The Odyssey (1992 - 1995 TV series)
A Canadian children's fantasy series about a boy in a coma.
The Odyssey is a Canadian half-hour adventure fantasy television series for children, originally broadcast from 1992 to 1994 on CBC Television. The series follows 11-year-old Jay Ziegler, who after a fall lapses into a coma and finds himself in a fantasy world called Downworld, where no one reaches age 16. The show explores his quest to return home and find his missing father, while his family and friends work to bring him back to consciousness.
- Field
- Television
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Known for
- Children's adventure fantasy series set in a coma-induced fantasy world
- Broadcast years
- 1992–1994
- Episodes
- 39
- Network
- CBC Television
Lore & Background
The series was created by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton and produced in Vancouver by Water Street Pictures. Over three years of production, 39 episodes were made. The pilot episode originally aired in Canada on March 9, 1992, as The Jellybean Odyssey. The show was broadcast internationally, including on Network 2 in Ireland, the Sci-Fi Channel in the U.S., Nickelodeon and Channel 4 in the UK, M6 and France 3 in France, and ATV World in Hong Kong. The first 26 episodes aired in French on Radio-Canada during the 1994–95 season under the title L'odyssée fantastique.
Reader's Guide
The Odyssey is significant as a Canadian children's television series that blended adventure fantasy with themes of loss, friendship, and recovery. Its premise—a boy in a coma navigating a fantasy world where children rule—offered a unique narrative for young audiences. The show received critical recognition, including a Top Ten World Program award at the Cologne Conference and a Canadian Gemini for Best Youth Program. Despite its cancellation after three seasons due to decreased viewership, leaving cliffhangers in both the Upworld and Downworld, the series has maintained a cult following. It was later released on DVD in limited quantities and made available for digital purchase and streaming. A potential reboot was announced in June 2016 by Marblemedia and Omnifilm Entertainment, with showrunners Simon Racioppa and Richard Elliott attached.
Did You Know?
- The series pilot originally aired on March 9, 1992, as The Jellybean Odyssey.
- The show was cancelled after three seasons due to decreased viewership, ending with cliffhangers in both the Upworld and Downworld.
- Ryan Reynolds appears in a recurring role as Macro/Lee.
- The series won a Canadian Gemini for Best Youth Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Odyssey (1992–1995 TV series)?
It is a Canadian half-hour fantasy-adventure series made for young viewers, originally aired on CBC Television from 1992 through 1994. The show centers on a boy who, after a fall, becomes trapped in a magical realm while his body lies in a coma.
What is Downworld in The Odyssey?
Downworld is the fantasy realm the protagonist stumbles into after losing consciousness. It operates under a strange rule: no resident ever grows beyond the age of sixteen.
Who is the main character of The Odyssey?
Jay Ziegler, an eleven-year-old boy whose fall sends him into a coma and, within that coma, into the adventure-filled world of Downworld. His driving goals are to find a path back home and to locate his missing father.
How many episodes does The Odyssey have and where did it air?
The series consists of 39 half-hour episodes that were broadcast on Canada's CBC Television network. It ran during the 1992-to-1994 period.
What is the central conflict in The Odyssey?
Jay must navigate the rules and dangers of Downworld to escape and reunite with his absent father, while back in the waking world his family and friends race to pull him out of his coma.
More in Canadian children's fantasy television series 1-21
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