Cybergirl

Did You Know?

• Cybergirl was released on DVD on 4 December 2006 as CyberGirl: The Superhero for a New Generation – The Complete Series.
• The DVD set includes making of/behind-the-scenes featurettes created from a period Electronic Press Kit.
• The packaging makes frequent references to the fact that the series features before they were famous appearances by The Veronicas.

Plot

Cybergirl is the superhero identity of Ashley Campbell, a seemingly ordinary teenage girl who is actually a Human Prototype 6000 from another planet. Her true form, known as Cybergirl, has blue hair and an ethereal appearance, while her secret identity Ashley has mousy hair. She can switch between these forms and change her clothing at will. Her abilities include superhuman strength, superhuman speed, and the power to directly interface with computers and electronic devices. Originally called the Cyber Replicant Human Prototype 6000, she is the only model of her kind ever built. She possesses far greater powers and a much broader emotional range than earlier models. She fled her home planet to study humans, the beings she was designed to imitate. Two evil red replicants, Isaac and Xanda, are sent to destroy her. She arrives on Earth in the fictional city of River City, Australia, which is modeled on and filmed in Brisbane. There she meets Jackson and Hugh Campbell, who take her in. She adopts the name Cybergirl as her superheroine identity. Jackson calls her Cy, and she later uses her powers to appear more human, creating the identity of Ashley, who poses as Jackson's cousin and Hugh's niece. Only Hugh, Jackson, and her friend and neighbor Kat know her true nature. Besides Isaac and Xanda, she is also pursued by a powerful software mogul named Rhyss. The people of River City love her, and Mayor Buxton approves of her. His twin daughters, Emerald and Sapphire, are huge fans of Cybergirl, though they ironically snub her at school when she is in her Ashley form.

Reception

The first episode 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. In a negative review, Vicki Englund of The Courier-Mail wrote that after a disappointingly slow debut episode, the series seemed to be gathering momentum, though some quickening of the pace would still be advisable. The Courier-Mail's Amelia Oberhardt praised the show, stating that Cybergirl is surprisingly an entertaining way to spend 30 minutes and that Ania Stephen is either one of the most wooden actors of all time or a genius at playing spoofs. Leanne Younes of the Canberra Times gave it a rating of fast action, great make-up and cool music.