Rupert (TV series)

Did You Know?

• Both the theme and closing song were composed by Milan Kymlicka, based on Robert Schumann's The Happy Farmer, Returning from Work in F major, Op. 68, No. 10.
• When the series aired on Nickelodeon in the US, a different theme song titled Rupert's Number One was used, co-penned by Sheree Jeacocke and Gerry Mosby.
• Nelvana made plans in 2000 to produce a Hollywood feature film based on the Rupert property, but the project was not implemented.

Synopsis

Rupert is a highly intelligent and witty bear living in the small village of Nutwood. He travels the world, discovering new cultures, living adventures, unraveling mysteries, and unmasking villains. The visual style incorporates European and Nordic elements, including castles, citadels, and myths such as elves and the Loch Ness Monster. The landscapes were based on Snowdonia and the Vale of Clwyd in northern Wales.

Characters

Rupert Bear is considerate, smart, resourceful, brave, trustworthy, and good-spirited, and occasionally breaks the fourth wall to address the viewer. His father, Mr. Bear, is clumsy and forgetful, often smokes a pipe, and serves in the Nutwood Fire Brigade alongside Podgy's father. Mrs. Bear is wise and offers advice that Rupert uses on his adventures. Bill Badger, Rupert's best friend, is cowardly, impatient, clumsy, quick-tempered, and has a horrible singing voice; he has a baby brother named Toby who enjoys Bill's singing. Podgy Pig is jolly, greedy, not very bright, and has a large appetite, sometimes leading his friends into trouble. Pong Ping is a Pekingese from China with an underground elevator to China and knowledge of dragons and magical objects. Tiger Lily is Rupert's female Chinese friend, the only human student in school, whose family knows much about magical objects. Algy Pug is a pug who overestimates his abilities but remains a helpful friend. Edward Trunk is a kind, sensitive, and strong elephant who helps his father with plumbing. Gregory Guinea Pig is kind but sometimes nervous, though he meets challenges when friends need help. Ottoline Otter is an otter of Scottish descent who loves Shakespeare and lives in a castle with many secret entrances. Freddy and Ferdy Fox are mischievous twin foxes who spread trouble in Nutwood.

Broadcast

In Canada, the series aired in syndication on YTV. In the United States, it first aired on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block in 1995, then on CBS Saturday mornings in 1999, with repeats on Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney, and Qubo from 2007 to 2020. In the United Kingdom, it broadcast on CITV, Tiny Pop, and KidsCo. It aired on RTP in Portugal, ABC and Nickelodeon Australia in Australia, TV2 in New Zealand, and RTÉ's The Den in Ireland. In South America, Brazil's TV Cultura aired it from 1998 to 2006. In South Africa, it aired on Bop TV and M-Net's K-T.V., and in Zimbabwe on ZBC and ZTV. It also aired on KBC in Kenya, NBC in Namibia, Dubai 33 in the United Arab Emirates, RTB in Brunei, KUAM-LP in Guam, Saudi 2 in Saudi Arabia, and Spacetoon in the Arab world from 2000 to 2014.