The Adventures of Figaro Pho

Figaro Pho, a boy with every known phobia, is terrified of practically everything in the town of Cogsville. His only companion is Rivet, a cheerful mechanical dog who protects him from danger. The Australian children's animated series, produced by Chocolate Liberation Front, tells its stories with almost no spoken words or on-screen text, relying instead on physical comedy, music, and sound effects. A sequel series, Figaro Pho: The New Adventures, followed in 2014.

The show’s main character has a slim body, a large bald head with a single curl, and a long neck. Recurring townspeople include Juliet, Figaro’s nine-year-old neighbor and crush; Prudence, an eight-year-old obsessed with Figaro; Ronald, a chubby boy with a runny nose; Cornelius the mailman, who is often injured delivering to Figaro; Dotty, an elderly woman working various jobs; and Boris, Figaro’s smelly gardener.

2009 version

The original series, subtitled Fun, Fears and Foul Odours, consisted of 26 episodes, with titles like "Fear of Fish," "Fear of Clowns," and "Fear of Everything." The sequel series includes episodes such as "Figaro on Ice," "Zombie Pho," and "Camp Fear." An earlier 2009 version featured twenty-six short episodes, each covering a phobia starting with a different letter of the alphabet.

Creation

Creator and director Luke Jurevicius, who also voices Figaro and composed much of the music, drew on his own fears and phobias. The original shorts were commissioned by the South Australian Film Corporation and the ABC’s New Media and Digital Services division.

After their success, ABC Kids ordered thirty-nine episodes for ABC3. For the second series, Chocolate Liberation Front partnered with Luma Toons, a branch of the visual effects studio Luma Pictures, to produce another thirty-nine episodes entirely in Australia. The sequel began airing in August 2014.

Reception

The series has been praised for its humor, music, and animation, drawing comparisons to Tim Burton’s work. It won several international awards, including Best Children’s Program at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards, the Asian Television Awards, and Kidscreen New York in 2013, as well as awards for writing, digital effects, animation, and post-production.