Blaze and the Monster Machines

Did You Know?

• The first five seasons each consist of 20 episodes.
• The series premiered on Nick Jr. in the United Kingdom and Ireland on March 6, 2015.
• On August 31, 2017, the first two seasons and the first half of the third season were added to the Noggin app.

Format

Each episode features Blaze and AJ solving problems, typically three per episode, with help from the audience. Blaze may transform into a different vehicle or artifact and often uses his special power "Blazing Speed," activated by shouting "Let's Blaze!" at the climax. In some episodes, they race against Crusher, who cheats using robot parts, but Blaze and AJ always overcome his traps and win. Not all episodes involve a proper race; some have Blaze competing for an item or helping a friend. Each episode includes two or three original songs performed off-screen by Blaze and AJ. Beginning in Season 2, many episodes alternate the main plot with a subplot featuring Crusher and Pickle, where Crusher's attempts backfire due to his own mistakes.

Characters

Blaze, voiced by Nolan North, is an orange-red monster truck based on the first generation Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. He is Axle City's number 1 racer and uses Blazing Speed. Over the series, he joins various teams: the Monster Machine World Championships in Season 1, the Axle City Fire Department in Season 2, becomes King of Animal Island in Season 3, joins the Axle City Police Department in Season 4, and the Renewable Energy Team in Season 7. In Season 5, he reveals his family: an unnamed mother and father, and a younger sister named Sparkle. His Blazing Speed engine powers both his speed and general driving. He has flame patterns on his tires and flame decals on his sides. As a superhero, he gains melting, strength, and flying powers.

Locations

Axle City is the main setting, home to Blaze, AJ, Gabby, and the Monster Machines. Notable locations include the Monster Dome, Mud Mountain, and a land of Medieval Monster Machines. Race events include Stuntmania, the Axle City Grand Prix, and the Race to the Top of the World. Other areas feature characters like the Great Sphinx, Pegwheel Pete, Bump Bumperman, Joe and Gus, Gasquatch, the Light Thief, the Litter Critter, and the Treat Thief. VelocityVille is a city inhabited by Race Cars, reached via Swoops. There, Blaze and friends transform into race cars, and AJ's racing suit gains white detailing on his helmet. Residents include Rally, Fender, Dash, Mark-Set-Go, Becky Checkerflag, and Speedrick. Events in VelocityVille include the Race to Eagle Rock, the Polar Derby, and the Hundred Mile Race.

Miniseries

Race Car Adventures is a set of six special episodes from Seasons 2 and 3, airing from May 30, 2016 to December 9, 2016. In these, Blaze and AJ visit VelocityVille, where Blaze transforms into a race car. The episodes feature STEM concepts related to race cars. The theme song is altered: it begins with Blaze's flame sticker, then shows him transforming into a race car in VelocityVille, with race car sound effects added. Wild Wheels is another set of six special episodes from Season 3, airing from May 29, 2017 to October 26, 2017. These episodes introduced a new animation style and take place on Animal Island, inhabited by talking animal trucks. Unlike other episodes, Wild Wheels episodes do not include STEM concepts; instead, they focus on animals and facts about their behavior. Blaze and his friends transform into animal-like forms to solve problems.