Odd Squad Explained

Image Alt:A yellow badge shape with a starburst coming from its center, emblazoned with the words "Odd Squad"
Genre:Educational,[1] Comedy[2]
Creator:Tim McKeon
Adam Peltzman
Starring:
Composer:Paul Buckley
Country:Canada
United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:3
Num Episodes:108
List Episodes:list of Odd Squad episodes
Producer:Matthew J.R. Bishop
Georgina Lopez
Ellen Doherty
Editor:Jennifer Essex-Chew
Courtney Goldman
Christopher Minns
Laura Bower
Location:Toronto, Ontario
Runtime:10-13 minutes; two episodes paired for a half-hour program
Company:Sinking Ship Entertainment
Fred Rogers Productions
Channel:TVO Kids (Canada)
Ici Radio-Canada Télé (Canada)
PBS Kids (United States)
First Aired:[3]

Odd Squad (stylized as ODD SQUAD) is a children's live action educational television series[4] [5] created by Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman. The series premiered on TVOKids in Canada and PBS Kids in the United States on November 26, 2014. Similar to Cyberchase and Peg + Cat, the series involves child characters using mathematical concepts (addition, multiplication, using data in graphs, etc.) to advance each episode's plot. The series features child actors (whose characters are the employees of the "Odd Squad") who use indirect reasoning and basic math to solve and investigate strange happenings in their town.

Description

The series follows the exploits of Odd Squad, an organization run entirely by children, that solves peculiar problems using math skills. In the first two seasons, it typically features two employees of the organization's investigation division that work in precinct 13579 of the organization—Agents Olive (Dalila Bela) and Otto (Filip Geljo) in the first season and Olympia (Anna Cathcart) and Otis (Isaac Kragten) in the second season. Selected episodes feature other types of employees of the fictional organization, like security officers, so-called "tube operators" and scientists. The names of the employees nearly always start with the letter O. Agents are typically assigned cases by their boss, Ms. O (Millie Davis), and travel via a system of interconnected tubes to get to their destinations. They deduce the solution to the problem or how to detain the perpetrator by using basic mathematical principles that are typically the focus of the episode. Often, they cannot solve the problem at the scene and must go back to their precinct's headquarters or to the "Mathroom", a sentient space that communicates through large paper fortune tellers and can unfold them to display information to help the agents see connections and better solve their case. Along with math, agents also use "gadgets" designed by the scientists; in the first season, Agent Oscar (Sean Michael Kyer) heads the lab, gaining an assistant, Agent Oona (Olivia Presti), in early season two who eventually takes over the lab after Oscar is promoted. The characters also have to deal with a variety of recurring villains who often put a mathematical spin on their plots. The seal of the Odd Squad headquarters depicts a jackalope carrying a shield in front of it (bearing an image of the seal—an instance of the Droste effect) and bananas at each side of it. The third season, dubbed Odd Squad Mobile Unit, sees a setting change from precinct 13579 to a van; in this season, four agents are assigned by the Big O (Davis) to work in the van and travel the world solving cases where local precincts either can't reach or need extra help. The fourth season, dubbed Odd Squad UK', will be set in an Odd Squad location in the United Kingdom.[6]

Cast and characters

CharacterPortrayed byAppearances
Season 1Season 2Season 3Specials
3A3B
Agent OliveDalila Bela
Agent OttoFilip Geljo
Ms. O / Big OMillie Daviscolspan="5"
Agent OscarSean Michael Kyer
Agent OlympiaAnna Cathcart
Agent OtisIsaac Kragten
Agent OonaOlivia Presti
Agent OpalValentina Herrera
Agent OmarJayce Alexander
Agent OswaldGavin Maclver-Wright
Agent OrlaAlyssa Hidalgo
Agent OsmeraldaGlee Dango
Orpita / Little OShazdeh Kapadia

Main

Recurring

Odd Squad employees

Others

Antagonists

Episode list

See main article: List of Odd Squad episodes.

Production

In the UK, the series aired on CBBC[10] and BBC Two.[11] In Australia, it aired on ABC Kids and ABC Me.

Odd Squad films the series throughout Ontario. Part of season 3 was filmed in Cambridge, Ontario.[12]

The final episode of season 3 aired on July 8, 2022. A fourth season, dubbed Odd Squad UK, is set to be released on October 1, 2024.[6] [13]

The fourth will be filmed in the United Kingdom. It will also be produced in association with BBC Studios Kids & Family.[6]

Reception

Critical response

Odd Squad has received positive reviews from television critics and parents of young children. Monica of Mommy Maestra Blog wrote, "Funny, clever, and sooo creative!"[14]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientsResult
2015Banff World Media FestivalBest Show – Pre-School CategorySinking Ship Entertainment
Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Children's SeriesSinking Ship Entertainment
Outstanding Writing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's SeriesTim McKeon, Alexandra Fox, Rachel Lewis, Adam Peltzman and Mark DeAngelis
Outstanding Single Camera EditingJennifer Essex-Chew, Courtney Goldman and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Outstanding Sound Editing – Live ActionP. Jason MacNeil, James Robinson, Earl Torno, Bill Turchinetz, John D. Smith, Dave Yonson, Virginia Storey and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Outstanding Directing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's SeriesJ. J. Johnson
Outstanding HairstylingPatricia Cuthbert
Kidscreen Awards[15] Kids: Best Non-Animated or Mixed SeriesSinking Ship Entertainment
Parents' Choice AwardParents' Choice Gold HonorSinking Ship Entertainment
Youth Media AllianceAward of Excellence, Best Convergent WebsiteSinking Ship Entertainment
Award of Excellence for Best Television Program, All Genres, Ages 6–8 CategorySinking Ship Entertainment
2016TCA Awards[16] Outstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingOdd Squad
Canadian Screen AwardsBest Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesCraig Wallace and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesTim McKeon and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Best Picture Editing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or SeriesSinking Ship Entertainment
Best Performance in a Children's or Youth SeriesDalila Bela
Best Pre-School Program or Series Sinking Ship Entertainment
Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Children's SeriesPaul Siefken, J.J. Johnson, Tim McKeon, Blair Powers, Adam Peltzman, Emily Helfgot, Matthew J.R. Bishop, Mark De Angelis, Georgina Lopez and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Interactive Media – Enhancement to Daytime SeriesBlair Powers, Paul Siefken, Gavin Friesen, Ronald Ruslim, Dave Peth and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Outstanding Stunt CoordinationRegan Moore
Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series or Pre-School Series - OscarSean Michael Kyer
Outstanding Sound Editing – Live ActionJohn Douglas Smith, P. Jason MacNeil, Bill Turchinetz, Dave Yonson and Virginia Storey
Outstanding Writing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's SeriesTim McKeon, Charles Johnston and Mark De Angelis
Outstanding Directing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's SeriesJ.J. Johnson, Stephen Reynolds, Brian K. Roberts, Stefan Scaini, Craig David Wallace and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Outstanding Costume DesignChristine Toye
Outstanding HairstylingPatricia Cuthbert
Parents' Choice AwardParents' Choice Gold Honor Sinking Ship Entertainment
2017TCA Awards[17] Outstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingOdd Squad
Canadian Screen Awards[18] Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Limited SeriesMillie Davis
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesJ.J. Johnson
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesStefan Scaini
Best Original Music Score for a ProgramPaul Buckley
Best Performance in a Children's or Youth ProgramSean Michael Kyer
Best TV Movie or Limited SeriesOdd Squad: The MovieSinking Ship Entertainment
Best Writing in a Children's or Youth SeriesTim McKeon, Adam Peltzman and Mark DeAngelis
Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesSinking Ship Entertainment
Daytime Emmy Awards[19] [20] Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing SeriesJ.J. Johnson, Tim McKeon, Blair Powers, Paul Siefken, Matthew J.R. Bishop, Georgina Lopez and Stephen J. Turnbull
Outstanding Interactive – Enhancement to Daytime Program or SeriesEllen Doherty, Tim McKeon, Adam Peltzman, Blair Powers, Gavin Friesen, Ronald Ruslim, Stephen J. Turnbull, Dave Peth and Anna Cathcart
Outstanding Writing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's SeriesTim McKeon, Amy Benham, Charles Johnston, Adam Peltzman, Mark De Angelis and Robby Hoffman
Outstanding Directing in a Children's or Pre-School Children's SeriesJ.J. Johnson, Stephen Reynolds, Stefan Scaini and Warren P. Sonoda
Outstanding Single Camera EditingJennifer Essex-Chew, Courtney Goldman and Christopher Minns
Outstanding Performer in a Children's, Pre-School Children's or Family Viewing ProgramIsaac Kragten
Outstanding Costume DesignChristine Toye
Outstanding HairstylingLiz Roelands
Outstanding Make-upJenna Servatius
Parents' Choice Gold Honor[21] Sinking Ship Entertainment
Youth Media Alliance[22] Best Program, Live Action, Ages 6–9Sinking Ship Entertainment
Kidscreen Awards[23] Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series - KIDS PROGRAMINGSinking Ship Entertainment
2018TCA Awards[24] Outstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingOdd Squad
Canadian Screen Awards[25] Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesSinking Ship Entertainment
Best Direction, Children's or YouthJ.J. Johnson
Best Writing, Children's or YouthTim McKeon and Adam Peltzman
Best Performance, Children's or YouthAnna Cathcart
Best Cross-Platform Project Odd Squad 1.5
US International Film FestivalSecond Place – Silver Screen AwardSinking Ship Entertainment
Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's or Family Viewing SeriesJ.J. Johnson, Tim McKeon, Blair Powers, Paul Siefken, Ellen Doherty, Matthew J.R. Bishop, Adam Peltzman, Mark De Angelis, Stephen J. Turnbull and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Outstanding Writing in a Children's, Preschool Children's, Family ViewingTim McKeon, Adam Peltzman, Mark De Angelis and Robby Hoffman
Outstanding Directing in a Children's, Preschool Children's or Family Viewing ProgramJ.J. Johnson, Stephen Reynolds and Warren P. Sonoda
Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design Ron Stefaniuk, Diana Magnus, Amanda Vernuccio, Danielle Dobbyn, Jennifer Bryson and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Outstanding Lighting Direction George Lajtai, C.S.C and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Outstanding Sound Mixing Igor Bezuglov, Andrew McDonnell, John Bradshaw, Sean Karp and Sinking Ship Entertainment
Outstanding Costume Design/Styling Christine Toye
Outstanding Hairstyling Liz Roelands
2019TCA Awards[26] Outstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingOdd Squad
Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's or Family Viewing SeriesEllen Doherty, J.J. Johnson, Timothy McKeon, Blair Powers, Matthew J.R. Bishop, Mark De Angelis, Adam Peltzman and Stephen J. Turnbull
Outstanding Writing in a Children's, Preschool Children's, Family ViewingTimothy McKeon, Mark De Angelis, Adam Peltzman and Robby Hoffman
Outstanding Directing for a Children's, Preschool Children's or Family Viewing Program
Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design
Outstanding Costume Design/Styling
Youth Media Alliance[27] Best Program, Live Action, Ages 6–9Sinking Ship Entertainment
Best Interactive Content, Ages 6–9Odd Squad 2.0
Outstanding Youth PerformerAnna Cathcart
Outstanding Youth PerformerMillie Davis
Outstanding Youth PerformerIsaac Kragten
Canadian Screen Awards[28] Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or SeriesJ.J. Johnson, Tim McKeon, Blair Powers, Paul Siefken, Matthew R.J. Bishop, Adam Peltzman, Mark De Angelis and Stephen J. Turnbull
Best Direction, Children's or Youth J.J. Johnson
Best Performance, Children's or YouthAnna Cathcart[29]
Best Performance, Children's or YouthMillie Davis
Best Performance, Children's or YouthIsaac Kragten
Best Writing, Children's or YouthMark De Angelis and Leah Gotcsik (for "Where There's a Wolf, There's a Way" and "New Jacket Required")
Parent's ChoiceGold Honour 2019 Parent's Choice Award
Kidscreen Awards[30] Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series
Best in Class
Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series
Best Website
British Academy Children's Awards[31] International Live-ActionScott Montgomery, Warren P. Sonoda, Mark D'Angelis
2020TCA Awards[32] Outstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingOdd Squad
Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Sound Editing for a Live Action ProgramJames Robinson, Bill Turchinetz, John Douglas Smith, Jason MacNeill, Ryan Lukasik, Jason Charbonneau and Brandon Bak
2021TCA Awards[33] Outstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingOdd Squad
Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic DesignAmanda Vernuccio, Sean Moore, Stephen Depko and Darren Pickering
Outstanding Lighting DirectionGayle Ye
2022TCA Awards[34] Outstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingOdd Squad

Other media

Several Odd Squad themed video games have been created for the PBS Kids website and TVO Kids.[35] [36] An official series tie-in book titled: 'The Odd Squad Agent's Handbook' was released in 2020. It was written by the show's creators, Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman.[37]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PBS unveils 'Odd Squad,' its latest educational kids' show . Hinckley . David . 2014-11-23 . . 2017-01-30.
  2. Web site: Odd Squad TV Review . . 2017-01-30 . Genre: Comedy.
  3. Web site: 'Odd Squad' Season 3 hits PBS Kids this winter with a new cast. See our exclusive photos . .
  4. Web site: 2014-11-23 . PBS unveils 'Odd Squad,' its latest educational kids' show . 2024-02-04 . New York Daily News . en-US.
  5. Web site: Steinberg . Brian . 2015-07-07 . PBS Renews 'Daniel Tiger,' 'Odd Squad,' From Fred Rogers Co. . 2024-02-04 . Variety.
  6. Web site: 2023-10-04 . All-New: ODD SQUAD UK - Fred Rogers Productions . 2023-12-03 . www.fredrogers.org . en-US.
  7. Web site: Ashley Botting . The Second City . 2017-07-21.
  8. Web site: Odd Squad . Episodes . PBS Kids Programs - PBS Parents - PBS . PBS Parents . Flatastrophe - Olive and Otto must stop Fladam, a villain with a vendetta against cubes. . 2017-06-18.
  9. Undercover Olive . 2017-06-18 . Odd Squad . TVO Kids . 2015-08-02 . 1 . 31 . 25:31 . Fladam: Martin Roach . June 5, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170605042759/http://tvokids.com/school-age/videos/odd-squad-olive-and-otto/undercover-olive-pt-1-2 . dead .
  10. Web site: Odd Squad - CBBC . 2015-07-11 . BBC.
  11. Web site: Schedules, Saturday 3 September 2022 - BBC Two England . 2022-09-01 . BBC.
  12. Web site: There's an Odd Squad coming to Cambridge this week for TV filming. 2020-10-28. Cambridge Times. October 3, 2020 . en-CA.
  13. oddsquadofficial; @fredrogersproductions; @pbskids . C-IvdonOiEW . August 1, 2024 . October = Odd-tober! An all-new season of Odd Squad is coming to @pbskids on October 1. Mark your calendars for all-new agents, gadgets, and villains in a brand-new location – the UK! It’s going to be ODD-mazing! . August 3, 2024 . live . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/oddsquadofficial/3425196261273903382 . August 3, 2024.
  14. Web site: Monica . 2014-11-25 . Don't Miss the Premiere of Odd Squad! . 2019-12-13 . Mommy Maestra Blog.
  15. Web site: November 24, 2015. Jennifer. Wolfe. Kidscreen Awards Announces 2015 Nominees. Animation World Network.
  16. Web site: 'The People v. O.J. Simpson' Tops Television Critics Association Awards . Calvario . Liz . August 6, 2016 . . August 6, 2022.
  17. Web site: 2017 Television Critics Association Awards Winners: Handmaid's Tale, Atlanta & More . Yeoman . Kevin . August 5, 2017 . . August 6, 2022.
  18. Web site: TVO's creative content lauded with eight 2017 Canadian Screen Awards. TVO. March 10, 2017.
  19. Web site: TVOKids' Odd Squad honoured with 5 Daytime Emmys. TVO. May 1, 2019.
  20. Web site: March 25, 2017. PBS and PBS kids receive 31 Daytime Emmy Nominations. PBS.
  21. Web site: Odd Squad. Parents' Choice. June 2, 2020. June 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605115922/https://www.parentschoice.org/product/odd-squad/. dead.
  22. Web site: Award of Excellence 2017. L'Alliance Médias Jeunesse (AMJ).
  23. Web site: February 14, 2017. 2017 Kidscreen Awards. Kidscreen.
  24. Web site: 2018 TCA Awards: The Complete Winners List . Calvario . Liz . August 4, 2018 . . August 6, 2022.
  25. Web site: March 7, 2018. Winners announced 2018 Canadian Screen Awards. Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.
  26. Web site: 2019 TCA Awards Nominations: Fleabag, Russian Doll, Chernobyl & More . Yeoman . Kevin . June 19, 2019 . . August 6, 2022.
  27. Web site: Youth Media Alliance 2019 nominees. L'Alliance Médias Jeunesse (AMJ). April 8, 2019. June 2, 2020. November 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211123042111/https://www.ymamj.org/wp-content/uploads/post/2539/news-release-yma-awards-2019-nominees.pdf. dead.
  28. Web site: Nominees - Canadian Screen Awards. Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television .
  29. Web site: Anna Cathcart. Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. 7 February 2019 .
  30. Web site: February 12, 2019. Who walked away with a 2019 Kidscreen Award. Kidscreen.
  31. Web site: BAFTA Children's Winners Include Emily Burnett, Bella Ramsay, CBeebies, 'Horrible Histories' & 'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse'. Deadline. Andrea. Wiseman. 1 December 2019. 19 February 2019.
  32. Web site: TCA Awards: Watchmen, Unbelievable and Schitt's Creek Lead Nominations . TVLine . Matt Webb . Mitovich . July 9, 2020 . July 10, 2020.
  33. Web site: Turchiano . Danielle . 'Ted Lasso' Scores the Most 2021 TCA Awards Nominations . . July 19, 2021 . July 15, 2021.
  34. Web site: 'Abbott Elementary' Tops 2022 TCA Awards . Hailu . Selome . August 6, 2022 . . August 6, 2022.
  35. Web site: Games . Pienado . Odd Squad . 2023-12-19 . www.oddsquadtv.com . en.
  36. Web site: 2017-10-25 . Odd Squad . 2023-12-19 . TVOKids.com . en.
  37. Book: McKeon . Tim . Odd Squad Agent's Handbook . Peltzman . Adam . 2020-02-11 . Imprint . 978-1-250-77680-8 . en.