Cybergirl
A blue superheroine from a distant planet protects River City.
Cybergirl is a children's television series co-produced in Australia and Canada, airing its first episode in 2001 on Network Ten in Australia. The show, which runs for 52 episodes (two seasons of 26 episodes each), was created by Jonathan M. Shiff, known for his earlier series Ocean Girl. Ania Stepien plays the lead role.
The plot follows a blue-skinned superheroine called Cybergirl, who is actually a "Human Prototype 6000" from another planet. She lives on Earth under the secret identity of Ashley Campbell, an ordinary teenage girl. Her abilities include superhuman strength and speed, as well as the power to connect directly with computers and electronics. She can also change her appearance between the ethereal, blue-haired Cybergirl and the more plain, mousy-haired Ashley, and can alter her clothing at will. Originally designated the Cyber Replicant Human Prototype 6000, she is the only model of her kind, possessing greater powers and a wider emotional range than earlier versions. She fled her home planet to study humans.
Two evil red replicants, Isaac and Xanda, are sent to destroy her. She lands in the fictional Australian city of River City (filmed in Brisbane, a city also nicknamed "River City"). There, she is taken in by Jackson and Hugh Campbell, adopting the superhero name Cybergirl. Jackson calls her "Cy." She uses her powers to create a more human appearance, posing as Jackson's cousin and Hugh's niece under the name Ashley. Only Kat, her friend and neighbor, also knows her true identity. Besides Isaac and Xanda, she is pursued by a powerful software mogul named Rhyss. The people of River City love her, and Mayor Buxton approves of her, though the mayor's twin daughters, Emerald and Sapphire, are big fans of Cybergirl but snub her as Ashley at school.
The main cast includes Ania Stepien as Ashley Campbell/Cybergirl, Craig Horner as Jackson Campbell, Mark Owen-Taylor as Hugh Campbell, Jennifer Congram as Xanda, Ric Anderson as Isaac, Septimus Caton as Rhyss, Winston Cooper as Giorgio, Peter Mochrie as Rick Fontaine, and Jovita Shaw as Kat Fontaine. Recurring roles feature Christine Amor as Mayor Burdette Buxton, David Vallon as Romirez, Michelle Atkinson as Anthea, Jessica and Lisa Origliasso as Emerald and Sapphire Buxton, and Tony Hawkins as McMurtrie.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Science fiction
- Cyberpunk
- Superhero fiction
- Creator
- Jonathan M. Shiff
- Director
- Mark Defriest; Michael Carson
- Composer
- Garry McDonald; Lawrence Stone
- Country
- Australia; France
- Language
- English
- Series
- 1
- Episodes
- 26
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cybergirl is a Blue superheroine Human Prototype 6000 living under the secret identity of ordinary teenage girl Ashley Campbell. In reality, she is a 'Human Prototype 6000' from a distant planet. Her powers include super-human strength, super-human speed, and the ability to interface directly with electronic devices and computers; she can also physically change her appearance between that of the blue-haired, ethereal-looking Cybergirl and the less conspicuous, mousy-haired Ashley, and can alter her clothing at will. She was originally known as the Cyber Replicant Human Prototype 6000, the only one of her model to be built. She ran away from her planet of origin to explore humans.
Reader's Guide
Cybergill holds significance as a children's television series that won the 2001 AFI Award for Best Children's Television Series and was nominated for the 2002 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children's Program. Its debut episode earned critical recognition, though reception was mixed: Vicki Englund of The Courier-Mail gave a negative review, calling the debut slow, while Amelia Oberhardt of the same paper praised it as entertaining and possibly a spoof. Leanne Younes of the Canberra Times rated it positively, citing 'Fast action, great make-up and cool music.' The series was released on DVD on 4 December 2006 as 'CyberGirl: The Superhero for a New Generation – The Complete Series,' which included behind-the-scenes featurettes and noted appearances by The Veronicas before they were famous. The show's legacy includes its place in Australian children's television and its connection to Brisbane as the filming location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created the Cybergirl series?
The show was developed by Jonathan M. Shiff, an Australian writer-producer best known for his earlier series Ocean Girl. It was co-produced between Australia and France.
Who plays the lead role in Cybergirl?
Ania Stepien portrays both the superheroine and her secret teenage alter ego, Ashley Campbell, across the entire run of the show.
More in Australian science fiction television series
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