The Little Lulu Show is an animated comedy television series produced by Cinar (now WildBrain). It is based on the comic strip character Little Lulu, originally created by the late Marjorie Henderson Buell (better known as Marge). The series first aired on October 22, 1995 and aired its last episode on February 21, 1999 and originally aired on HBO, but later moved to HBO Family in 1999. In the year of 2001, the series aired on both Jam and Magnet blocks (at 9:00am and 5:30pm respectively) until sometime in 2004, while Magnet still aired for some time until its discontinuation in 2005.
Outside of the United States, it aired on CTV for its first two seasons, then Family Channel for its third season and the now-defunct Teletoon Retro channel for reruns. All three are those networks in Canada.
Synopsis[]
Each segment, titled as a "LuluToon" and most of the time based off of a real Little Lulu comic strip, features a young girl who lived in Peekskill, whose name is Lulu Moppet and her plenty of fun schemes. She tends to hang out with girlish friends, especially with her best friend, Annie Inch and sometimes with the overweight Tubby Tompkins. Tubby however, also has mischievous friends of his own who like teasing the girls and ruining their fun, but they often fight back. Each episode also contains two "Lulu-Bites", a short 35-second segment without any dialogue. There are three LuluToons in each half-hour episode.
In between the LuluToons, there are stand-up segments (a la Seinfeld) where Lulu is on stage telling an audience comedic jokes and silly stories.
Characters[]
- Lulu Moppet (voiced by Tracey Ullman in season 1, Jane Woods in seasons 2-3) - A sweet, young girl who is 10 years old, but also stubborn for some time. She likes to hang out with her group of friends.
- Annie Inch (voiced by Michael Caloz in seasons 1-2, Vanessa Lengies in season 3) - Lulu's best friend. She is the sister of Iggy Inch.
- Tubby Tompkins (voiced by Bruce Dinsmore) - A large-sized boy who has a passion for food and is the boyfriend of Lulu. However, he frequently teases her and her friends, alongside his gang of pals known as "The Fellers", which consists of Iggy Inch (voiced by Dawn Ford), Willie Wilkins (voiced by Andrew Henry in seasons 1-2, Ricky Mabe in season 3) and Eddie Stimson (voiced by Justin Bradley in seasons 1-2, Michael Yarmush in season 3). He is also a bit sensitive.
- Gloria Darling (voiced by Angelina Boivin in seasons 1-2, Holly Gauthier-Frankel in season 3) - The most beautiful girl in town, as the boys fall in love with her and try to get her attention. She is also rich, but not as rich as Wilbur.
- Wilbur Van Snobbe (voiced by Jacob Tierney) - Akin to Gloria, he is the richest boy in town. As his name suggests, Wilbur is snobby about it and often plays tricks on Lulu. Sometimes, even The Fellers are seen to think lowly of him. He speaks in a Snobby American Teenage accent.
- Mrs. Martha and Mr. George Moppets (Lulu's Mom and Dad) - (voiced by Pauline Little and Gary Jewell) Lulu's parents. She's a great cook. He always is targeted by Tubby's pursuit as a detective.
- Mrs. Ellie and Mr. Jim Tompkins (Tubby's Mom and Dad) – (voiced by Susan Glover and Walter Massey)
- Alvin Jones – (voiced by Ajay Fry Seasons 1 and 2 only and Jonathan Koensgen Season 3)
Episodes[]
Season 1 (1995)[]
| No. | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (1a) | "Green Girl" | October 22, 1995 |
| 2 (1b) | "Rainy Day" | |
| 3 (1c) | "Beautiful Lulu" | |
| 4 (2a) | "Alvin's Record Player" | November 17, 1995 |
| 5 (2b) | "Lulu's Television Debut" | |
| 6 (2c) | "Crybaby" | |
| 7 (3a) | "Snowball War" | December 18, 1995 |
| 8 (3b) | "Jr. Detective Tubby" | |
| 9 (3c) | "Picnic Pirates" | |
| 10 (4a) | "Gilbert the Gorilla" | December 19, 1995 |
| 11 (4b) | "Snow Business" | |
| 12 (4c) | "The Case of the Egg in the Shoe" | |
| 13 (5a) | "Business Girl" | December 25, 1995 |
| 14 (5b) | "The Pet Duck" | |
| 15 (5c) | "Lulu's Umbrella Service" | |
| 16 (6a) | "Friends and Enemies" | |
| 17 (6b) | "The Beauty Contest" | |
| 18 (6c) | "Rich Little Poor Boy" |
Season 2 (1996)[]
| 1 (7a) | "Boy Cannon Ball" | May 3, 1996 |
| 2 (7b) | "Noses Off" | |
| 3 (7c) | "Hairy Day" | |
| 4 (8a) | "The Popcorn Thief" | May 4, 1996 |
| 5 (8b) | "The Little Tornado" | |
| 6 (8c) | "She Flies Through the Air" | |
| 7 (9a) | "Tiny Tot's Syrup" | May 10, 1996 |
| 8 (9b) | "The Night Before Christmas" | |
| 9 (9c) | "The Piggy Bank Guard" | |
| 10 (10a) | "Space Kids" | May 11, 1996 |
| 11 (10b) | "The Case of the Disappearing Drum" | |
| 12 (10c) | "From Hero to Zero" | |
| 13 (11a) | "The Old Master" | May 17, 1996 |
| 14 (11b) | "Swap Shot Pops" | |
| 15 (11c) | "Detective Story" | |
| 16 (12a) | "The Case of the Missing Wig" | May 18, 1996 |
| 17 (12b) | "Frog Legs" | |
| 18 (12c) | "A Wrong Move" | |
| 19 (13a) | "Special Delivery" | May 24, 1996 |
| 20 (13b) | "Little Sew and Sews" | |
| 21 (13c) | "Tubby's Doll" | |
| 22 (14a) | "Tuxedo Tango" | May 25, 1996 |
| 23 (14b) | "Football Star" | |
| 24 (14c) | "Spook Delivery" | |
| 25 (15a) | "The Dance" | May 31, 1996 |
| 26 (15b) | "Locked Out" | |
| 27 (15c) | "The Kissing Game" | |
| 28 (16a) | "The Fuzzythingus Poopi" | June 1, 1996 |
| 29 (16b) | "Leaves for Everyone" | |
| 30 (16c) | "A Moving Experience" | |
| 31 (17a) | "Oh Christmas Tree" | June 2, 1996 |
| 32 (17b) | "Santa's Snowman" | |
| 33 (17c) | "The Snoopers" | |
| 34 (18a) | "The Big Jewel Robbery" | June 7, 1996 |
| 35 (18b) | "Pot Luck" | |
| 36 (18c) | "The Spook Tree" | |
| 37 (19c) | "Valentine's Day" | June 8, 1996 |
| 38 (19a) | "Gertie Greenbean" | |
| 39 (19b) | "Stop Fiddling Around" | |
| 40 (20a) | "Lucky Lulu" | June 14, 1996 |
| 41 (20b) | "Pieces of Eight" | |
| 42 (20c) | "Jumping Beans" | |
| 43 (21a) | "Alvinsitting" | June 15, 1996 |
| 44 (21b) | "Two Lulus" | |
| 45 (21c) | "The Hat" | |
| 46 (22a) | "Prisoner Exchange" | June 21, 1996 |
| 47 (22b) | "The Balloon Derby" | |
| 48 (22c) | "Dummy Skeleton" | |
| 49 (23a) | "The Bear Trap" | June 22, 1996 |
| 50 (23b) | "Shirley the Shadow" | |
| 51 (23c) | "A Dog's Life Saver" | |
| 52 (24a) | "The Bogeyman" | June 27, 1996 |
| 53 (24b) | "Tattoos" | |
| 54 (24c) | "Mimibur" | |
| 55 (25a) | "Lancelot Jr." | June 28, 1996 |
| 56 (25b) | "Lucky Lady" | |
| 57 (25c) | "Five Little Babies" | |
| 58 (26a) | "Potato Kids" | July 4, 1996 |
| 59 (26b) | "The Ventriloquist" | |
| 60 (26c) | "Bunny Fun" |
Season 3 (1998-1999)[]
| 1 (27a) | "The Fright Racket" | November 30, 1998 |
| 2 (27b) | "The Lucky Gold Piece" | |
| 3 (27c) | "Very Little Lulu" | |
| 4 (28a) | "The Big Egg" | December 1, 1998 |
| 5 (28b) | "The Little Girl Who Never Heard of Ghosts" | |
| 6 (28c) | "The Case of the Missing Perfume" | |
| 7 (29a) | "Wild Boy" | December 7, 1998 |
| 8 (29b) | "The Whistle Blower" | |
| 9 (29c) | "Elephant Ride" | |
| 10 (30a) | "The Beast in the Clubhouse" | December 8, 1998 |
| 11 (30b) | "Gone Fishin'" | |
| 12 (30c) | "Out, Out, Darned Spot" | |
| 13 (31a) | "The Curse of the Thingamajig" | December 14, 1998 |
| 14 (31b) | "House Guest Blues" | |
| 15 (31c) | "The Monster Hunt" | |
| 16 (32a) | "Blackout" | December 15, 1998 |
| 17 (32b) | "Mind Your Manners" | |
| 18 (32c) | "To Tell the Tooth" | |
| 19 (33a) | "Spaced Out" | December 21, 1998 |
| 20 (33b) | "Switched at Birth" | |
| 21 (33c) | "The Great Outdoors" | |
| 22 (34a) | "Bowlfinger" | December 22, 1998 |
| 23 (34b) | "Great Tubbini" | |
| 24 (34c) | "Shiny, Sheeny, Bouncy-Cleany" | |
| 25 (35a) | "Polly Patrol" | December 27, 1998 |
| 26 (35b) | "Money Problems" | |
| 27 (35c) | "The Tubby 2000" | |
| 28 (36a) | "No Pain, No Gain" | December 28, 1998 |
| 29 (36b) | "On the Job" | |
| 30 (36c) | "Tragic Magic" | |
| 31 (37a) | "First Aid Brigade" | January 4, 1999 |
| 32 (37b) | "Matinee Madness" | |
| 33 (37c) | "It's a Dog's Life" | |
| 34 (38a) | "Lulu Stays Put" | January 5, 1999 |
| 35 (38b) | "Shoeless Lulu" | |
| 36 (38c) | "Star Search" | |
| 37 (39a) | "The Untold Story" | January 11, 1999 |
| 38 (39b) | "Amok in the Mall" | |
| 39 (39c) | "World Record" | |
| 40 (40a) | "Breakout" | January 12, 1999 |
| 41 (40b) | "The Great Golf Club Chase!" | |
| 42 (40c) | "Jumpin' Jellybeans" | |
| 43 (41a) | "Iggy and the Ice Cream Factory" | January 17, 1999 |
| 44 (41b) | "Game Show Gaffe" | |
| 45 (41c) | "Art Frenzy" | |
| 46 (42a) | "Order in the Court" | January 18, 1999 |
| 47 (42b) | "Maybe Use Sugar" | |
| 48 (42c) | "Road Trip" | |
| 49 (43a) | "Bicycle Built for Too Many" | January 24, 1999 |
| 50 (43b) | "Tax Time Trouble" | |
| 51 (43c) | "Mayor For a Day" | |
| 52 (44a) | "Hooky Holiday" | January 25, 1999 |
| 53 (44b) | "Red Tape Run-Around" | |
| 54 (44c) | "Country Clubby Tubby" | |
| 55 (45a) | "Dancin' Fools" | January 31, 1999 |
| 56 (45b) | "Hop Hazard" | |
| 57 (45c) | "Stage Fright" | |
| 58 (46a) | "The Unnatural" | February 1, 1999 |
| 59 (46b) | "The People's Choice" | |
| 60 (46c) | "Super Lulu" | |
| 61 (47a) | "Tubby Kicks the Habit" | February 2, 1999 |
| 62 (47b) | "How the West Was Lost" | |
| 63 (47c) | "Infomercial" | |
| 64 (48a) | "Bulldozer Blues" | February 7, 1999 |
| 65 (48b) | "Telethon of the Fallen Stars" | |
| 66 (48c) | "What's Fair Is Fare" | |
| 67 (49a) | "Malpractice Makes Perfect" | February 8, 1999 |
| 68 (49b) | "Involuntary Volunteers" | |
| 69 (49c) | "Mobile Masterpiece" | |
| 70 (50a) | "Castaway Kids" | February 14, 1999 |
| 71 (50b) | "Wrestling Away" | |
| 72 (50c) | "Never Too Late" | |
| 73 (51a) | "Tubby on Ice" | February 15, 1999 |
| 74 (51b) | "Dr. X's Xtremely Xcellent X-Ray Spex" | |
| 75 (51c) | "Iggy's New Leaf" | |
| 76 (52a) | "You Do the Math" | February 21, 1999 |
| 77 (52b) | "The Great Escape" | |
| 78 (52c) | "The Little Lola Show" |
Trivia[]
- This series was considered partially lost media. While a good number of 52 episodes can be found on YouTube (for the most part being high quality, but there are a few that are VHS recordings), there are some episodes of the show that can be found anywhere. All of Season 1 can be found, while the only major episodes of Season 2 using are 2 episodes: 14 and 25. Most of the Season 2 episodes were uploaded by the official The Little Lulu Show WildBrain YouTube channel, however, they can only be viewed outside of the U.S. (with the exception of Episode 17 [Xmas-themed]). The season that has the most lost content, though, is Season 3. Though, all the episodes of the first, the second and the 3rd seasons can be found online in 6 languages: American English, Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French, German, Italian and Mexican Spanish.
- The show only had a few home video releases. The 2 VHS releases featured releases of the episodes on 24 and 26 respectively. There was also two DVDs, one containing "Green Girl" and the content on Episode 1, and the other containing the content on Episode 6 ("Friends and Enemies"). The show used to stream on Netflix internationally, but it has since been taken off.
- Interestingly, if we look up "the little lulu show season 3" on Google, then click on one of the episodes listed, we can find screenshots that serve as icons to these episodes in high quality (although, some of them just have a screenshot of a Lulu stand-up segment, most likely because some later episodes reused past segments). It is a wonder where they originated from, although they could have been screen-shotted from Netflix.
- There was an American animated TV show before the half USA-animated TV show, titled Little Lulu and Her Little Friends, which was a 26-episode Japanese anime that was made in 1976 and broadcasted in 1978.
- Not counting Sesame Street (which is also currently airing on PBS) this series holds the record for the HBO Family show with the most episodes, with a number of 156 total. However, these are individual episodes, as the number of whole (half-hour) episodes for the show are in a regular 52. The show however, with the most whole episodes, is Fraggle Rock (with a number of 96).
- During its 2004 schedule revamp, Magnet moved the shows in its timeslot, changing to 1:30pm.
- This show was the only show on Magnet that also aired on Jam, at least until Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales of Every Child arrived on the block in 2004.
- This, alongside Crashbox were also the only shows to still remain through Magnet's entire period and when the block removes most of of its shows during its 2004 schedule revamp.
- The beginning of the intro, it appears "A Cinar Presentation". All post-2004 airings replaced it with "A Cookie Jar Presentation". This same goes with the Cookie Jar logo plastering over the old Cinar one in the credits.
- As for American HBO (Family) airings, there was also a title that read "Home Box Office presents".
- All digitized copies replaced it with "Cookie Jar presents". Before then, it was "Cinar presents".
- The intro has a lyric change from the original Paramount version of the song. In the original song, one of the lyrics was "Though you're wild as any Zulu and you're just as hard to tame", but The Little Lulu Show introduction changes it to "Though you're wild, you know it's true-lu, and you're very hard to tame" due to the former line was considered too racist for those writers.
- In the Cinar version, George and Martha Moppet (parents of Lulu) share the same name of two particular hippos and Stuart Little, Stuart's human allies share the same name as the titular hippos.
Schedule times over the years[]
- 9:30am and 2:30pm (February-December 1999)
- 9:00am and 2:00pm (January 2000-August 25, 2001)
- 9:00am and 5:30pm (August 26, 2001-May 2004)
- 9:30am and 1:30pm (June 2004-January 2005)