Tree Fu Tom
A magical world where movement creates spells.
Tree Fu Tom is a British live-action/CGI children's television series that aired on BBC channels in the UK and on Sprout and NBC in the USA. The show is set in a miniature magical countryside and village called Treetopolis, located atop a large tree in a British-type woodland, and features many anthropomorphised arthropod characters. It is notable for its integration of movement-based magic spells designed to aid child development, particularly for children with developmental coordination disorder.
Quick Facts
- Creator
- Daniel Bays
- Starring
- Adam Henderson
- Genre
- Adventure
- Producer
- Daniel Bays; Mark Bernard
- Executive producers
- Jackie Edwards
- Alison Stewart
- Bob Higgins
- Sander Schwartz
- Runtime
- 22–25 minutes
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Composer
- Michael Richard Plowman
Facts from the source article.
Premise
Each episode starts with Tom stepping outside, fastening a power belt, and dashing across his backyard toward a twisted tree in the forest, which is guarded by a magical shield. He uses the belt to perform Tree Fu moves, leaps upward, and shrinks down to the size of an insect as he zooms into the tree, arriving in Treetopolis. There, he is adept at local magic and frequently rescues his friends—Twigs, Squirmtum, Ariela, and Zigzoo—from tricky situations. The tree’s sap glows orange and serves as a magical liquid. Twice per episode, Tom speaks directly to the audience, asking them to perform special moves and say enchanted words to lend him power. This help appears as an orange glow that comes from offscreen and rushes to Tom, finishing his spell. These audience movements are especially helpful for kids with developmental coordination disorder. Treetopolis features hoverboards called leaf boards, a game named Squizzle, and plenty of cakes and snacks. At the end, Tom bids his friends farewell, flies out of the tree’s magic field, thanks the viewers, then runs back across his lawn and through his back door as the credits roll.
Purpose
The creators of Tree Fu Tom worked with the Dyspraxia Foundation to design the show's magic movements. Specialists Dr Sally Payne and Dr Lynda Foulder-Hughes helped shape these actions, which mirror exercises occupational therapists use to support child development. Since five percent of children have developmental coordination disorder, the show aims to encourage physical activity and movement in young viewers.
Characters
Tom, voiced by Sophie Aldred in the UK and Lucien Dodge in the US and portrayed in live-action by Adam Henderson, is the main character. He uses a magical belt to enter Treetopolis and cast spells with help from the 'big world'. He is kind, optimistic, and modest, often seeking friends' advice. His catchphrases include 'Time for Tree Fu!', 'Tree Fu Go!', 'Oh My Trees!', and 'Thanks for your help!'. Twigs, voiced by David Tennant in series 1–2 and Mark Bonnar in series 3–5, is a silly, energetic Scottish acorn sprite and Tom's sidekick. He has a frenemy relationship with Chezz and says 'I am a Genius', 'We're Doomed!', and 'Wowzers!'; he turns into an acorn when hiding. Zigzoo, voiced by Tim Whitnall in series 1–4 and David Holt in series 5 in the UK and Matt Hill in the US, is an eccentric tree frog inventor whose inventions often fail; he may have a crush on Ariela and says 'Oh Ribbety Roo'. Squirmtum, voiced by Tim Whitnall in series 1–4 and Duncan Wisbey in series 5 in the UK and Joe Ochman in the US, is a pill woodlouse miner of sap who can curl into a ball and roll fast; he wears a miner's helmet with a firefly named Flicker. Ariela, voiced by Samantha Dakin, is a feisty butterfly who runs the Branch Ranch, is competitive and impatient, and cares deeply for her ranch animals.
Episodes
Spells appearing in the series include Build-A-Wall, Mega Attractor, Grow Grow Grow, Super Powers Go, Super Shrinko, Blow-A-Bubble, Power Lasso, Super Squeeze, Super Lifto, Chompa Chompa Chew, Magic Go Back, Super Net Go, Blow Blow Blow, Go Slow, Lifting Wind, Water To Jelly, Helping Hand, Fireflies Unite, Super Speed, Super Clean Go, Dizzy Wind, Giant Shield, Mega Mover, Super Freeze, Super Squeeze, Giant Shield, Protecto Tunnel, Super Lifto, Helping Hand, Super Shrinko, Mega Power Boost, Super Pull, Mega Push, Magic Stop, Blow Blow Blow, Super Roll, Build-A-Bridge, Power Smash, Grow Grow Grow, Super Powers Go, Super Arrow, and Super Net Go. Episode 1, 'May the Best Berry Win', involves a Biggest Chuckleberry contest and uses Build-A-Wall and Mega Attractor. Episode 2, 'Squizzle Quest', features a squizzle falling into Rickety McGlum's Yard after a mega triple wing throw; spells are Grow Grow Grow and Super Powers Go. Episode 3, 'Zigzoo the Zero', has Zigzoo tired of failed inventions; spells are Super Shrinko and Grow Grow Grow. Episode 4, 'So Long Greenhorns', swaps Tom and Twigs with Ariela's ranch; spells are Blow-A-Bubble and Power Lasso. Episode 5, 'Hide and Squeak', involves hide and seek and Squirmtum overcoming fear of the dark; spells are Super Squeeze and Super Lifto. Episode 6, 'Wishful Thinking', has the Mushas obtaining a magic pebble; spells are Chompa Chompa Chew and Magic Go Back. Episode 7, 'Zigzoo's Robot', shows a robot causing problems; spells are Super Net Go and Power Lasso. Episode 8, 'With Friends Like These', involves characters playing Squizzle instead of helping Squirmtum; spells are Super Squeeze and Blow Blow Blow. Episode 9, 'Buzzworthy', has bees entering the ranch; spells are Go Slow and Lifting Wind. Episode 10, 'Winging It', features Squirmtum trying to fly with a jetpack; spells are Water To Jelly and Helping Hand. Episode 11, 'Crystal Catastrophe', involves a broken casting crystal; spells are Fireflies Unite and Super Speed. Episode 12, 'Fungus Among Us', has the Mushas tricking Tom and Twigs; spells are Super Lifto and Super Clean Go. Episode 13, 'The Big Ranch Rodeo', deals with rodeo trouble; spells are Dizzy Wind and Giant Shield. Episode 14, 'One for All!', has Tom leading a squizzle team to find an enchanted squizzle; spells are Mega Mover and Super Freeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Tree Fu Tom?
Tree Fu Tom was created by Daniel Bays.
Which network aired Tree Fu Tom?
Tree Fu Tom aired on CBeebies.
How many episodes of Tree Fu Tom are there?
Tree Fu Tom has 72 episodes across 5 seasons.
When did Tree Fu Tom first air?
Tree Fu Tom first aired on 5 March 2012.
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