Auto-B-Good

Auto-B-Good is an American animated preschool television series that originally aired from 2005 to 2006, centering on nine anthropomorphic automobiles residing in the fictional City of Auto, where they embark on adventures that teach young viewers essential virtues such as fairness, caring, kindness, and perseverance.^[1] Produced by Rising Star Studios and directed by brothers Charles Meyer and Gary Meyer, the series features short, episodic stories designed for children aged 4 to 10, emphasizing character development through relatable scenarios involving the vehicles' daily lives and challenges.^[2] Notable characters include Johnny the sports car, Cali, EJ, Izzi, and Maria, each with distinct personalities that highlight themes like sharing, self-acceptance, and self-discipline.^[1] The show has garnered critical acclaim, winning multiple Emmy Awards for its engaging animation and educational content, along with Aurora and Telly Awards, and it has been utilized in over 4,500 schools across the United States for character education programs.^[3] In addition to broadcast episodes, Auto-B-Good includes bonus music videos with inspirational messages promoting Christ-like values, contributing to its popularity on faith-based platforms like Minno Kids.^[4]

Series overview

Premise

Auto-B-Good is set in the fictional City of Auto, a vibrant community where all inhabitants are anthropomorphic automobiles that navigate everyday life much like human citizens.^[5] The town features adapted locations such as schools for learning driving skills and road rules, parks for leisurely cruises, and garages serving as homes, all designed to accommodate the vehicular residents' needs and lifestyles.^[1] This world-building establishes a relatable yet imaginative environment where cars experience emotions, form friendships, and face challenges parallel to those of young children.^[6] The central narrative revolves around a close-knit group of young vehicle friends who embark on daily adventures in the City of Auto, encountering situations that highlight preschool-appropriate moral values like fairness, caring, sharing, and responsibility.^[1] These escapades serve as the primary plot device, allowing the characters to explore real-world dilemmas through a fun, vehicle-themed lens, ultimately reinforcing positive behaviors and character development.^[5] The story emphasizes collective problem-solving, where the friends' interactions demonstrate the benefits of teamwork and empathy in resolving conflicts.^[6] Driving the narrative are key character archetypes that embody diverse traits essential to the group's dynamics: an energetic leader who motivates and initiates adventures, an inventive mentor who provides wise guidance and creative solutions, and supportive companions whose varied perspectives contribute to balanced decision-making.^[1] These roles ensure that each story arc showcases how individual strengths complement one another in pursuing moral growth.^[5] Episodes follow a consistent structure of self-contained 11-minute tales, beginning with an engaging setup of a moral dilemma and concluding with its resolution through applied virtues, making the series accessible and educational for its young audience.^[5] This format allows for standalone viewing while building an overarching sense of community and ongoing learning in the City of Auto.^[6]

Format and themes

Auto-B-Good episodes adhere to a structured format optimized for short attention spans in young audiences, with each story running approximately 11 minutes. The narrative typically opens with an engaging theme song, followed by the introduction of a central problem or dilemma encountered by the characters. This leads into a phase of collaborative problem-solving among the group, culminating in a resolution that demonstrates the episode's key moral lesson, often reinforced by a closing recap or musical segment.^[5] The series centers on core themes of preschool virtues, including honesty, respect, teamwork, perseverance, with every episode focusing on one primary value to build character development. These themes draw from an extensive set of 54 character traits, such as kindness, responsibility, fairness, and citizenship, aligned with established educational programs like the Six Pillars of Character.^[7][8] Lessons are seamlessly integrated through the characters' dialogue, decision-making actions, and symbolic visual elements, like traffic signs representing rules and order, which mirror real-world applications without overt preaching. This method uses the vehicular protagonists' interactions in the City of Auto to exemplify virtues in relatable scenarios, enhancing retention for social-emotional growth.^[5][9] Targeted at children aged 4-10, the show promotes social-emotional learning in line with early childhood education standards, encouraging viewers to internalize positive behaviors through narrative-driven examples rather than direct instruction.^[5]

Production

Development

Auto-B-Good was developed as an educational animated series to teach moral values through anthropomorphic cars, with the concept originating in the early 2000s from creators at Wet Cement Productions, a Minnesota-based animation studio.^[10] The series was announced in 2003, followed by principal development starting in 2004. It was subsequently greenlit for broadcast on the PBS Kids preschool block, emphasizing its focus on character-building themes like fairness and caring.^[1] The series was directed by brothers Charles Meyer and Gary Meyer, with writing by John Ingelin. Key collaborators included Wet Cement Productions, responsible for primary animation, and GoldKing Media, which managed content development, distribution, and initial funding through partnerships aimed at educational outreach.^[11] These efforts culminated in the series' premiere on January 17, 2005, with 63 episodes planned across two seasons on PBS Kids, wrapping up on February 27, 2006.^[5]

Animation and voice recording

Auto-B-Good is a CGI-animated series characterized by simple, colorful designs for its vehicle characters, crafted to engage preschool audiences through vibrant visuals and relatable anthropomorphic forms.^[12] The animation employs dynamic camera angles to mimic driving perspectives, enhancing the immersive experience of the cars' adventures in the fictional City of Auto.^[13] Production techniques involved 3D modeling to construct the car characters, with rigging and texturing to enable fluid movements and detailed surfaces. Backgrounds of urban environments were rendered to create a cohesive world, and episodes were animated in batches to streamline efficiency at Wet Cement Productions, the Minnesota-based studio responsible for the series.^[14][15] The overall process began with scripting and concept art, progressing through storyboards, modeling, rigging, texturing, animation, lighting, and compositing to finalize scenes.^[12] Voice recording occurred in studio sessions during 2004-2005, integrated into the production pipeline after texturing and before creating animatics, with an emphasis on expressive, child-friendly tones to convey moral lessons effectively.^[12] Sound design incorporated engine noises, tire screeches synced to emotional beats, and moral-reinforcing music, contributing to the series' immersive audio landscape; this work earned an Emmy Award for Audio/Post-Production in 2006.^[13] Crew highlights include directors and animators from Wet Cement Productions, who handled the core animation, with post-production teams managing effects like synchronized sound elements. The series also received a 2006 Emmy for Graphic Arts and Animation, recognizing the technical achievements in its visual execution.^[13]

Characters

Main characters

Issadora, commonly known as Izzi, is a small microcar based on a 1957 BMW Isetta who is sweet, curious, and innocent. She is the smallest vehicle and loves playing with her best friend EJ, often learning about teamwork and overcoming challenges.^[16] Johnny is a red sports car based on a 2003 Dodge Viper, characterized by his cool, daring, and energetic nature. He loves speed and racing, frequently learning lessons about fair play and patience.^[16] Cali, a pink convertible based on a 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK, embodies friendliness and a fashionable valley girl personality. Her adventures often involve social activities like shopping, highlighting themes of kindness and collaboration.^[16] EJ is a small car based on a 1974 Morris Mini, known for his eager and determined spirit. As one of the "little cars," he tries hard to emulate Johnny, playing a key role in stories about bravery and problem-solving.^[16] The Professor, based on a 1950 Citroën 2CV, acts as the eccentric inventive mentor to the group. His gadgets often malfunction, imparting wisdom on responsibility and thoughtful decision-making.^[16] Franklin, an old touring car based on a Franklin Model G, is wise and reliable. He provides guidance and mentors the younger vehicles, demonstrating values of helping others and perseverance.^[16] Miles, a blue car based on a 1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, is the mature and logical conscience of the group. He balances impulsive friends and explores themes of empathy and community bonds.^[17][16] Maria is a purple sedan who is athletic and adventurous. She enjoys off-roading, coaches soccer, and interacts thoughtfully, delving into respect and emotional growth. Derek is a red pickup truck based on a 2002 Dodge Ram, the biggest and strongest in the group. Gentle and peacemaking, his arc involves helping others and learning about safety and listening.^[18][16]

Supporting characters

In the world of Auto-B-Good, supporting characters enrich the narratives by providing episodic assistance and highlighting key moral lessons through their interactions with the main ensemble. These vehicles often appear to resolve specific challenges or offer contrasting perspectives, reinforcing themes of community and personal growth without overshadowing the primary protagonists. Elrod is a century-old war veteran who owns Elrod's Mini Golf. He shares stories from the past, underscoring perseverance and the value of history in group adventures. CJ Willy was Franklin's sergeant in the Big War, a heroic figure whose bravery is commemorated by a bronze statue in Memorial Park. His legacy teaches citizenship, loyalty, and sacrifice.^[19] Lug Nut is a vaudeville performer and comedian who works with his partner Dip Stick. His enthusiastic routines highlight hard work, positivity, and the importance of enthusiasm in community events.^[16] Billy is a young truck discovered in the woods, raised by bighorn sheep. He represents youthful curiosity and learning foundational values like sharing as he integrates into the City of Auto.^[20] Mr. Morgan, based on a 1939 BMW 328, is a stern yet fair sports referee and war veteran. He enforces fair play in games and town activities, modeling leadership, justice, and respect for rules.

Voice cast

Lead voice actors

The lead voice actors for Auto-B-Good brought distinct vocal styles to the main characters, enhancing the series' energetic and educational tone across its two seasons. Sabrina Crews provided the voice for Issadora, known as Izzi, infusing the role with warmth and enthusiasm as the group's leader in all 63 episodes.^[1] Charles Hubbell voiced Johnny, the sports car, with a high-energy, youthful delivery that captured the character's adventurous spirit, achieved through multiple recording sessions.^[1] Heidi Fellner lent soft, melodic tones to Cali, the friendly convertible, emphasizing her approachable and supportive personality.^[1] Kim Kivens delivered an energetic performance as EJ, the adventurous jeep, highlighting the character's bold and exploratory nature throughout the series.^[1] Teri Parker-Brown voiced Maria with expressive qualities that underscored her artistic sensitivity, appearing in all episodes.^[1] Jim Cunningham portrayed Derek, the motorcycle, in a fast-paced and excitable manner that matched the character's dynamic energy.^[1]

Recurring voice actors

John Farrell provided the voice for Franklin, the elderly and knowledgeable supporting character who appeared in all 63 episodes of the series, delivering lines that often conveyed historical wisdom and life lessons.^[1] Len Goodman voiced the Professor, a recurring mentor figure who guided the main characters through educational scenarios in numerous episodes, emphasizing his role in reinforcing the show's themes of learning and curiosity.^[1] Dave Simmons portrayed Miles, the energetic young supporting car involved in various adventures, contributing to group dynamics and youthful perspectives across multiple installments.^[16] These performers, along with select others handling minor roles like Elrod and Mr. Morgan in episodic appearances, participated in ensemble recording sessions to capture interactive group scenes, allowing for seamless integration of supporting voices into the narrative flow.^[21] Guest voices occasionally filled one-off supporting parts, such as the comedic duo Lug Nut and Dipstick in the season 2 episode "Lug Nut," adding specialized flair to moral-driven stories without dominating the core cast.^[16]

Episodes

Season 1 (2005)

Season 1 of Auto-B-Good premiered on PBS Kids on January 17, 2005, and consisted of 36 episodes that aired from January 17 to April 4, 2005. This season introduces the core ensemble of anthropomorphic vehicles in the City of Auto, establishing the series' setting and dynamics through everyday adventures that highlight basic moral virtues like responsibility, respect, and cooperation. Episodes typically run about 9-11 minutes each, blending animation with live-action segments featuring human children discussing the lessons learned.^[1] The narrative arc builds from individual character introductions to group-oriented challenges, such as community events and teamwork dilemmas, fostering escalating scenarios that reinforce foundational ethical concepts for young viewers. Production for this initial batch utilized straightforward CGI animation and voice recordings to prioritize clear storytelling and accessibility.^[22] The episodes emphasize unique moral focuses, with each story centering on one or two key traits through relatable car-based conflicts and resolutions. For instance:

• Timely Treats (January 17, 2005): On Izzi's birthday, the friends plan to attend her favorite movie, but Johnny's procrastination nearly causes them to miss the show, teaching the importance of punctuality and consideration for others.^[23]
• Red Card to Respect (January 24, 2005): EJ, leading in soccer goals, engages in trash-talking that jeopardizes his performance and team spirit, leading him to learn about sportsmanship and respecting opponents.^[23]
• No Rules Allowed (January 31, 2005): EJ rebels against following rules during playtime, resulting in chaos that demonstrates the value of obedience and structure for safety and fairness.^[24]
• Shop 'Til You Drop (January 31, 2005): Cali's excessive shopping drains her resources, forcing her to confront overindulgence with a friend's guidance on financial responsibility and self-control.^[23]
• Bully Bully (February 7, 2005): After a playground scuffle, EJ faces consequences and learns to channel aggression into kindness, highlighting anti-bullying and empathy.^[23]
• The Price of Freedom (March 7, 2005): Franklin recounts the historical tale of CJ Willy to the young cars, illustrating citizenship through acts of duty and communal protection.^[23]
• Too Rough Around the Edges (April 4, 2005): Franklin doubts Elrod's ability to show courtesy during a social event, but Elrod's efforts reveal the rewards of politeness and refinement in interactions.^[25]
• Friends to the Rescue! (April 4, 2005): EJ suffers a crisis of confidence after repeated sports failures, with Johnny and the Professor helping him rebuild self-assurance through encouragement and perseverance.^[23]

These representative stories exemplify the season's structure, where challenges arise from personal flaws or external pressures, resolved via dialogue, songs, and collaborative problem-solving among the characters.^[23]

Season 2 (2006)

The second season of Auto-B-Good comprises 27 episodes produced by Wet Cement Productions, airing throughout 2006 and concluding on February 27, 2006.^[26] This season builds on the foundational moral lessons of the first by integrating more nuanced storytelling, including multi-episode arcs that explore themes like empathy and community support in greater depth.^[27] Recurring characters receive expanded development, with refined animation techniques enhancing emotional expressions and dynamic action sequences.^[1] The season introduces minor characters more prominently, such as the aging show car Diesel Kanevil and the mysterious Igor, to illustrate virtues through diverse interactions.^[27] Multi-episode threads, like a two-part mystery involving a stolen statue and a mini-golf tournament spanning several installments, allow for progressive character growth and layered lessons on topics such as judgment and perseverance.^[28] These elements culminate in wrapping key series arcs, emphasizing long-term personal integrity among the core cast in the City of Auto.^[27]

Representative Episodes

• Movie "FX" (Episode 1, aired January 2, 2006): EJ's behavior deteriorates after watching an age-inappropriate action movie, leading his friends to intervene and teach him about the influence of media on values.^[26][27]
• Cheaters U-Turn (Episode 2, aired January 2, 2006): During a grand race on the new Morales Highway, Johnny encounters cheating competitors, learning the consequences of dishonesty and the value of fair play.^[26][27]
• The Cobra Canyon Leap (Episode 3): Johnny assists the veteran performer Diesel Kanevil in attempting a daring canyon jump, highlighting themes of respect for elders and overcoming personal doubts.^[26][27]
• The Integrity Project (Episode 4): Izzi and EJ tinker with a seemingly failed invention from Professor Dingledine, only to discover its true potential, reinforcing the importance of honesty in problem-solving.^[26][27]
• Rising to the Occasion (Episode 5): Izzi struggles to document acts of bravery for a school project until EJ's courageous stand against car thugs inspires her, teaching resilience and true heroism.^[27][26]
• Breaking Par (Episode 7, aired January 16, 2006): Cali gains confidence in miniature golf under Elrod's guidance, exploring self-belief and the rewards of practicing new skills.^[26][27]
• Unusual Suspect (Episode 9, aired January 16, 2006; Part 1 of statue theft arc): The theft of a CJ Willy statue sparks suspicion toward newcomer Igor, prompting the gang to investigate without rushing to judgment.^[26][28][27]
• Get the OOMPH! (Episode 11, aired January 23, 2006): Miles and Izzi embark on an adventure requiring determination, as they push through obstacles to achieve their goal.^[26][27]
• Home Sweet Home (Episode 14, aired January 30, 2006): After Billy's visit to the city highlights urban excitement, the friends reflect on appreciating their hometown's simple joys.^[26][27]
• CAR-Nival (Episode 17, aired February 6, 2006): EJ volunteers at a town carnival but learns the true value of helping others only after initial reluctance, emphasizing selfless service.^[26][27]
• Issadora's Box (Episode 19, aired February 13, 2006): Izzi's impatience unleashes chaos in town when she opens an experimental device prematurely, teaching patience and thoughtful decision-making.^[26][27]
• Western Hero (Episode 23, aired February 20, 2006): The friends meet a TV star who falls short of expectations, prompting discussions on genuine heroism versus celebrity image.^[26][27]
• Squeaky Clean! (Episode 27, aired February 27, 2006): EJ neglects his maintenance routine, leading to breakdowns that underscore the importance of personal hygiene and responsibility.^[26][27]

Broadcast history

Original broadcast

Auto-B-Good premiered on January 17, 2005, as part of the PBS Kids preschool programming block, targeting young audiences with educational content on moral values and character development.^[29] The series was produced by Wet Cement Productions in collaboration with American Public Television specifically for public broadcasting outlets, emphasizing accessibility for early childhood learning through short, animated episodes featuring anthropomorphic cars.^[30] The show aired primarily on select PBS stations within the PBS Kids lineup, with Season 1 episodes broadcast through December 2005 and Season 2 continuing into early 2006, concluding its original run on February 27, 2006.^[16] Episodes were typically scheduled in daily or weekly slots during preschool hours to align with educational programming, promoting themes of fairness, caring, and responsibility through 63 total installments across two seasons.^[31] This format allowed for consistent exposure in U.S. public television schedules, supported by promotional efforts tied to early childhood curricula. Initial distribution focused on the domestic market, with limited exports beyond the United States during the original broadcast period, prioritizing PBS affiliates to maximize reach among educational viewers.^[29]

Reruns and later availability

Following its original run on PBS Kids stations, Auto-B-Good aired in reruns on the Smile of a Child network, a faith-based children's channel owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), starting in 2008 and continuing until January 31, 2019.^[32][33] These broadcasts targeted audiences seeking content aligned with Christian moral values, leveraging the series' emphasis on character-building lessons such as honesty and respect.^[34] After its removal from TBN networks in early 2019, the series experienced a gap in major broadcast availability, with no presence on mainstream platforms like Netflix, Disney+, or the PBS Video app as of November 2025.^[13] However, limited access persists through niche streaming services, including free episodes on Plex (37 episodes from Season 1) and subscription-based viewing on Minno Kids, a Christian-focused platform for family content.^[35][4] No new episodes or official revivals have been announced since the original production ended in 2006, though fan-uploaded full episodes remain accessible on YouTube, extending the show's reach to nostalgic and educational viewers.^[1][36] This ongoing availability via educational and faith-oriented channels underscores the enduring appeal of its value-driven narratives for young audiences.^[4]

Home media and adaptations

DVD releases

The DVD releases of Auto-B-Good were produced by Rising Star Studios and targeted young children through various formats emphasizing character education. Retail editions, launched in 2005 and 2006 to coincide with the show's original broadcast, compiled episodes from the two seasons into individual volumes for home viewing, typically featuring 3-4 episodes per disc plus bonus content like sing-alongs.^[37][38] Examples include Hitting the Road (2005), which covers themes of teamwork and perseverance, and On the Road Again (2005), focusing on virtues such as obedience and self-control.^[39] These standard retail sets were packaged in slimline cases for families, with no full-season box sets confirmed, though collector's bundles of multiple volumes became available on secondary markets.^[40] Educational editions, distributed by Rising Star Education starting around 2005, were designed for classroom and daycare use, including bonus teacher's guides, lesson plans, and activity sheets aligned with character virtues like respect and responsibility.^[9][41] These versions targeted K-6 students, with a 12-DVD series compiling 63 episodes across volumes such as Volume 9 (School Edition) on punctuality and obedience, often bundled with curriculum materials for no-prep integration into social-emotional learning programs.^[42][43] Packaging featured durable school-grade cases, and sets were marketed to educators via outlets like At-Risk Youth products.^[41] Special editions emerged in 2009, integrating Christian music videos by songwriter Rick Altizer to align with reruns on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), enhancing moral lessons with faith-based elements for Christian families and Sunday schools.^[44] Approximately 5-7 volumes were released, including Driving It Home (featuring episodes on generosity like "Gift of Golf" plus bonus faith videos) and Life in the Fast Lane (2008, with themes of self-control and a music video "Make a Difference for the Lord").^[45][46] These were compiled into collections like the Complete Faith Collection (63 episodes total), available as DVD rentals or bundles.^[44] By 2025, all physical DVD editions—retail, educational, and special—are out of print from primary distributors but remain accessible used via platforms like eBay and Amazon, often in standard or collector's sets of 5-11 discs.^[47][48] No Blu-ray conversions or official digital remasters have been issued, though streaming options via RisingStar.Digital provide episode access for educational and faith-based users, including the Complete Faith Collection, a 365-day digital rental of all 63 episodes with faith-based enhancements, available as of November 2025.^[43][44]

Storybooks

In 2010, Rising Star Studios published a series of nine hardcover storybooks based on the Auto-B-Good animated series, each written by Phillip Walton and designed to reinforce the show's character education themes through narrative adventures featuring the program's anthropomorphic vehicle characters.^[49][50] These books extend the series' focus on virtues such as responsibility, citizenship, and caring, serving as educational tie-ins for young readers following the television run's conclusion in 2006.^[50] Each 48-page volume presents an original story centered on a single virtue, illustrated with vibrant 3D artwork that captures the colorful, vehicle-centric world of the series, accompanied by simple, engaging text suitable for read-aloud sessions.^[51] Representative titles include Attack of the Runaway Robot: A Lesson in Responsibility, where characters confront a malfunctioning invention to learn accountability, and EJ and the Bully: A Lesson in Respect, depicting interpersonal challenges among the auto friends.^[51][50] The full set covers nine traits—responsibility, citizenship, integrity, respect, caring, courage, trustworthiness, fairness, and self-control—aligning with the show's social-emotional learning curriculum.^[50] Targeted at children in kindergarten through sixth grade (approximately ages 5-12), the books are available in library-bound hardcover editions for durability in educational settings, with some offered in standard hardcover for home use.^[49][50] They emphasize interactive storytelling to promote discussion of moral lessons, though no additional activity pages are specified in primary descriptions.^[51] As of 2025, no additional Auto-B-Good storybooks have been released beyond this initial set, limiting the print extensions of the franchise to these volumes, which remain accessible through the publisher's bundles while supplies last or via secondhand markets.^[50] This collection helped sustain the series' educational impact in classrooms and libraries post-broadcast, integrating seamlessly with related video content for character development programs.^[52]