Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps Explained

Genre:	Animated series Preschool Musical
Runtime:	24 minutes (2-12 minute segments)
Creator:	Katharine Holabird Helen Craig Mallory Lewis
Based On:	Classic Angelina Ballerina works written by Katharine Holabird illustrated by Helen Craig
Director:	Davis Doi
Producer:	Robert Winthrop
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English
Theme Music Composer:	Mark Williamson (music and lyrics) Judy Rothman (lyrics)
Opentheme:	"Angelina Ballerina" by Kacie Lynch (US) Claire Morgan (UK)
Endtheme:	"Angelina Ballerina" (instrumental)
Composer:	Score: Andy Street Original songs: Mark Sayer-Wade (music) Mark Williamson (music and lyrics) Scott Erickson (music and lyrics) Judy Rothman (lyrics) Joseph K. Phillips (music and lyrics)
Executive Producer:	Jonathan Dern Paul Sabella Carol Monroe Mallory Lewis Brad Hood
Company:	HIT Entertainment
Voices:	Charlotte Spencer (UK and US) Naomi McDonald (US) Jules de Jongh (US) Jo Wyatt (US) Emily Dormer (UK) Simon Mattacks (UK and US) Emma Tate (UK and US) Leah Zabar (UK and US) Beverley Klein (UK and US) Charlie Cameron (UK) Rachael Miller (UK) Lizzie Waterworth (UK) Louis Williams (UK) Larissa Murray (US)
Num Episodes:	40 (80 segments)
Num Series:	4
Channel:	Five Nick Jr.
Related:	Angelina Ballerina

Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps is a British animated preschool children's television series produced by HIT Entertainment in association with Five and Nick Jr., with animation production by SD Entertainment in the United States. The series is based on the Angelina Ballerina series of children's books by author Katharine Holabird and illustrator Helen Craig; and functions as a revival and sequel to the 2001–2006 series of the same name.^[1]

The series first aired in the United States on 5 September 2009 on PBS Kids, with its UK premiere on Five and Nick Jr. occurring later on. Two direct-to-video specials followed the series after its conclusion.

Premise

The series celebrates music and songs and brings to life many forms of dance for Angelina including ballet, tap dancing, jazz, classical, and ethnic. As a ballerina, Angelina's life revolves around dancing, singing and performance, family, friends, friendship, and following her dreams. This series sees 8-year-old Angelina and her family move to the other side of Chipping Cheddar to attend a performing arts school called Camembert Academy. It features the debut of Ms. Mimi, Angelina's new teacher and new friends like Viki, Marco, Gracie, and A.J., as well as her best friend Alice who joins Camembert Academy.^[2]

Characters

Main

• Angelina Mouseling (voiced by Charlotte Spencer) is the protagonist of the series. She is a feisty, cheerful and happy-go-lucky mouseling who still dreams to become a prima ballerina. She is now 8 and a student at Camembert Academy. Her catchphrases are "Absolutely, positively!", "Really truly!", "Stupendous!", "Follow your dreams!", "Let's dance!", "Get up and dance!", "I'm Angelina Ballerina!", "Hoop-dee-doo!", and "Hooray!"
• Polly Mouseling (voiced by Leah Zabari) is Angelina's 4-year-old sister. Polly is an eager Mouseling whenever Angelina takes the time to show her some of the basics of ballet. When there are steps she cannot copy them, Polly is happy to make up her own, much to Angelina's dismay. Her catchphrase is "I love you, Angelina!"^[2]
• Mr. Maurice Mouseling (voiced by Simon Mattacks) is Angelina and Polly's father. He works as a reporter for the Mouseland Herald and keeps his finger on the pulse of the happenings in Chipping Cheddar. In the episode "Angelina and the Marcel Mouseau Mime Challenge", it is revealed that Mr. Mouseling was a drummer in a rock band.^{[2] [3]}
• Mrs. Matilda Mouseling (voiced by Emma Tate) is Angelina and Polly's mother. Supportive yet firm, she provides the voice of reason the young starlet Angelina needs. In the episode "Angelina's Fancy Tutu", it is revealed that she was once a ballerina.^[3]
• Mrs. Thimble (voiced by Beverley Klein) is the owner of the sweets store next door to Mr. Mouseling's music store. She is an elderly mouseling with grey fur and wears a lavender dress with black dots and a bead collar, a white apron, a gold watch, green shoes, and glasses.
• Ms. Mimi (voiced by Emma Tate in the UK and Larrisa Murray in the US) is the head teacher at Camembert Academy and is everyone's role model. She is modern, young, fun, warm, and caring. She adores little mouselings as much as they adore her, and loves to inspire them with her own vivid imagination. Her catchphrase is "Bravo, students! Marvelous music and dancing!"^[4]
• Alice Nimbletoes (voiced by Rachael Miller in the UK and by Naomi McDonald in the US) is Angelina's best friend and an aspiring gymnast. She is optimistic, enthusiastic, feisty, cheerful, happy-go-lucky, and always up for a new adventure. Kind, innocent, and with a heart of gold, Alice is a bit forgetful, but she will try harder than everybody else. Her catchphrases are "Ooooh...it's the best fun ever!", "Knock, knock, who's there?", "Follow your dreams!", "Let's dance!", "Get up and dance!", "Hoop-dee-doo!", and "Hooray!"^[2]
• Gracie (voiced by Charlie Cameron in the UK and by Jo Wyatt in the US, who was also a voice actress in the original Angelina Ballerina series) is often Angelina's French rival and friend who is meticulous and a tad self-absorbed, and has shown to be a teacher's pet in order to get Ms. Mimi's attentions. Like Angelina, Gracie loves being the star of the show but often uses those occasions to brag. Nonetheless, Angelina knows Gracie is a very kind-hearted friend, and the competition keeps Angelina on her toes. Her catchphrase is "I can do it perfectly!"^[5]
• Viki (voiced by Emily Dormer in UK dub and Jules de Jongh in US dub) is an exciting friend for Angelina at Camembert Academy. She loves ethnic and unusual forms of dance, and she will be the first to try anything new. She is an Irish music lover and a great bass player. She likes standing out from the crowd and doing things her own way. Her catchphrase is "So amazing!"^{[6] [3]}
• Marco (voiced by Louis Williams in the UK and Jules de Jongh in the US) is a Latin American student from the exotic tropical country of Costa Mousa. Marco likes to play and hear music. Besides loving music, he is also wildly enthusiastic about sports, especially soccer. Marco has taught himself to play multiple instruments, and his favorite musical instrument is the conga drums. A helpful mouseling, Marco sometimes gets into jams due to Angelina's big ideas. He is also a great drummer. His catchphrase is "I just thought of a great rhythm!"^{[2] [7]}
• A.J. (A.Z. in the US version) (voiced by Lizzie Waterworth-Santo in UK dub and Larrisa Murray in US dub) is an American hip-hop student. He knows about the latest culture phenomenon, such as the latest handshake, line dance, and cheese du jour. His catchphrase is "A.J. Mouse is in the house!"^[2]

Episodes

Series overview

Series 4 (2010)

DVD compilation

	Title	Episodes	Bonus Features	Air Date
1	Love to Dance	Angelina's New School, Angelina's Dance Partner, Angelina's Oldest Friend, Angelina's Sleepover and Angelina and the Hip Hop Kid	"Get Up and Dance" Music Video "I Will Be a Star" Karaoke Video	August 31, 2010
2	The Nutcracker Sweet	Angelina and the Front Row Ticket, Angelina's Holiday Treats, Angelina and Alice Mousikova, Angelina's Gift For Ms. Mimi and Angelina Keeps The Peace	"Prima Ballerina" Puzzles "Front Row Seats" Karaoke Video	October 12, 2010
3	Ballet Dreams	Angelina's New Home, Angelina's New Ballet Teacher, Angelina En Pointe, Angelina's Ballet School and Angelina and the New Music Store	"Create Your Own Dream Routine" Game	March 1, 2011
4	Pop Star Girls	Angelina's Crazy Solo, Angelina Rock Band, Angelina's Hip Hop Boys Show, Angelina And the Giant and Angelina and the Broken Fiddle	Dancing Star Memory Game	June 7, 2011
5	Dancing on Ice	Angelina's Lost Ice Skates, Angelina and Alice's Big Night, Angelina's Cheese Roll, Angelina's Lunch Table and Angelina and Gracie's Creative Day	Polly's Picture Matching Game	October 11, 2011
6	Sweet Valentine	Angelina's Secret Valentine, Angelina and the Hearts of Ice, Angelina and the Big News, Angelina and the Mouselinghood of the Dancing Shoes and Angelina and the Laughing Poet	Angelina's Special Dance Club Game "Get Up and Dance" Music Video	January 3, 2012
7	Musical Moves	Angelina and the Dance Craze, Angelina and the Tummy Butterflies, Angelina and the Magician, Angelina and Ms. Mimi's Dance and Angelina, A.J. and Cheezy Z.	A "Dance A Day" Dance Club	June 12, 2012
8	The Mouseling Mysteries	Angelina and the Roquefort's Rhythmic Ghost, Angelina and the Case of the Missing Music, Angelina, the Pet Sitter, Angelina and Super Polly and Angelina and the Marcel Mouseau Mime Challenge	"Solve the Mystery" Karaoke Music VideoPrima Ballerina Puzzles	March 12, 2013
9	Superstar Sisters	Angelina and the Music Box, Angelina's Nature Dance, Angelina Jumps the River, Angelina and the Mini-Mouseling and Angelina and Polly's Big Day	Polly's Picture Matching Game "I Will Be a Star" Karaoke Music Video	March 7, 2017
10	Ballerina Princess	Angelina's Big Part, Angelina and Polly's Two-Hour Show, Angelina's Fancy Tutu, Angelina and the Carnival and Angelina's Indian Lunchtime	Angelina's Stupendous Dress-Up Game	March 6, 2012
11	Twirling Tales	Angelina's Dance Like a Cake Day, Angelina's Noisy, Messy Lunchtime, Angelina and the Musical Plant, Angelina and Her Parents Dance Lessons and Angelina Mother's Day	"One, Two, Three, Four, Five" Karaoke Music Video "Do the Swing Thing" Karaoke Music Video	November 12, 2013
12	On With the Show	Angelina' Musical Day, Angelina And the Bandleader, Angelina and Ms Mimi, Angelina's Kitchen Band and Angelina and the Father's Day Surprise	Angelina's Pictures Game "I Will Be a Star" Karaoke Music Video	January 21, 2014
13	Perfectly Pink	Angelina Cheerleader, Angelina's Hiccups, Angelina and The Must Have Ballet Bag, Angelina's Room and Angelina's Helpful Friend	"There Is Not Enough Space" Karaoke Music Video"I Just Want to Be Me" Karaoke Music Video	November 6, 2012
14	Dance Around the World	Angelina and The Irish Jig, Angelina and The Cheddar Cheese Slide, Angelina and The Windy Children's Day, Angelina and The Smelly Cheese and Angelina and The Dragon Dance	"Create Your Own Dream" Routine Game "A Step at a Time" Karaoke Music Video "Angelina's Slumber Party (Dancing in the Moonlight)" Karaoke Music Video	November 7, 2017
15	Spring Fling	Angelina's Spring Fling, Angelina and the Front Page, Angelina and the New Jeans, Angelina's Trick-or-Treat Feat and Angelina and the Poster	Angelina's Stupendous Dress-Up Game!"Get Up and Dance" Music VideoTrailers	March 11, 2014
16	Mousical Medleys	Angelina and the Musical Theater, Angelina and the Art Show, Angelina's Camembert Parade, Angelina and the Dance-A-Thon and Angelina's Opera	"Front Row Seats" Karaoke Music VideoDancing Star Memory Game	July 9, 2013

External links

• Official Character Bios (PDF)
• Channel 5 Website Episode Listing

Notes and References

1. Book: Crump . William D. . Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film . 2019 . McFarland & Co . 9781476672939 . 12.
2. Web site: About Angelina Ballerina . https://web.archive.org/web/20160214231040/http://www.angelinaballerina.com/usa/about.asp . February 14, 2016.
3. Web site: Angelina Ballerina. TVGuide.com.
4. Web site: Character - Ms. Mimi. https://web.archive.org/web/20160215003136/http://www.angelinaballerina.com/usa/friends-msmimi.asp. 15 February 2016. 3 June 2013. dead.
5. Web site: Mattel, Inc. | the Official Home of Mattel Toys and Brands. https://web.archive.org/web/20160211190832/http://www.angelinaballerina.com/usa/friends-gracie.asp . February 11, 2016.
6. Web site: Caracter - Viki . https://web.archive.org/web/20160214230726/http://www.angelinaballerina.com/usa/friends-viki.asp . February 14, 2016.
7. Web site: Credits – Jules de Jongh.