Messy Goes to OKIDO

Lore & Background

The concept for Messy Goes to OKIDO was picked up by London-based CG studio Squint/Opera, which developed and re-imagined it as a 52-part children's show combining live action footage with 3D renderings of Messy, his friends, and the world of OKIDO. Each episode tackles a scientific topic, beginning with a question posed by Messy—such as why some things float and some things sink—and he travels to OKIDO to discover answers with help from his friends Zoe, Felix, and the science trio Zim, Zam, and Zoom.

Messy is a blue jerboa/bilby-like monster who lives underneath a bed and ventures out to learn new things. He loves eating socks (especially green ones) and sandwiches, and his excitement often lands him in trouble. Zoe is smart and sensible with a passion for gadgets, while Felix is inventive and always packs a rucksack. Zim is a yellow talking computer who knows science but struggles with practical tasks, Zam is a triangle-shaped engineer who loves fixing things and explosive experiments, and Zoom is a pink shape-shifting lab assistant who appears in every episode.

Other characters include Mayor Oki, who has his own TV show and a private jet; Lolly, who runs an ice-cream van and beach cafe; Geoffrey, the cafe owner who was once an actor; Snowden, a friendly monster from the snowy mountains; Fluff, a calm cloud; Stan Tall, the biggest robot; and Weatherbot, a weather-controlling robot. The series also produced an album titled Science Songs.

Reader's Guide

Messy Goes to OKIDO is significant as a children's educational series that integrates scientific inquiry into engaging storytelling. By combining live action with 3D animation, the show offers a visually distinctive approach to teaching young viewers about science, starting each episode with a question that drives the narrative. The series' distribution by HBO Max and Serious Kids in 2022 expanded its reach beyond its original BBC CBeebies audience.

The show's legacy lies in its ability to make science accessible and fun for preschoolers, using a cast of memorable characters with distinct personalities and abilities. The inclusion of a curious monster as the protagonist encourages children to ask questions and explore the world around them. With three series produced between 2015 and 2022, the show maintained consistent educational goals while evolving its content. Its adaptation from the OKIDO magazine further connects it to a broader educational brand focused on arts and science for children.

Did You Know?

• Zoom is pink in the series but blue in the magazine, and he can morph into any shape not bigger than his body.
• The series is distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide (now BBC Studios).