The Why Why Family

The Why Why Family (French: Les Kikekoi, also known as Saban's The Why Why Family) is an animated children's television series, which originally aired from late 1996 to 1997.[1] It was produced by Saban International Paris and Saban Entertainment.[2] The show was broadcast internationally on Fox Kids (starting with Fox Kids Netherlands[3] and Fox Kids UK[4] feeds later expanded airs on other feeds), while in the United States it aired in first-run syndication. Character designs and comedy elements emulate vintage cartoons.

The Why Why Family
Les Kikekoi
Created byNatalie Altmann
Vincent Chalvon-Demersay
Written byAnnabelle Perrichon
François-Emmanuel Porché
Directed byBruno Bianchi
Voices of
ComposerMichel Dax
Country of originFrance
United States
Original languagesEnglish
French
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26 (130 segments) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJacqueline Tordjman
Vincent Chalvon-Demersay
ProducerBruno Bianchi
Production companiesSaban Entertainment
Saban International Paris
Original release
NetworkFox Kids (international)
France 3 (France)
Das Erste (Germany)
Release1996 (1996)

Synopsis

Every episode begins with Victor (off-screen) summarizing what his family members will teach him in the episode.
Each episode is divided into 5 segments. In each segment, Victor asks a family member a popular scientific question, following an extensive answer by said family member/s with a particular expertise in the field of science involved in the question. Each of these segments has its short intro and The End sketches for the specific characters. Each sketch is titled <(character name/s) in (topic)>.
Before the end credits in each episode, Max asks Victor "Well Victor, what did you learn today?" to which he begins with "Tons of neat stuff", summarizing again what his family members taught him. Max answers, "Sounds like a real big day." and Victor concludes, "It was, but I still have plenty of questions left for next time."

Characters

  • Victor
    • A baby and the main protagonist of the series. All times he has questions (though these are smarter ones) to explain his family members like any other kid. He has blonde hair, and usually only wears a light blue diaper.
  • MaxTechnology and electronics
    • The intelligent father of Victor and a stereotypical mechanic/handyman. He is Vanilla's husband, Eartha and Matik's son and Micro and Scopo's brother. He seems to be the closest to Victor compared to the others. Resembles his mother Eartha and is rarely seen without his cap.
  • Vanilla and birds Kwik and KwakBotany and zoology
    • Vanilla is Max's wife, Eartha and Matik's daughter-in-law, Micro and Scopo's sister-in-law, and Victor's mother who he resembles. Kwik and Kwak are running gags of their episodes and normally argue.
  • Eartha (as her name suggests) and Basalt the dinosaur — Geography, geology and meteorology
    • Matik's wife, Max, Micro and Scopo's mother, Vanilla's mother-in-law, and Victor's grandmother who also cooks for their family. Basalt is a green dinosaur with orange spots & can be greedy. He can transform into any mode of transport & time travel.
  • Micro and ScopoBiology of the human body
    • Victor's uncles and Max's brothers who are running gags. Micro is stubby and wears a white cowboy hat (is sometimes seen without it), does most of the statements in their episodes. Scopo is the larger and dumber of the brothers, being the test subject yet expresses his own knowledge at times. They both have what look like masks and 'dog ears' like their father, Matik.
  • Matik and dog ZygoAstronomy and the Universe
    • Victor's grandfather, Max, Micro and Scopo's father, and Eartha's husband who has 'dog ears' and is rarely seen without his pilot hat. Zygo sounds like Daffy Duck from Looney Tunes and has webbed limbs.

Broadcast history

The exact airdates of the 26 episodes are unknown; with some having a 1996 copyright date in the credits and others having a 1997 copyright date.[5] In the United States, the series aired as part of a syndicated strand of Saban programmes called the "Saban Kids Network".[6] The block included other, more action-oriented programmes such as Eagle Riders, Samurai Pizza Cats, season 1 of Dragon Ball Z and season 2 of Masked Rider. With the series airing on the block per the guidelines of the Federal Communications Commission, it marked Saban's first entry into the educational television market.[7] The show was cancelled by Saban due to low ratings.[8]

Ownership of the series passed to Disney in 2001 when Disney acquired Fox Kids Worldwide, which also includes Saban Entertainment.[9][10][11] In the 2000s, it later ran as part of Disney's Jetix block.

Episodes

#TopicCharacter(s)Title
1CameraMaxPhoto Opportunity
IllnessesMicro & ScopoSick Leave
Solar SystemZygo & MatikO Solar Mio
VolcanoesEarth & BasaltAll You Need Is Lava
ZebrasVanilla, Kwik & KwakA Horse Of A Different Color
2MeteorsZygo & MatikPleased To Meteor You
Car engineMaxIdle Chatter
Bird wingVanilla, Kwik & KwakFeather Knows Best
FossilsEartha & BasaltShell Shock
DNAMicro & ScopoI Resemble Mama
3ParesthesiaMicro & ScopoOut On a Limb
FlowersVanilla, Kwik & KwakPetal Pushers
GravityZygo & MatikHe Ain’t Heavy, He’s An Astronaut
RainEartha & BasaltStormy Weather
BarcodesMaxBars & Stripes Forever
4SneezeMicro & ScopoSneezed To Meet You
Remote controlMaxBeam My Baby
PlantsVanilla, Kwik & KwakGreen & Bear It
Thunder and lightningEartha & BasaltSound & The Whywhys
StarsZygo & MatikStar Treatment
5SpidersVanilla, Kwik & KwakWeb Sight
Fax machineMaxJust The Fax
SweatMicro & ScopoNo Sweat
GalaxyZygo & MatikFor Me And My Galaxy
CurrentsEartha & BasaltCurrent Event
6BrainMicro & ScopoBrain Waives
PhotocopierMaxCopy Cats
BeesVanilla, Kwik & KwakTo Hive And Hive Not
Ice AgeEarth & BasaltA Tree Froze In Brooklyn
MarsZygo & MatikMars Attracts
7MammalsVanilla, Kwik & KwakHair Today
AeroplanesMaxPlane Speaking
Solar eclipseZygo & MatikSun Blocked
TidesEartha & BasaltFit To Be Tide
EarMicro & ScopoHear And Now
8SunlightZygo & MatikLight Entertainment
TelephoneMaxDial-A Whywhy
Smell and tasteMicro & ScopoCommon Scents
MountainsEartha & BasaltUphill All The Way
Coral reefsVanilla, Kwik & KwakHail To The Reef
9LightningEartha & BasaltA Bolt From The Blue
Bird soundsVanilla, Kwik & KwakChirp Thrills
CDsMaxPit Stop
Space stationsZygo & MatikStation Break
EyeMicro & ScopoOh Say Can You See
10WindEartha & BasaltBreezy Does It
RefrigeratorMaxThe Chill Of It All
GravityZygo & MatikDown To Earth
Balanced dietMicro & ScopoSurely You Ingest
CatsVanilla, Kwik & KwakYou’ve Gotta Be Kitten
11MosquitoesVanilla, Kwik & KwakA Bite To Remember
SandEartha & BasaltTrue Grit
StarsZygo & MatikGreat Balls Of Fire
ElevatorsMaxReady Willing & Cable
ReflexesMicro & ScopoA Touchy Subject
12ClimatesEartha & BasaltChanging Climes
LeavesVanilla, Kwik & KwakFree Falling
TelevisionMaxTurn On… Tune In
CometsZygo & MatikDust To Us
DigestionMicro & ScopoEater's Digest
13Ocean's bottomEartha & BasaltBottom Feeders
SnakesVanilla, Kwik & KwakNo Skin Off My Back
Light bulbMaxLights Out!
Day and nightZygo & MatikSunrise… Sunset
BreathingMicro & ScopoAir Apparent
14FogEartha & BasaltAnother Fine Mist
HelicopterMaxThe Big Cover Up
BatsVanilla, Kwik & KwakBlind Leading The Blind
CavitiesMicro & ScopoNothing But The Tooth
SeasonsZygo & MatikSeasons Greetings
15Coal and oilEartha & BasaltNo Fuel Like Old Fuel
SubmarineMaxWay Down Under
CactusVanilla, Kwik & KwakCactus If You Can
ScabsMicro & ScopoA Cut Above
SatellitesZygo & MatikGlobal Swarming
16KangaroosVanilla, Kwik & KwakIt’s In The Bag
Microwave ovenMaxNuking It Out!
FungiVanilla, Kwik & KwakA Fungus Among Us
HeartMicro & ScopoTo Bleed Or Not To Bleed
MoonZygo & MatikCraters And Cream Cheese
17SnowEartha & BasaltSnow Job
Solar powerMaxSunday Punch
Marine lifeVanilla, Kwik & KwakVictor And The Glow Fish
FeverMicro & ScopoHeat Treatment
Washing machineMaxWash You Were Here
18FrogsVanilla, Kwik & KwakOne Giant Leap For Frogkind
GlueMaxStick Around
NestsVanilla, Kwik & KwakBranching Out
DizzinessMicro & ScopoSpin Doctors
Space telescopesZygo & MatikScope It Out
19EvaporationEartha & BasaltThat Thing You Dew
BatteriesMaxThe Powers That Be
PollinationVanilla, Kwik & KwakBlowin’ in the Wind
HairMicro & ScopoHair-Raising Experience
Black holesZygo & MatikHole In One
20ValleysEartha & BasaltIce Cycle
LightMaxThe Light Show
EarthquakesEartha & BasaltWhole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
TearsMicro & ScopoFor Cryin’ Out Loud
Venus and MercuryZygo & MatikHot! Hot! Hot!
21Ozone layerEartha & BasaltThere’s No Zone Like Ozone
SleepMicro & ScopoPerchance to Dream
CowsVanilla, Kwik & KwakThat Was Then, This Is Cow
ProjectorMaxLights, Camera, Action!
SpeechMicro & ScopoO’ See Can You Say?
22DesertsEartha & BasaltHow Dry I Am!
JupiterZygo & MatikBig
ButterfliesVanilla, Kwik & KwakCh Ch Ch Changes
Water purificationMaxGo With the Flow
Asteroid beltsZygo & MatikIt’s A Material Whirl
23RocksEartha & BasaltGoldirocks
Growing upMicro & ScopoHome Grown
RootsVanilla, Kwik & KwakFrom the Ground… Up
WaterEartha & BasaltWater Water Everywhere
Space TravelZygo & MatikOne Giant Leap For Why Whys
24RiversEartha & BasaltIt’s All Downhill From Here
LocksMaxA Turn-Key Operation
HabitatVanilla, Kwik & KwakSleeping In
HeadachesMicro & ScopoYour Loss is Migraine
Planet rotation & revolutionZygo & MatikMoon Trek
25StormsEartha & BasaltSooo Cool
Outer planetsZygo & MatikThe Outer Planets
DamsMaxHold That Thought!
BrainMicro & ScopoChuckleheads
Astrological symbolsZygo & MatikWhat’s Your Sign?
26LightEartha & BasaltThe Light Show
LensesMaxThru the Looking Glass
ReptilesVanilla, Kwik & KwakSnakes Alive!
MusclesMicro & ScopoOnly the Strong Survive
AsteroidsZygo & MatikIt Came from Outer Space

Voice cast

Crew

References