Clifford's Puppy Days is an animated children's television series that originally aired on PBS Kids from September 1, 2003[2] to February 25, 2006.[3] The prequel to the 2000–2003 series Clifford the Big Red Dog, it features the adventures of Clifford during his puppy days before he became a big red dog and before moving to Birdwell Island.[4]
| Clifford's Puppy Days | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Children's |
| Created by | Norman Bridwell (characters) |
| Based on | |
| Directed by | Bob Doucette (Season 1) Joey Ahlbum (Season 2) |
| Voices of | Lara Jill Miller Grey DeLisle Cam Clarke Kath Soucie Masiela Lusha Orlando Brown LaTonya Holmes Ogie Banks Jess Harnell Lauren Tom Henry Winkler Candi Milo |
| Theme music composer | Jared Faber Emily Kapnek[1] |
| Opening theme | "Love Makes Little Things Grow" performed by Freedom Bremner |
| Ending theme | "Love Makes Little Things Grow" (Instrumental) |
| Composer | Jared Faber[1] |
| Country of origin | United States United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 39 (78 segments) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Production companies | Scholastic Entertainment Mike Young Productions (Season 1 only) Animation services: Sunwoo Entertainment (Season 1 only) Yeson Animation Studios |
| Original release | |
| Network | PBS Kids |
| Release | September 1, 2003 – February 25, 2006 |
| Related | |
| |
The series ended in February 2006 after two seasons and 39 episodes. Since then, occasional reruns continued to air, typically on holidays until April 2022.
In the United Kingdom, the series aired on CBeebies until early 2011 and like the original series, the prequel was dubbed with British voice actors, replacing the original American soundtrack.
The show featured Henry Winkler as the voice of Norville. For his role as Norville, Winkler was nominated for 2 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for his work on the series, one of which he won in 2005.[5]
Premise
editSet two years before the events of Clifford the Big Red Dog, the series focuses on when Clifford was a tiny red puppy. Clifford was the runt in a litter of puppies born to the pet dog of Emily Elizabeth's neighbor, Mr. Bradley (who appeared in an episode of the previous cartoon series, "Little Clifford"). He was adopted by Emily Elizabeth before he grew up into a giant red adult dog, forcing the Howard family to move out of their small apartment so Clifford would be able to live comfortably. The series shows Clifford and Emily Elizabeth's life and friends before they moved from the city to Birdwell Island.[4]
Format
editThe series followed the same format as its predecessor, Clifford the Big Red Dog.
- The opening theme is followed by one central story, which is sometimes about Clifford and his friends.
- Storytime with Speckle – Between the first and second story, Emily Elizabeth reads Clifford a Speckle Story, a short 60-second (approximately) time filler about a fictional dog (Speckle) and his animal friends Darnell, Reba, Ravi, and Luna.
- This is followed by another central story, sometimes about Emily Elizabeth and her friends.
- Clifford's Idea to Grow On – Before the credits, another 30-second short takes place called Clifford's Idea to Grow On. The short is basically an animation of an etiquette, a proverb, or basic truth such as "Play Fair", "Help Others", etc., with narration by Emily Elizabeth. This short was called Clifford's Big Idea in the previous series.
- Live action segments with real kids and their dogs.
Like the original series, on UK airings, only one story is shown, with either the Storytime with Speckle or the Clifford's Idea to Grow On segments at the end, shortening the show to about 15 minutes.
Characters
editHumans
edit- Emily Elizabeth Howard (voiced by Grey DeLisle in the US version and Joanna Ruiz in the British version) is the 6-year-old owner of Clifford and Daffodil.
- Nina Flores (voiced by Masiela Lusha in the US version and Julie Anne Dean in the British version) – owner of Jorge.
- Evan Thomas Taylor (voiced by Orlando Brown) is a boy who looks a few years older than Emily Elizabeth.
- Shun (voiced by Lauren Tom in the US version and Ben Small in the British version) is a young Japanese-American boy.
- Mr. Solomon (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) is a writer who uses a wheelchair. Flo and Zo are his two pet kittens. In the episodes "The Big, Big Present/Hanukkah Plunder Blunder" it's revealed that he and his pet kittens are Jewish.
- Mrs. Z (voiced by Russi Taylor) is an elderly Italian woman who was once in the circus and the owner of Tricksie.
- Jenny (voiced by Dionne Quan) is a blind girl and owner of Bebe.
- Vanessa (voiced by LaTonya Holmes) is a girl who first appears in the first season episode Keeping Cool. She also appeared in the second season episode Celebrating Spring.
- Caroline (voiced by Grey DeLisle) and Mark Howard (voiced by Cam Clarke) are Emily Elizabeth's parents.
Animals
edit- Clifford (voiced by Lara Jill Miller in the US version and Lizzie Waterworth in the British version) is a red puppy. His owner is Emily Elizabeth Howard; he is also the younger adoptive brother of Daffodil.
- Daffodil (voiced by Kath Soucie) is a Holland Lop. In the first half of the series she was originally pink, but her fur was changed to white in the second half; she is also the older adoptive sister of Clifford.
- Flo (voiced by LaTonya Holmes) and Zo (voiced by Ogie Banks) are brother and sister kittens owned by Mr. Solomon. They and their owner are Jewish.
- The Sidarskis are a family of mice who live in the laundromat. They have five children: Lucy, Lewis, Sophie and Sid, and a newly-born child.
- Jorge (US)/George (UK) (voiced by Jess Harnell; Benjamin Small in the British version) is a brown dachshund owned by Nina.
- Bebe (voiced by Jill Talley) is a Golden Retriever Seeing-eye dog owned by Jenny.
- Tricksie (voiced by Russi Taylor) is an elderly dog who once performed in the circus with Mrs. Z.
- Norville (voiced by Henry Winkler; Tom Eastwood in the British version) is a blue jay who lives on his own.
- Chereath (voiced by LaTonya Holmes) is a golden retriever puppy in the episode Your Secret Valentine as her only appearance.
- Teacup (voiced by Lucy Liu) is an adult—albeit "miniature"—poodle who has spent most of her life in the pound, as shown in her only appearance in the episode "Adopt a Pup." She eventually gets adopted by an elderly woman who had always wanted a dog, but never had enough room in her apartment for a normal-sized one.
- Bobby (voiced by Philip Hayes) is a giant terrier puppy.
- Jack (voiced by Tara Strong) is a competitive puppy who is featured in a sandcastle contest that he competes against Clifford and Jorge.
Episodes
editEach half-hour episode was divided into 2 stories.[6]
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 25 | September 1, 2003 | February 19, 2005 | |
| 2 | 14 | September 12, 2005 | February 25, 2006 | |
Season 1 (2003–2005)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboard by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 101 | "Keeping Cool" | Bob Doucette | Frederick Stroppel Suzanne Collins | Dan Kuenster Jeff Gordon | September 1, 2003 |
| "Socks & Snooze" | ||||||
| 2 | 102 | "The Monster in 3B" | Bob Doucette | Suzanne Collins Barry "Baz" Hawkins | Cynthia Petrovic Curtis Cim | September 1, 2003 |
| "Cat-tastrophe" | ||||||
| 3 | 103 | "Jorge and the Dog Run" | Bob Doucette | Jeff Borkin James Ponti | Dave Cunningham and Dan Kuenster Cynthia Petrovic | September 17, 2003 |
| "Clifford's Clubhouse" | ||||||
| 4 | 104 | "Paw Print Picasso" | Bob Doucette | Tish Rabe Peter Bakalian | Michael Kim Anna Burns | October 15, 2003 |
| "Hup Hup" | ||||||
| 5 | 105 | "Sock It to Me" | Bob Doucette | Dev Ross Alan Goodman | Lenord Robinson Curt Walstead | October 1, 2003 |
| "My Toy" | ||||||
| 6 | 106 | "Friends of All Ages" | Bob Doucette | Dev Ross Tish Rabe | Dan Kuenster Tim George | October 8, 2003 |
| "Clifford's Super Sleepover" | ||||||
| 7 | 107 | "Clifford's Field Trip" | Bob Doucette | Sindy McKay Dev Ross | Kevin Frank Tim George | December 10, 2003 |
| "Helping Paws" | ||||||
| 8 | 108 | "Nina's Perfect Party" | Bob Doucette | Frederick Stroppel Jeff Borkin | Lenord Robinson Byron Vaughns | December 17, 2003 |
| "Just the Right Size" | ||||||
| 9 | 109 | "Something Special" | Bob Doucette | James Ponti Tish Rabe | Roy Meurin Gloria Jenkins | October 29, 2003 |
| "Shun Gets in the Game" | ||||||
| 10 | 110 | "Clifford's Winter Spirit" | Bob Doucette | Jeff Borkin Frederick Stroppel | Holly Boruck Trevor Wall | November 5, 2003 |
| "Flo-Motion" | ||||||
| 11 | 111 | "No Small Parts" | Bob Doucette | Jeff Borkin Peter Bakalian | Stephen Sandoval Kevin Frank | February 16, 2004 |
| "Fine Feather Friend" | ||||||
| 12 | 112 | "Sing-a-Song Norville" | Bob Doucette | Barry "Baz" Hawkins Sindy McKay | Byron Vaughns Tim George | February 17, 2004 |
| "Tell Me a Tale" | ||||||
| 13 | 113 | "Hoop Dreams" | Bob Doucette | Frederick Stroppel Dev Ross | Roy Meurin Gloria Jenkins | February 18, 2004 |
| "Doggie Duds" | ||||||
| 14 | 114 | "Best Nest" | Bob Doucette | Dennis Haley and Marcy Brown James Ponti | Trevor Wall Ralph Zondag | February 19, 2004 |
| "Practice Makes Perfect" | ||||||
| 15 | 115 | "Your Secret Valentine" | Bob Doucette | Barry "Baz" Hawkins James Ponti | Ken Laramay Gloria Jenkins | February 20, 2004 |
| "Perfect Pet" | ||||||
| 16 | 116 | "My Blanky" | Bob Doucette | Peter Bakalian Barry "Baz" Hawkins | John Howley Stephen Sandoval and Jeff Gordon | September 5, 2004 |
| "With Friends Like You" | ||||||
| 17 | 117 | "Time Out" | Bob Doucette | Dennis Haley and Marcy Brown Alan Goodman | Rafael Rosaro Tim George | September 8, 2004 |
| "Sniff, Sniff" | ||||||
| 18 | 118 | "A Promise Is a Promise" | Bob Doucette | Sindy McKay Tish Rabe | Roy Meurin Gloria Jenkins | September 12, 2004 |
| "Share and Share Alike" | ||||||
| 19 | 119 | "Fall Feast" | Bob Doucette | Barry "Baz" Hawkins Jeff Borkin | Trevor Wall Diane Kredensor | September 15, 2004 |
| "Norville's New Game" | ||||||
| 20 | 120 | "Oh, Brother" | Bob Doucette | Sindy McKay Dev Ross | Kathy Carr John Howley | September 19, 2004 |
| "Up, Up, & Oops!" | ||||||
| 21 | 121 | "Moving On" | Bob Doucette | Frederick Stroppel James Ponti | Kevin Frank Tim George | September 22, 2004 |
| "Fair Is Fair" | ||||||
| 22 | 122 | "Grooming Gloom" | Bob Doucette | Sindy McKay Alan Goodman | Roy Meurin Gloria Jenkins | September 26, 2004 |
| "The Letter" | ||||||
| 23 | 123 | "Adopt-a-Pup" | Bob Doucette | Suzanne Collins Barry "Baz" Hawkins | Diane Kredensor Kathy Carr | February 15, 2005 |
| "Jokes on You" | ||||||
| 24 | 124 | "Lights, Camera, Action" | Bob Doucette | James Ponti Deborah Forte and Frederick Stroppel | John Howley Dan Kuenster and Tim George | February 16, 2005 |
| "Basketball Babysitter" | ||||||
| 25 | 125 | "The Halloween Bandit" | Bob Doucette | Peter Bakalian Dennis Haley and Marcy Brown | Diane Kredensor Roy Meurin | February 17, 2005 |
| "An Honest Spin" | ||||||
Specials (2004–2005)
edit| No. | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | "Smooches & Pooches" | February 9, 2004 | |
|
One-hour Valentine's special that includes three stories from Clifford the Big Red Dog ("Clifford's Big Heart," "Big Hearted T-Bone" and "Cleo's Valentine Surprise") and one story from Clifford's Puppy Days ("Your Secret Valentine").[7] | |||
| — | "Clifford's Heart-y Party" | February 14, 2005 | |
|
One-hour Valentine's Special that includes two stories from Clifford the Big Red Dog ("T-Bone, Dog About Town" and "Mimi's Back in Town") and from Clifford's Puppy Days ("Valentines Schmalentines" and "Sweetheart's Dance"). | |||
Season 2 (2005–2006)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboard by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 201 | "Small Packages" | Joey Ahlbum | Frederick Stroppel Sindy McKay | Scott Cooper and Jason McDonald Jennifer Batinich and Mike Wisniewski | September 12, 2005 |
| "Clifford's Magic Lamp" | ||||||
| 27 | 202 | "Finders Keepers" | Joey Ahlbum | Peter Bakalian | Jennifer Batinich and Mike Wisniewski Scott Cooper and Frank Detrano | September 13, 2005 |
| "You're Famous" | ||||||
| 28 | 203 | "Puppy Dog Power" | Joey Ahlbum | Dev Ross Sindy McKay | Jennifer Batinich and Mike Wisniewski Scott Cooper | September 14, 2005 |
| "Extra! Extra!" | ||||||
| 29 | 204 | "Sandcastle Hassle" | Joey Ahlbum | Jeff Borkin Suzanne Collins | Jennifer Batinich and Mike Wisniewski Scott Cooper and Frank Detrano | September 15, 2005 |
| "School Daze" | ||||||
| 30 | 205 | "Celebrating Spring" | Joey Ahlbum | Dennis Haley and Marcy Brown Dev Ross | Mike Wisniewski and Frank Detrano Jennifer Batinich and Scott Cooper | September 16, 2005 |
| "Garden Delights" | ||||||
| 31 | 206 | "Clifford the Scary Puppy" | Joey Ahlbum | Frederick Stroppel James Ponti | Mike Wisniewski and Frank Detrano Mike Wisniewski, Jennifer Batinich and Frank Detrano | October 26, 2005 |
| "Things That Go Bump" | ||||||
| 32 | 207 | "The Big, Big Present" | Joey Ahlbum | Dev Ross Baz Hawkins | Dan Haskett and Frank Detrano Jennifer Batinich and Scott Cooper | December 21, 2005 |
| "Hanukah Plunder Blunder" | ||||||
| 33 | 214 | "Valentines Schmalentines" | Joey Ahlbum | Jeff Borkin James Ponti | Mike Wisniewski, Ian Freedman and Frank Detrano Jennifer Batinich and Scott Cooper | February 14, 2006 |
| "Sweetheart's Dance" | ||||||
| 34 | 208 | "The Big Surprise" | Joey Ahlbum | Frederick Stroppel Baz Hawkins | John Holmquist Jennifer Batinich and Scott Cooper | February 15, 2006 |
| "Be My Guest" | ||||||
| 35 | 210 | "Clifford's Little Friend" | Joey Ahlbum | Frederick Stroppel Sindy McKay | Mike Wisniewski and Frank Detrano Jennifer Batinich and Scott Cooper | February 16, 2006 |
| "Tricky Business" | ||||||
| 36 | 209 | "But I Really, Really Saw It!" | Joey Ahlbum | Peter Bakalian Dennis Haley and Marcy Brown | Mike Wisniewski and Frank Detrano Jennifer Batinich and Scott Cooper | February 17, 2006 |
| "The Perfect Pancake" | ||||||
| 37 | 211 | "Show and Tell" | Joey Ahlbum | Peter Bakalian Dennis Haley and Marcy Brown | Ian Freedman and Frank Detrano Mike Wisniewski, Jennifer Batinich and Scott Cooper | February 20, 2006 |
| "What a Story" | ||||||
| 38 | 212 | "Lost and Found" | Joey Ahlbum | Dev Ross Dennis Haley and Marcy Brown | Ian Freedman and Frank Detrano Jennifer Batinich and Scott Cooper | February 22, 2006 |
| "Basketball Blunders" | ||||||
| 39 | 213 | "Heroes and Friends" | Joey Ahlbum | Sindy McKay Frederick Stroppel | Dan Haskett and Frank Detrano Jennifer Batinich and Scott Cooper | February 25, 2006 |
| "The Cookie Crumbles" | ||||||
Opening theme
editThe opening theme, "Love Makes Little Things Grow", was composed by Jared Faber and Emily Kapnek (creator of Nickelodeon's As Told by Ginger) and performed by Freedom Bremner.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Clifford's Puppy Days™ Theme Song". PBS Kids. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ^ "Award-Winning PBS KIDS® Launches New Programming This Fall 2003". Public Broadcasting Service. July 12, 2003. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Clifford's Puppy Days Volume 3". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ a b Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 203–204. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 128–129. ISBN 978-1538103739.
- ^ "Clifford's Puppy Days Episodes". PBS Kids. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ "Clifford's Valentine's Day Special: Smooches & Pooches". Idaho Public Television. Retrieved August 27, 2019.[permanent dead link]
External links
edit- Clifford's Puppy Days at IMDb
- Clifford's Puppy Days at TV Guide
- "Clifford's Puppy Days". PBS Kids. Archived from the original on December 22, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2005.
- Clifford's Puppy Days at Rotten Tomatoes