Nina Needs to Go! explained

Director:Sarah Cox
Composer:
  • Jean-Mark Pestas
  • Christian Siddel
Country:
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:20
Executive Producer:Helen Brundson
Producer:Kaia Rose
Runtime:2-3 minutes
Company:ArthurCox
Network:Disney Junior

Nina Needs to Go! is an animated series of shorts that aired on Disney Junior, beginning in February 2014. Each short is approximately three minutes long. The series is targeted at preschoolers. It is produced by Bristol-based animation studio ArthurCox.[1] The show is written by Bradley Zweig.[2]

Overview

The titular 4-year-old Nina goes to a variety of settings, like the zoo and the beach. In each location, Nina finds she "needs to go" to the bathroom after becoming too engrossed in something such as play or looking at the scenery, and the mission is to get her there before it is too late.

The scenario is familiar to parents of toddlers the world over and inspired by real life. Sarah Cox, Creative Director and CEO of ArthurCox has explained: "Nina Needs To Go is based on my real experiences with my daughter. Dramatic car journeys, missed trains and a back track through the whole of the Alhambra in Spain in search of a bathroom are real situations that have inspired each episode. A fabulous creative team has helped us create action-packed 'race against time' scenarios to excite and amuse a family audience."[1]

Characters

Episodes

The episodes are:[3]

  1. "Train" – Nina needs to use the bathroom on a train. Trouble ensues when the train is crowded. her mother and herself are trying to get past a band, then she and her dad are trapped in the quiet car until Nina’s nana comes to the rescue.
  2. "Snow" – Nina insists that she does not have to use the bathroom until she and her mother are on a ski lift and Nina realises the bathroom is at the bottom of the mountain.
  3. "Mall" – Nina needs to use the bathroom while buying a dress at the mall so she and Nana race to the bathroom.
  4. "Play" – Nina must use the bathroom while dressed as a rock for a play but she gets stuck in a doorway.
  5. "Water Park" – Frank tries to help Nina find a bathroom at a water park and Nana comes to the rescue.
  6. "Beach" – Nina suddenly has to use the bathroom while building sand castles at the beach but is distracted by showers and volleyball so Nana is here to help.
  7. "DIY" – Nina has to go to the bathroom while visiting a hardware store with her father to buy paint.
  8. "Zoo" – Nina needs to use the bathroom while at the zoo so her and Nana take a ride through the zoo.
  9. "Camping" – Nina does not want to relieve herself in the woods, however, there are no bathrooms in the woods so Nana makes a makeshift outhouse for Nina.
  10. "Tower" – Nina has to go to the bathroom on a trip to the Tower of London but she accidentally sets off the alarm.
  11. "County Fair" – Frank tries to help Nina find a bathroom during a three-legged race. She and Nana make it in time after winning a toy duck.
  12. "Parade" – Nina needs to use the bathroom while dressed as a mermaid on a parade float but when she gets to the bathroom there is no toilet paper.
  13. "Wedding" – Nina needs to use the bathroom during Aunt Gladys' wedding. She and Frank try to get to the bathroom but Frank is distracted by fruit punch and the conga line until Nana calls out to cut the cake.
  14. "Traffic" – Nina has to use the bathroom while her family gets stuck in traffic en route to Aunt Gladys' trailer but when she and Nana get to the rest stop the bathroom is closed, so Aunt Gladys lets her use her bathroom.
  15. "Library" – Nina has to use the bathroom while being read a story about a knight during story time so Nina and Nana take the library express.
  16. "To Sleep" – Nina is unable to go to sleep until Nana gives her a book to read until she falls asleep.
  17. "On a Playdate" – Nina goes on a playdate with Amber but when they make a big mess, so Nana shows them how to clean up.
  18. "To the Museum" – Nina gets lost in a museum and Nana must get Nina back to her dad before he notices she is gone.
  19. "To a Fancy Restaurant" – Nina's meatball falls off of her plate and she chases it.
  20. "To Preschool" – Nina is scared to go to preschool until she accidentally leaves the door open to let the hamster escape.

Reception

The reviewer at From Meredith to Mommy disliked the show immensely, stating that the show causes their children to often pee their pants after trying to imitate the show.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Disney Junior Greenlights Nina Needs to Go . Jennifer . Wolfe . . 13 December 2013 . 19 August 2015 .
  2. Web site: Nina Needs To Go - Full Cast And Crew. TV Guide.
  3. Web site: Nina Needs To Go Season 1 Episodes. TV Guide.
  4. Web site: Nina Needs to Go AWAY. From Meredith to Mommy.