Tree Fu Tom (original) (raw)
Details
Character: Twigs
First Aired: 5th March 2012 – 26 x 22 minute episodes (CBeebies)
Production Company: CBeebies In House Production, Fremantle Media Enterprises
Writers: Daniel Bays, Douglas Wood, Ian Carney, Moya O'Shea, Allan Plenderleith, Corey Powell, Richard Preddy, John Loy, Sindy McKay
Producer: Daniel Bays
Series Director: Adam Shaw
Cast
Sophie Aldred – Tom, Puffy
David Tennant – Twigs
Tim Whitnall – Zigzoo, Squirmtum, Rickety McGlum
Samantha Dakin – Ariela
Sharon D Clarke - Treetog
Adam Henderson - Live Action Tom
Summary
Tom Powers (Sophie Aldred) is an ordinary 8-year old boy who gains extra-ordinary abilities with the help of a magic belt. Tom is able to transform into a superhero and enter the miniature world of Treetopolis where he meets magical friends and embarks on amazing adventures. With his sidekick Twigs (David Tennant), Tom must harness the mystical power of Tree Fu to create Big World Magic to save the day.
Through his adventures, Tom interacts with his young audience and encourages them to join in the physical movements of Tree Fu. Not only are there the health benefits associated with regular physical exercise, but the programme also hopes to help children with certain developmental difficulties to learn valuable movement skills at a crucial stage in their lives. The actions have been specially designed and approved by movement development specialists to particularly benefit young people with dyspraxia: an impairment of the organisation of movement that also may have an effect on speech and perception. It is thought that up to 10% of all children are affected in some way by dyspraxia.
Each programme also carries a message to the young audience as the characters learn a little about themselves and each other and the world around them in each episode.
Animated by Blue-Zoo Animation, Tree Fu Tom is said to be visually stunning, and also boasts a theme tune by top film and TV soundtrack composer Michael Plowman.
The programme is aimed at 4-6 year olds. It is expected to be distributed globally.
David Tennant’s character Twigs is described as a silly and energetic Acorn Sprite. Kay Benbow, the Controller of CBeebies said of him: “We are delighted to have David on board as part of the team. The physical energy in his performance works so well for animation and his sense of fun and cheeky humour will delight the older CBeebies audience.”
Series one was nominated for two 2012 Children's BAFTA awards in the Pre-School Animation and Interactive categories.
Episode Guide
Episode 1 May The Best Berry Win
With Ariela and the Mushas both deternined to win the Biggest Chuckleberry In Treetopolis contest, Tom calls on Zigzoo to help out after Ariela's prize berry has a mishap. Stink and Puffy hatch another scheme, Twigs takes a ride on a giant chuckleberry and Ariela learns that it is never right to cheat. The contest has a surprise winner (First shown 5th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 2 Squizzle Quest
Twigs is determined to show that he is as good at Squizzle as everybody else, but his flash move sends their squizzle into the garden of the spider Rickety McGlum. As the rest of the gang are scared of Rickety, who is supposed to be mean, Tom has to lead his friends on a mission though slime-spitting weeds and sticky webs to retrieve it, and has to turn to Big World Magic and a surprising new friend. The message is, of course, don't believe everything that you hear. (First shown 6th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 3 Zigzoo The Zero
When one of Zigzoo's inventions fails and he decides to quit inventing for good, Twigs tries to encourage him back by creating problems for him to solve. But Twigs causes more damage than he intended and the kingdom is put in danger. It is up to Tom to persuade Zigzoo to invent the solution to the disaster that Twigs has inadvertently created and to save Treetopolis. (First shown 7th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 4 So Long Greenhorns
Tom and Twigs swap Spell School for running Ariela's ranch. Tom, Twigs and Squirmtum soon realise just how much work Ariela does everyday as they struggle to feed the baby aphids and pack the berries and keep the livestock under control. However, Ariela is surprised to find out that Spell School isn't exactly the easy option that she thought. It is a lesson for everyone in appreciating the work that others do. (First shown 8th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 5 Hide And Squeak
A game of hide and seek turns into a near calamity when Squirmtum's fear of the dark gets the better of him. It's up to Tom and Big Magic to save his friends. (First shown 9th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 6 Wishful Thinking
Twigs finds a magic pebble among Treetogs books and uses it to pretend that he has mastered magic spells. When he comes clean the Mushas get hold of the pebble, and with a giant Twigs and a pair of cheeky monkeys to contend with Tom has to turn to the audience to help him with some Big World Magic to put things back to normal. (First shown 12th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 7 Zigzoo's Robot
Zigzoo builds a robot that causes more problems than it solves. Tom has to turn to Big World Magic to clear up the chaos while Zigzoo learns a lesson about not trying to do too many things at once, (First shown 13th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 8 With Friends Like These
When the others go off to play Squizzle when they are supposed to be helping Squirmtum, he goes off in a huff and falls in with Stink and Puffy. However, the Mushas are just using him to help them out in their latest plot to steal Treetog's spell books. Tom and the gang have to turn to Big World Magic to make Treetopolis safe again (First shown 14th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 9 Buzzworthy
Tom and friends are helping Ariela feed her hungry aphids with nectar, but when a swarm of bees move in and start helping themselves to her supplies, she finds it difficult to share. Listen out for a bonus David Tennant voice as one of the bees! (First shown 15th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 10 Winging It
Squirmtum is feeling left out when the others play a game of Flying Squizzle as he can't fly. His friends try to help him take to the air. But his excitement at finally flying leaves to dramatic rescues both above and below the ground. (First shown 16th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 11 Crystal Catastrophe
Tom and Twigs break Treetog's casting crystal leading to a race against time to find a replacement before all the magic runs out of Treetopolis. They take a journey underground to the Crystal Cavern, but before long their different strategies lead them to fall out and go off separately, putting the mission at risk. They have to learn to put together to get the better of the Mushas and save Squirmtum. To do so Tom and Twigs both need to try to accept that another person's way of doing something might be the better way. (First shown 19th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 12 Fungus Among Us
The Mushas trick Tom and Twigs into making a mess of Treetog's Castle. Tom has to use Big World Magic to clear up the slime and save his friends. (First shown 20th March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 13 The Big Ranch Rodeo
Ariela is trying to organise the Big Ranch Rodeo without any help from anyone. But soon everything is messed up, with a little help from the Mushas. Ariela has to learn that it is alright to accept help from others, while the others get to show off their action skills. (First shown 21st March 2012, CBeebies)
Episode 14 One For All
Tom leads his under-performing squizzle team on a quest to find the enchanted squizzle to help them play perfectly. They follow clues and overcome epic challenges on their journey to win help from the mysterious Squizzle Master. Tom and his friends must learn valuable lessons about teamwork to win through. (first shown Monday 3rd September, CBeebies)
Episode 15 Treefle Tom
Tom and his friends' greed for the tasty treefle treats growing all over Treetopolis for just one day leads to trouble. What starts as sharing descends to frenzied competition - can Tom overcome his own greed and get his competing friends to cooperate before disaster strikes? (First shown Tuesday 4th September, CBeebies)
Episode 16 The Great Journey
Tom and Twigs get a crash course in being ranchers as they have to lead an epic baby beetle drive on their own. With only their wits and a whistle to help them, Tom and Twigs must guide the unruly young beetles through the myriad challenges of the open branch road to reach the high pasture and the beetles parents. It will only be possible if they learn fast and if the audience helps Tom to create Big World Magic when they need it the most! (First shown Wednesday 5th September, CBeebies)
Episode 17 Not So Fast
Ariela's impatience causes trouble for Tom and Treetopolis! When Zigzoo creates an invention to help Ariela grow her crops super fast, everyone gets more than they bargained for. Tom must battle against all manner of giant planty problems to help his friends. As ever he needs help from the audience to create Big World Magic to save the day. (First shown Thursday 6th September, CBeebies)
Episode 18 Hovering Humblebugs
Tom's attempts to attain perfection cause problems for rare Treetopolis visitors: the humblebugs. Trying to impress Treetog spells disaster for Tom and his perfect plan becomes a race against time to literally pick up the pieces. The day can only be saved though with Big World Magic help from the audience. (First shown Friday 7th September, CBeebies)
Episode 19 Treasure Hunt
Treelings and Mushas are thrown together to compete in Treetopolis' annual treasure hunt, with disastrous results. For Tom, tracking down and solving magical clues in a race around Treetopolis is the least of his worries as he is paired with Stink who still seems set on causing mischief! Tom needs quick wits, all of his action skills, Big World Magic help from the audience and a lot of patience to win through! (First shown Monday 10th September, CBeebies)
Episode 20 Tom's Big Mess
It's the Annual Tidy Up in Treetopolis and Tom's careless cleaning efforts lead to disaster. With grey, polluted sap seeping everywhere - turning everyone it touches in to statues - and magic working backwards, Tom has to act quickly to save his friends and undo the damage he has unknowingly caused. The day can only be saved with help from the audience and some clever Big World Magic. (First shown Tuesday 11th September, CBeebies)
Episode 21 Sappy Day
Preparations for Sap Day in Treetopolis are thrown into turmoil as the Mushas decide to change the celebration to Stink Day, with stinky fungi that send the smeller to sleep. As his friends fall asleep one by one, it's up to Tom to solve the mystery of the magical sleep, put a stop to the Mushas' mischief and - with Big World Magic help from the audience - to save Sap Day! (First shown Wednesday 12th September, CBeebies)
Episode 22 Grubble Trouble
Tom and Twigs' friendship isn't the only thing threatened when Twigs gets a new pet called Grubbles. Impatient to play, Twigs casts a Hungry Tum spell on Grubbles to speed up feeding time and the problems for Tom begin to grow, literally! With Grubbles out of control, Tom needs lots of Big World Magic help from the audience to save the day. (First shown Thursday 13th September, CBeebies)
Episode 23 Rickety Rescue
When the impulsive behaviour of Tom and friends gets them into trouble it's up to Rickety, with his more thoughtful approach, to leap to the rescue! Rushing into a search for a lake of especially powerful sap, Tom needs Big World Magic help from the audience and a lesson or two from Rickety to save himself and his friends. (First shown Friday 14th September, CBeebies)
Pictures
Media
Tree Fu Tom Character Trailer from animators Blue-Zoo
Tree Fu Tom Launch Trailer from Blue-Zoo
Links
BBC Media Pack featuring interviews with the cast
BBC Press Release announcing the programme
BBC Press Release with casting details
Sophie Aldred interviewed by Doctor Who fansite Planet Gallifrey