Jakers! raises the bar for state-of-the-art animated children's shows! Sophisticated, computer generated imaging (CGI) - previously seen only in feature films - allows life-like 3D characters to perform in richly colored, lush backgrounds providing a level of acting, timing and sophistication never before seen in children's programming.
The series follows the adventures of Piggley Winks, a spunky eight-year-old pig, and his friends, Dannan and Ferny, on Raloo Farm in Ireland. While the intrepid trio are enjoying their escapades - "Jakers!" is their oft-used Irish expression of amazement and delight - American transplant Wiley the Sheep is busy offering wild and woolly advice to his all-too-sheepish flock. In an act of "shear" comic genius, renowned funnyman Mel Brooks voices the role of Wiley (an Emmy-nominated performance in 2005!).
The top and tail of each episode feature Piggley in the present day as a grandpa, telling these stories of childhood shenanigans as entertaining lessons in life to his three contemporary, rambunctious city-dwelling grandpigs.
Whether they're fishing for the salmon of knowledge, trying to turn donkeys into racehorses, or finagling to get out of doing chores, Piggley, Dannan and Ferny will find a way to turn the familiar into the utterly fantastic. Sometimes they figure things out on their own, and sometimes they need the help of their parents, siblings, friends, and/or schoolteacher.
Through Grandpa Piggley's rousing stories, which vividly bring to life a childhood long ago and far away, his three modern-day grandpigs learn the vital lessons in life: the satisfaction that comes with hard work; how to deal with feelings of fear, anxiety or insecurity; the joy of using your imagination; appreciating everyone's unique talents; and, of course, the immeasurable value of a Grandpa's wisdom.
Interstitials
With each of Piggley's animated adventures comes two all new live action segments: "Meet the Grandparents" and "Piggley's Storyteller Playhouse". These interstitials expand upon key subjects such as oral storytelling, heritage and the grandparent-grandchild bond.In "Meet the Grandparents" we see grandparents from around the world share memories from their childhoods - in Kashmir, the Philippines, the rural South, China, Ukraine, India, the Bronx and many other locations - and teach their grandchildren a song, dance, story or craft they learned as children.
During "Piggley's Storyteller Playhouse," master storytellers demonstrate the art of storytelling, each emphasizing a different aspect of the process. Voice actor and stand-up comedian Tom Kenny, best known as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, for example, shows viewers how mood and tone can change a story, while comedian Gary Anthony, from Malcolm in the Middle, teaches about the three basic building blocks of stories.
