Toot the Tiny Tugboat is a British children's animated television series developed from Sebastien Braun’s Toot and Pop! picture book by Lupus Films and animated by Cloth Cat Animation.[2] The series has been airing on Channel 5 Milkshake! since October 2014, and started showing on the 9am time slot from October 2015.[3] Additionally, the series broadcasts on the Cartoonito channel, with the Welsh language version airing on S4C Cyw.[4][5] The series is also available on Netflix.[6]

Toot the Tiny Tugboat
GenrePreschool animated series
Based onToot and Pop!
by Sebastien Braun
Written byIan Carney
Andrew Bernhardt
Jo Clegg
Alison Gentleman
Stuart Kenworthy
Moya O’Shea
Paul Parkes
Kate Scott
Directed byMatthew Hood
StarringOsian Gatehouse
John Hasler
Menna Spittle
Emma Tate
Keith Wickham
Duncan Wisbey
Seema Bowri
ComposersBen Lee-Delisle
Paul Kissaun
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes52
Production
Executive producerJon Rennie
ProducersCamilla Deakin
Ruth Fielding
Production locationAnimated in Cardiff
EditorGarry Smith
Running time11 mins
Production companiesToot Enterprises[1]
Cloth Cat Animation
Lupus Films
Boom! Kids
Original release
NetworkMilkshake!
Release20 October 2014 (2014-10-20) –
2015 (2015)

The show follows the nautical adventures of a young tugboat called Toot as he helps out with jobs around the harbour, with episodes involving themes such as taking responsibility, respecting wildlife, being a good friend, helping those in need, working in a team and believing in yourself.[7] The large cast of characters includes other boats, seaside animals, harbourside workers, the Harbour Master and his twin grandchildren Bethan and Caleb.

Toot's catchphrase is "Heave-ho, let's go!".

Broadcast

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Country Local Title Channel Release Date
United Kingdom Toot the Tiny Tugboat Channel 5 Milkshake! 20 October 2014
Wales Tŵt Anturiaethau’r bad bach S4C Cyw 21 October 2014
United Kingdom Toot the Tiny Tugboat Cartoonito 2 March 2015
United Kingdom Toot the Tiny Tugboat Netflix 1 August 2015
United Kingdom Toot the Tiny Tugboat Tiny Pop TBA
Finland Ruli Yle TV2 1 November 2024
France Toot les Tiny Tugboat Piwi+ TBA
Germany Toot die Tiny Tugboat Super RTL TBA
Italy Toot i Tiny Tugboat Frisbee
Rai YoYo
TBA
Spain Toot las Tiny Tugboat Clan TBA
Ireland Toot the Tiny Tugboat RTÉjr October 21, 2024
Poland Toot Tiny Tugboat MiniMini+ TBA
Canada Toot the Tiny Tugboat Toon-A-Vision June 18, 2018
Australia Toot the Tiny Tugboat ABC Kids TBA
United Kingdom Toot the Tiny Tugboat CBeebies January 6, 2024

Merchandise

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Books

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The series was developed from an original picture book by Sebastien Braun called Toot and Pop!.[8]

Apps

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The first official Toot app, Toot’s Harbour, was created by Thud Media and released in the Apple iOS App Store in March 2015. The open-world exploration game allows pre-school players to sail Toot around the Harbour in 3D, meeting friends, playing mini-games, towing boats and collecting rewards along the way.[9] Toot's Race was the second, where you play as Toot, racing around the harbour, overtaking others like Hattie, the Posh Yachts, Paula, Marge, H.P. and more. The other characters will watch the race, like Ol' Graham, Pop, Bryan and more.

Cinema

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Toot the Tiny Tugboat has been screened at Picturehouse Cinemas around the UK as part of Toddler Time, a cinema experience specially designed for very young children and their families.[10]

Awards

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Year Award Category Result
2015 BAFTA Cymru Games and Interactive Awards Sound and Music Commendation[11] Winner
2015 Cairo International Cinema and Arts Festival for Children Best TV Series Bronze

Festivals

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Country Festival Year
United States Animation Block Party 2015
United States Kaleidoscope Kids TV International Film Festival 2015
Italy Cartoon on the Bay - International Panorama of Cartoons on the Bay 2015

References

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  1. ^ "Turner ties up Toot the Tiny Tugboat". TBI Vision. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Toot the Tiny Tugboat: Interview with Ruth Fielding (Lupus Films) & Jon Rennie (Cloth Cat Animation)". Skwigly. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Toot the Tugboat to get prime slot on Milkshake". Licensing.Biz. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Toot the Tugboat docks at Turner". Broadcast Now. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  5. ^ Brown, Maggie (12 April 2014). "British cartoons boom as industry is reanimated by tax relief deal". The Observer. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Global Sales for Toot the Tiny Tugboat". World Screen. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  7. ^ "C5 orders Toot the Tiny Tugboat from Lupus Films". Televisual. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Toot the Tiny Tugboat Series 1". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Lupus Films launches first Toot the Tiny Tugboat app". Licensing.Biz. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  10. ^ "The Hive and Toot the Tiny Tugboat head to Picturehouse Cinemas". Licensing.Biz. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  11. ^ "A Mechanical Story wins the British Academy Cymru Award for Games & Interactive Experience". BAFTA Cymru. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
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