Being Ian
A boy dreams of filmmaking while navigating family life.
Being Ian is a Canadian animated television series that aired on YTV from 2005 to 2008. Created by Ian James Corlett and based on his early life, the show follows 12-year-old Ian Kelley, an aspiring filmmaker. It was produced by Studio B Productions and Nelvana Limited.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Comedy
- Creator
- Ian James Corlett
- Developer
- Bonita Siegel
- Director
- Andy Bartlett (season 1)
- Josh Mepham (seasons 1–2)
- Chad Van De Keere (season 3)
- Opening theme
- "Being Ian Theme Song" by Brian "Hoot" Gibson and Ian James Corlett
- End theme
- "Being Ian Ending Theme Song" by Brian "Hoot" Gibson and Ian James Corlett
- Composer
- Brian "Hoot" Gibson; Hal Beckett
- Country
- Canada
Facts from the source article.
Characters
Ian James Kelley, voiced by Richard Ian Cox, is the main protagonist. He aspires to become a filmmaker but faces indifference from his family, which frustrates him. Intelligent and somewhat naive, Ian possesses a large imagination and often daydreams, with many fantasies parodying famous films. His ultimate goal is to win an Academy Award, and he practices his acceptance speech constantly. He is a typical sitcom child whose plots involve failed schemes or surviving a world that does not fit his ideals. His middle name references Ian James Corlett. Ian has a crush on Sandi, and in some episodes Grace, an Asian girl, has a crush on him. Kenneth "Ken" Kelley, voiced by Louis Chirillo, is Ian's father. He owns Kelley's Keyboards, a local music store. Ken is loving but clueless, easily distracted, and chronically uncool. His family knows how to get their way with him, and he depends on his wife to manage his life. In his youth, Ken dreamed of being a recording star, but his career ended the same day it began when he only played "I's the B'y". He is a workaholic with a gung-ho attitude toward volunteer service, unaware his sons do not share it. His catchphrase is "Holy moly, ravioli!".
Production
Being Ian was produced by Studio B Productions in association with YTV, based on the Being Ian book series by Ian James Corlett. Corlett developed the television adaptation and served as a writer. Production emphasized character-driven comedy and imaginative fantasy sequences reflecting Ian's active imagination, with episodes shifting between everyday family life and elaborate fictional scenarios. The series used digital animation techniques and a distinctive visual style blending exaggerated character animation with cinematic parody. Voice recording took place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Brian Carson composed the music, and the opening theme "Gotta Be Me" was performed by the Canadian band Triple Threat.
Broadcast
Being Ian premiered on YTV in Canada on January 1, 2005, as part of the Overdrive programming event, then began its regular run on April 26, 2005, concluding on October 11, 2008. Reruns aired on YTV, Nickelodeon Canada from September 5, 2011, to August 30, 2013, and on BBC Kids until 2018. In the United States, it premiered on Qubo on September 19, 2009, and later aired on its Night Owl block until 2021. Internationally, it broadcast on ABC in Australia, CBBC in the United Kingdom, Disney Channel in India, and MBC3 in the Arab world in 2006. Nelvana Enterprises licensed the series to broadcasters in France, Germany, Latin America, Spain, Portugal, South Africa on K-T.V., Singapore, Indonesia, Switzerland, Morocco, Panama, Colombia, and several African territories.
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