizes the best place is just where he is, as his own self with his mother. The stories are told by the narrator.
