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Numberblocks
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 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2017) |
| Numberblocks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Joe Elliot |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by |
|
| Voices of |
|
| Composer | Ben Lee Delisle |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 8 |
| No. of episodes | 173 (including specials); 184 (including Numbersong shorts) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Joe Elliot Oli Hyatt Catherine McAllister (CBeebies) Joel Wilenius (CBeebies) |
| Editor | Steve Hughes |
| Running time | 2-3 minutes (numbersongs) 5 minutes (main series) 10–20 minutes (specials) |
| Production companies | Blue-Zoo Alphablocks Ltd. |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBeebies |
| Release | 23 January 2017 – present |
| Related | |
Numberblocks is a British animated television series for preschoolers that debuted on CBeebies on 23 January 2017. The programme was created by Joe Elliot and produced by Alphablocks Ltd with Blue Zoo. It was commissioned by the BBC, with Larkshead Media and Learning Resources holding merchandising rights.
The show follows the Numberblocks, characters made of blocks who represent numbers. They live on a fictional planet called Numberland and embark on adventures relating to mathematical concepts. In 2017, the show was nominated for a BAFTA award in the "Learning" category.[2]
Premise
[edit]Numberblocks follows the adventures of sentient, colourful block characters in Numberland, each representing and named after a number, and made up of the equivalent number of blocks. A black floating number, called a Numberling, appears above their heads to show their value. When one block hops on top of another, they combine into a different character to make a new number. Many of the numbers have styles and personalities associated with their numbers (One is brave and independent, Four loves squares as he is a square number, Seven is rainbow-coloured and lucky due to the superstition behind that number, Eight has octopus-like tentacles as octopuses have 8 tentacles, Eleven loves football as a football team has 11 players, etc.).[3]
The show helps toddlers and young kids learn numeracy skills, especially how to count and do simple maths. Integer concepts such as even and odd numbers, and factoring are discussed and explored. More sophisticated ideas are also explored in later episodes such as comparison, square numbers thanks to Four, and triangular numbers (known as "Step Squads" in the series) thanks to Fifteen, as well as counting using binary numbers thanks to Sixty-Four's inventions.[4]
Production
[edit]Kay Benbow of BBC Studios commissioned Numberblocks as an animated series for children aged 3–6 to be developed by Essex production company Blue Zoo.[5][6] The production was made in partnership with the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) to complement the Alphablocks series.[7] Created by Joe Elliot, the series was made to give children a deep understanding of how numbers work. Elliot wanted to visually show the concepts of maths in a way no other number series had, as he thought many people struggled with how the subject is taught.[5] In October 2018, Aardman Animations' international sales and acquisitions arm acquired the distribution rights to the show, along with Alphablocks.[8]
Episodes
[edit]| Series | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 15 | 23 January 2017 | 10 February 2017 | |
| 2 | 15 | 1 May 2017 | 19 May 2017 | |
| 3 | 30 | 24 September 2018 | 1 February 2019 | |
| Numbersongs | 11 | 26 April 2019 | 15 December 2022 | |
| 4 | 30 | 10 June 2019 | 16 August 2019 | |
| 5 | 30 | 8 March 2021 | 25 June 2021 | |
| Specials | 8 | 27 August 2021 | 14 February 2022 | |
| 6 | 15 | 4 March 2024 | 22 March 2024[9] | |
| 7 | 15 | 19 August 2024 | 26 August 2024 | |
| 8 | 15 | 18 August 2025 | September 4, 2025 [10] | |
Series 1 (2017)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Original release date [a] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "One" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Miquel Cabot (Animation Lead) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot | 23 January 2017[11] | |
|
Learn all about the number 1 with Numberblock One herself, as she sings a song about how it's like to be the only one. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Another One" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Miquel Cabot (Animation Lead) | Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh, & Andrew Jones | 24 January 2017 | |
| 3 | 3 | "Two" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot | 25 January 2017 | |
| 4 | 4 | "Three" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot | 26 January 2017 | |
| 5 | 5 | "One, Two, Three" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Mariella Capasso (Animation Lead) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 27 January 2017 | |
| 6 | 6 | "Four" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Mariella Capasso (Animation Lead) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Ciaran Murtagh, & Andrew Jones | 30 January 2017 | |
| 7 | 7 | "Five" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Ciaran Murtagh, & Andrew Jones | 31 January 2017 | |
| 8 | 8 | "Three Little Pigs" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Miquel Cabot (Animation Lead) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 1 February 2017 | |
| 9 | 9 | "Off We Go!" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Lizzie Hicks (Animation Lead) | Joe Elliot | 2 February 2017 | |
| 10 | 10 | "How To Count" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Miquel Cabot (Animation Lead) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 3 February 2017 | |
| 11 | 11 | "Stampolines" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Miquel Cabot (Animation Lead) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 6 February 2017 | |
| 12 | 12 | "The Whole of Me" | Simon Taylor (Series Director and Tony Trimmer (Artistic Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 8 February 2017 | |
| 13 | 13 | "The Terrible Twos" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Mariella Capasso (Animation Lead) | Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh, & Andrew Jones | 7 February 2017 | |
| 14 | 14 | "Holes" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) | Joe Elliot | 9 February 2017 | |
| 15 | 15 | "Hide & Seek" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Mariella Capasso (Animation Lead) | Joe Elliot | 10 February 2017 | |
Series 2 (2017)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Original release date [a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1 | "Six" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 1 May 2017[12] |
| 17 | 2 | "Seven" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Alec Smith (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Andrew Jones | 2 May 2017 |
| 18 | 3 | "Eight" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Alec Smith (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 3 May 2017 |
| 19 | 4 | "Nine" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Alec Smith (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 4 May 2017 |
| 20 | 5 | "Ten" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Alec Smith and Krissy Josephides (Animation Directors) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 5 May 2017 |
| 21 | 6 | "Just Add One" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) | Joe Elliot | 8 May 2017 |
| 22 | 7 | "Blast Off" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Alec Smith and Krissy Josephides (Animation Directors) | Max Allen | 9 May 2017 |
| 23 | 8 | "Counting Sheep" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Alec Smith and Krissy Josephides (Animation Directors) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 10 May 2017 |
| 24 | 9 | "Double Trouble" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) | Max Allen | 11 May 2017 |
| 25 | 10 | "The Three Threes" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) | Max Allen & Joe Elliot | 12 May 2017 |
| 26 | 11 | "Odds and Evens" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Alec Smith and Krissy Josephides (Animation Directors) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 15 May 2017 |
| 27 | 12 | "Fluffies" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Krissy Josephides (Animation Lead) | Joe Elliot | 16 May 2017 |
| 28 | 13 | "The Two Tree" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Alec Smith and Krissy Josephides (Animation Directors) | Max Allen | 17 May 2017 |
| 29 | 14 | "Numberblock Castle" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Alec Smith and Krissy Josephides (Animation Directors) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 18 May 2017 |
| 30 | 15 | "Ten Green Bottles" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Alec Smith and Krissy Josephides (Animation Directors) | Max Allen & Joe Elliot | 19 May 2017 |
Series 3 (2018–19)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Original release date [a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | "Once Upon a Time" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 24 September 2018[13] |
| 32 | 2 | "Blockzilla" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Joe Elliot | 25 September 2018 |
| 33 | 3 | "The Numberblocks Express" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Joe Elliot | 26 September 2018 |
| 34 | 4 | "Fruit Salad" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 27 September 2018 |
| 35 | 5 | "Zero" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot | 28 September 2018 |
| 36 | 6 | "Now We Are Six to Ten" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 1 October 2018 |
| 37 | 7 | "Numberblobs" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 2 October 2018 |
| 38 | 8 | "Building Blocks" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 3 October 2018 |
| 39 | 9 | "Peekaboo!" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 4 October 2018 |
| 40 | 10 | "Hiccups" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Joe Elliot | 5 October 2018 |
| 41 | 11 | "What's the Difference?" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 8 October 2018 |
| 42 | 12 | "Numberblock Rally" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 9 October 2018 |
| 43 | 13 | "Five and Friends" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 10 October 2018 |
| 44 | 14 | "Octoblock to the Rescue!" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 11 October 2018 |
| 45 | 15 | "Ten Again" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 12 October 2018 |
| 46 | 16 | "Flatland" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Joe Elliot | 15 October 2018 |
| 47 | 17 | "Pattern Palace" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Joe Elliot | 16 October 2018 |
| 48 | 18 | "Legend of The Big Tum" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 17 October 2018 |
| 49 | 19 | "Mirror, Mirror" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 18 October 2018 |
| 50 | 20 | "The Wrong Number" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 19 October 2018 |
| 51 | 21 | "Eleven" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 21 January 2019 |
| 52 | 22 | "Twelve" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 22 January 2019 |
| 53 | 23 | "The Way of the Rectangle" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 23 January 2019 |
| 54 | 24 | "Ride the Rays" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 25 January 2019 |
| 55 | 25 | "Block Star" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 24 January 2019 |
| 56 | 26 | "Thirteen" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 28 January 2019 |
| 57 | 27 | "Fourteen" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle | 29 January 2019 |
| 58 | 28 | "Fifteen" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 30 January 2019 |
| 59 | 29 | "Tween Scenes" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 31 January 2019 |
| 60 | 30 | "Step Squads" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 1 February 2019 |
Numbersongs (2019–22)
[edit]| No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Original release date [a] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Five Little Speckled Frogs" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 26 April 2019[14] |
| 2 | "Zoom Zoom Zoom!" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 26 April 2019 |
| 3 | "Scoop a Scoop" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 26 April 2019 |
| 4 | "Who Has More?" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 26 April 2019 |
| 5 | "Five Little Boats" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 26 April 2019 |
| 6 | "Days of Spring" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 26 April 2019 |
| 7 | "How Many Passengers?" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 3 May 2019 |
| 8 | "Lets All Draw Numbers" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 3 May 2019 |
| 9 | "Hen House Hop" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 3 May 2019 |
| 10 | "Counting Cars" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 3 May 2019 |
| 11 | "How Many Sleeps 'Till Christmas?" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) | 15 December 2022 |
Series 4 (2019)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Original release date [a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 1 | "Fifteen's Minute of Fame" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Lead) | Max Allen | 10 June 2019[15] |
| 62 | 2 | "On Your Head" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 11 June 2019 |
| 63 | 3 | "Ten's Place" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Joe Elliot | 12 June 2019 |
| 64 | 4 | "Balancing Bridge" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 13 June 2019 |
| 65 | 5 | "Sixteen" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Joe Elliot | 14 June 2019 |
| 66 | 6 | "Square Club" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 17 June 2019 |
| 67 | 7 | "Seventeen" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 18 June 2019 |
| 68 | 8 | "Eighteen" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 19 June 2019 |
| 69 | 9 | "Loop the Loop" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 20 June 2019 |
| 70 | 10 | "Nineteen" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 21 June 2019 |
| 71 | 11 | "Twenty" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 8 July 2019 |
| 72 | 12 | "Tall Stories" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 9 July 2019 |
| 73 | 13 | "Flights of Fancy" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 10 July 2019 |
| 74 | 14 | "I Can Count To Twenty" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 11 July 2019 |
| 75 | 15 | "Heist" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 12 July 2019 |
| 76 | 16 | "Sign of the Times" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 15 July 2019 |
| 77 | 17 | "Fun Times Fair" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 16 July 2019 |
| 78 | 18 | "The Lair of Shares" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 17 July 2019 |
| 79 | 19 | "Terrible Twosday" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 18 July 2019 |
| 80 | 20 | "Divide and Drive" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 19 July 2019 |
| 81 | 21 | "Twenty-One and On" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 5 August 2019 |
| 82 | 22 | "We're Going On A Square Hunt" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Max Allen | 6 August 2019 |
| 83 | 23 | "Thirty's Big Top" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 7 August 2019 |
| 84 | 24 | "Land of the Giants" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 8 August 2019 |
| 85 | 25 | "Fifty" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 9 August 2019 |
| 86 | 26 | "Sixty's High Score" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 12 August 2019 |
| 87 | 27 | "The Big One" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Jones | 13 August 2019 |
| 88 | 28 | "One Hundred" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 14 August 2019 |
| 89 | 29 | "One Thousand and One" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Joe Elliot | 15 August 2019 |
| 90 | 30 | "More to Explore" | Simon Taylor (Series Director) and Will Cook (Animation Director) | Ben Lee-Delisle & Joe Elliot | 16 August 2019 |
Series 5 (2021)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Original release date [a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | 1 | "Your Turn" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 8 March 2021[16] |
| 92 | 2 | "Now You See Us" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 9 March 2021 |
| 93 | 3 | "Ten's Top Ten" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Damon Winterburn (Lead Animators) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 10 March 2021 |
| 94 | 4 | "What's My Number?" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Max Allen, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 11 March 2021 |
| 95 | 5 | "Fun Times One Times Table" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Damon Winterburn (Lead Animators) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 12 March 2021 |
| 96 | 6 | "The Many Friends of Twenty" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Max Allen, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 15 March 2021 |
| 97 | 7 | "Ten Vaulting" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 16 March 2021 |
| 98 | 8 | "Twoland" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 17 March 2021 |
| 99 | 9 | "Two Times Shoe Shop" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 18 March 2021 |
| 100 | 10 | "Odd Side Story" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 19 March 2021 |
| 101 | 11 | "How Rectangly!" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Damon Winterburn (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 22 March 2021 |
| 102 | 12 | "Rectangle Racers" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Max Allen, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 23 March 2021 |
| 103 | 13 | "The Team Factor" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Damon Winterburn (Lead Animators) | Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 24 March 2021 |
| 104 | 14 | "Hidden Talents" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 25 March 2021 |
| 105 | 15 | "Making Patterns" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 26 March 2021 |
| 106 | 16 | "Now in 3D" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 7 June 2021 |
| 107 | 17 | "Club Picnic" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 8 June 2021 |
| 108 | 18 | "Too Many Threes" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Max Allen, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 9 June 2021 |
| 109 | 19 | "Circus of Threes" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Damon Winterburn (Lead Animators) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 10 June 2021 |
| 110 | 20 | "Figure It Out" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Charlotte-Binnie Thompson (Lead Animators) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 11 June 2021 |
| 111 | 21 | "Snow Day Doubles" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 14 June 2021 |
| 112 | 22 | "Steps Versus Squares" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Max Allen, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 15 June 2021 |
| 113 | 23 | "Puzzle Square" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Charlotte-Binnie Thompson (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 16 June 2021 |
| 114 | 24 | "Four on the Floor" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 17 June 2021 |
| 115 | 25 | "Sky High Fives" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 18 June 2021 |
| 116 | 26 | "One Giant Step Squad" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Charlotte-Binnie Thompson (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 21 June 2021 |
| 117 | 27 | "Square on the Moon" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Max Allen, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 22 June 2021 |
| 118 | 28 | "Heroes with Zeroes" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 23 June 2021 |
| 119 | 29 | "What If?" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep and Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Ben Lee-Delisle, Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 24 June 2021 |
| 120 | 30 | "100 Ways to Leave the Planet" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Charlotte-Binnie Thompson (Lead Animators) | Joe Elliot, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 25 June 2021 |
Specials (2021–22)
[edit]| No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Original release date [a] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Double Back" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Liza Huxstep & Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Max Allen, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 27 August 2021[17][18] | |
| 2 | "The Treasure of Hexagon Island" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Liza Huxstep & Megan Pearce | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 27 August 2021[19] | |
| 3 | "About Time" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Joe Elliot, Ben Lee-Delisle, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 31 October 2021[20] | |
| 4 | "The Twelve Days of Christmas" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Charlotte-Binnie Thompson (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 12 December 2021 | |
| 5 | "Making Friends" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Charlotte-Binnie Thompson (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 14 February 2022 | |
|
Note: This episode was part of the Alphablocks & Numberblocks crossover series. | |||||
| 6 | "The Case of the Missing Blocks" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Megan Pearce (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 14 February 2022 | |
|
Note: This episode was part of the Alphablocks & Numberblocks crossover series. | |||||
| 7 | "The Blocks v Blocks Games" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 14 February 2022 | |
|
Note: This episode was part of the Alphablocks & Numberblocks crossover series. | |||||
| 8 | "Crossover" | Simon Taylor, (Series Director) Lisa Huxstep & Steve Kimbrey (Lead Animators) | Max Allen, Ciaran Murtagh & Andrew Barnett Jones | 14 February 2022 | |
|
Note: This episode was part of the Alphablocks & Numberblocks crossover series. | |||||
Series 6 (2024)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Original release date [a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | 1 | "Painting by Numbers" | Simon Taylor | Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones | 4 March 2024 |
| 122 | 2 | "Leap Blob" | Simon Taylor | Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones | 5 March 2024 |
| 123 | 3 | "Ice and Dice" | Simon Taylor (probably) | Unknown | 6 March 2024 |
| 124 | 4 | "Go Go Domino" | Unknown | Unknown | 7 March 2024 |
| 125 | 5 | "Ten in the Bed" | Unknown | Unknown | 8 March 2024 |
| 126 | 6 | "Shape Party" | Unknown | Unknown | 11 March 2024 |
| 127 | 7 | "Can We Have Our Ball Back?" | Unknown | Unknown | 12 March 2024 |
| 128 | 8 | "Cuboid Castle" | Unknown | Unknown | 13 March 2024 |
| 129 | 9 | "On My Way to Numberblock Fair" | Unknown | Unknown | 14 March 2024 |
| 130 | 10 | "Octoblock and the Path of Justice" | Unknown | Unknown | 15 March 2024 |
| 131 | 11 | "Five's Handy Shop" | Unknown | Unknown | 18 March 2024 |
| 132 | 12 | "As Tall as the Sun" | Unknown | Unknown | 19 March 2024 |
| 133 | 13 | "Feeding Time" | Unknown | Unknown | 20 March 2024 |
| 134 | 14 | "Rockets and Rekenreks" | Unknown | Unknown | 21 March 2024 |
| 135 | 15 | "The Pattern of Patterns" | Unknown | Unknown | 22 March 2024 |
Series 7 (2024)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Original release date [a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | 1 | "Grid Unlocked" | Will Lloyd-Cook, Andrew West (voices), Maurcio Maia (animation) | Darren Jones | 19 August 2024 |
| 137 | 2 | "Friendly Fours' Beach Day" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones | 20 August 2024 |
| 138 | 3 | "All-Star Line-Up" | Will Lloyd-Cook, Andrew West (voice), Mauricio Maia (animation) | Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones | 21 August 2024 |
| 139 | 4 | "Rescue Racers" | Will Lloyd-Cook, Andrew West (voices), Mauricio Maia (animation) | Andrew Emerson | 22 August 2024 |
| 140 | 5 | "The Rolling Sixes" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones | 23 August 2024 |
| 141 | 6 | "Remix the Sixes" | Simon Taylor | Ben Lee Delisle, Joe Elliot | 26 August 2024 |
| 142 | 7 | "Grid Games Galore" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Andrew Viner | 27 August 2024 |
| 143 | 8 | "The Rainbow Makers" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones | 28 August 2024 |
| 144 | 9 | "Sail the Seven Seas" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones, Ben Lee-Delisle | 29 August 2024 |
| 145 | 10 | "We Need Another Hero" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Andrew Viner, Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones | 30 August 2024 |
| 146 | 11 | "Super Eights Assemble" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones, Ben Lee-Delisle | 2 September 2024 |
| 147 | 12 | "Seventy-Two's Super Surprise" | Mauricio Maia (Art) | Darren Jones | 3 September 2024 |
| 148 | 13 | "The Magical Nines" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Ciaran Murtagh and Andrew Barnett Jones (head writers), Andrew Emerson (writer) | 4 September 2024 |
| 149 | 14 | "Nine's Time to Shine" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Ciaran Murtagh, Andrew Barnett Jones, and Ben Lee-Delisle | 5 September 2024 |
| 150 | 15 | "Space Division" | Will Lloyd-Cook | Ciaran Murtagh and Andrew Barnett Jones | 6 September 2024 |
Series 8 (2025)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title [a] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Original release date [a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | 1 | "The Third Button" | Francesca Adams | Darren Jones | 18 August 2025 |
| 152 | 2 | "The Great Bug Race" | Unknown | Unknown | 19 August 2025 |
| 153 | 3 | "The Big Picture" | Unknown | Unknown | 20 August 2025 |
| 154 | 4 | "Space Repair" | Unknown | Unknown | 21 August 2025 |
| 155 | 5 | "Capacity for Magic" | Unknown | Unknown | 22 August 2025 |
| 156 | 6 | "How Many Smoothies?" | Unknown | Unknown | 22 August 2025 |
| 157 | 7 | "Odd Block Club" | Unknown | Unknown | 25 August 2025 |
| 158 | 8 | "Five Makes a Wish" | Unknown | Unknown | 26 August 2025 |
| 159 | 9 | "Number Rescue, Go!" | Unknown | Unknown | 27 August 2025 |
| 160 | 10 | "The Best House Band in Numberland" | Unknown | Unknown | 28 August 2025 |
| 161 | 11 | "Double Duets" | Unknown | Unknown | 29 August 2025 |
| 162 | 12 | "Double Doors, Double Locked" | Unknown | Unknown | 1 September 2025 |
| 163 | 13 | "The All-Knowing Nine" | Unknown | Unknown | 2 September 2025 |
| 164 | 14 | "Subtraction Somersaults" | Unknown | Unknown | 3 September 2025 |
| 165 | 15 | "Tenpin Tournament" | Unknown | Unknown | 4 September 2025 |
Series 9 (TBA)
[edit]Series 9 was teased on Jamie Floodgate's LinkedIn, and no information about it has released except that it was animated from September 2024 to April 2025 alongside Series 8.[21]
Other media
[edit]UK-based kids media service company Larkshead Media was appointed to manage licensing activities for Numberblocks in August 2017; the agency announced that merchandise including toys and apparel would be brought to retail.[22] In July 2020, a MathLink Cubes activity set inspired by the show was announced by Learning Resources to be available through major retailers later in the year.[23][24] The set, featuring characters One to Ten, was delayed and released in June 2021.[25][26] In September, Immediate Media launched an official magazine for the show, with the first issue released on 8 September 2021.[27][28] Fancy dress distributor Rubies announced an official dress up licence for Numberblocks in October, with costumes planned to be available in the EMEA and Australia in 2022.[29] Learning Resources secured a global master licensing deal for Numberblocks in November 2021,[30] announcing the release of plush toys in 2022 followed by playsets, video games and classroom items with sister company hand2mind by 2023.[31][32]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Tuchow, Ryan (12 August 2021). "What are the most in-demand preschool shows?". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "Nominations List for the British Academy Children's Awards in 2017". Bafta. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "Numberblocks – Series 1". NCETM. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Numberblocks episodes series 1 to 5" (PDF). ncetm.org.uk.
- ^ a b "Blue Zoo Animation's 'Numberblocks' Launching on CBeebies". Animation World Network. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (23 January 2017). "CBeebies Counts on 'Numberblocks'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ Whyte, Alexandra (20 January 2017). "CBeebies bows new Numberblocks series". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ Whyte, Alexandra (9 October 2018). "Aardman picks up three new series". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "TV Writing".
- ^ Numberblocks - Series 1: One, retrieved 2 March 2023
- ^ Numberblocks - Series 2: Six, retrieved 4 March 2023
- ^ Numberblocks - Series 3: Once Upon a Time, retrieved 4 March 2023
- ^ Numberblocks - Numbersongs: Five Little Speckled Frogs, retrieved 4 March 2023
- ^ Numberblocks - Series 4: Fifteen's Minute of Fame, retrieved 12 March 2023
- ^ Numberblocks - Series 5: Your Turn, retrieved 14 April 2023
- ^ Numberblocks - Specials: Double Back, retrieved 8 May 2023
- ^ @numberblocks (28 August 2021). "🏝️ Hex marks the spot! Will the Numberblocks be able to figure out Captain Hexbeard's challenges and get their fabulous treasure? 🏆 And just who is that rascally Hexbeard?👀 🇬🇧 Watch Hexagon Island today on @CBeebiesHQ and @BBCiPlayer 👉 https://bbc.in/2UUgAIf" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @numberblocks (24 August 2021). "Which #Numberblocks episode does your little 1 watch back 2 back? 👀👀 Our new time traveling adventure, Double Back, will be on @CBeebiesHQ this weekend and @BBCiPlayer from Friday!⏱️⚡" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @numberblocks (14 October 2021). "Eeeek! We think it's about time for... yes, you guessed it - another fabulous #Numberblocks adventure! ✨ Can you guess the theme? 'About Time' coming soon to @CBeebiesHQ and @BBCiPlayer on Sunday the 31st of October 2021. ⏰🚂" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Jamie Floodgate". LinkedIn.
- ^ Foster, Elizabeth (21 August 2017). "CBeebies' Numberblocks adds Larkshead Media to equation". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "Learning Resources, 'Numberblocks' Team for Activity Sets". License Global. Global Licensing Group. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Plummer, Greg (1 July 2020). "King's Lynn educational toy company teams up with award-winning CBeebies show". Lynn News. Iliffe Media. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Hutchins, Robert (24 March 2021). "Learning Resources partners with Numberblocks for new MathLink Cube Numberblocks Activity Set". ToyNews. BizMedia. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "'Numberblocks,' hand2mind Team for Math Activity Sets". License Global. Global Licensing Group. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Hutchins, Robert (7 September 2021). "Immediate Media launches official Numberblocks Magazine". ToyNews. BizMedia. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "Immediate Media Launches Numberblocks Magazine". License Global. Global Licensing Group. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Clayton, Tessa (6 October 2021). "Rubies to bring Numberblocks characters to life with new costume license". ToyNews. BizMedia. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Beake, Jenny (24 November 2021). "Numberblocks signs toy licensing deal with Learning Resources". Lynn News. Iliffe Media. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Clayton, Tessa (19 November 2021). "Learning Resources secures global master toy licence deal for Numberblocks". ToyNews. BizMedia. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Michalik, Maddie (17 November 2021). "Alphablocks Names Learning Resources as Master Toy Licensee for Numberblocks". The Toy Book. Adventure Media. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
External links
[edit]
Numberblocks
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Numberblocks is a British animated preschool television series that teaches young children fundamental mathematics concepts through colorful, anthropomorphic number characters known as Numberblocks.[1] The show, set in the whimsical world of Numberland, features these block-based figures who combine and separate to demonstrate addition, subtraction, and other numerical ideas via engaging songs, stories, and problem-solving adventures.[2]
Created by Joe Elliot, who previously developed the similar literacy-focused series Alphablocks, Numberblocks was produced by Alphablocks Ltd. in collaboration with Blue Zoo Animation Studio and commissioned by BBC Children's for airing on the CBeebies channel.[3][4] The first episode premiered on 23 January 2017, introducing viewers to the Numberblocks starting with "One" and building up to more complex groupings.[5]
Since its debut, the series has expanded to multiple seasons, with each typically comprising 15 short episodes of about five minutes, focusing on progressive levels from basic counting to multiplication and patterns.[1] As of 2025, eight full series have aired, alongside specials and interactive content.[4] Numberblocks has gained international popularity, streaming on platforms like Netflix and earning acclaim for making math accessible and fun, including BAFTA awards for its educational innovation.[6][7]
Representative episodes like "The Big One Hundred" feature celebratory counting to 100 via rocket launches, tying together thirties-to-nineties addition in a festive climax.[55] Overall, the series prioritizes joyful, narrative-driven math to make large addition accessible, with no new divisions or fractions introduced.
These specials incorporate seasonal math concepts, such as addition during holiday celebrations in "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and promote interdisciplinary learning through the Learningblocks crossover in "Making Friends." Production elements include higher visual flair with animated environments like treasure islands and festive trains, alongside extended runtimes to allow deeper exploration of themes without regular episode constraints.[98]
Overview
Premise
Numberblocks is a British animated preschool television series in which numbers are personified as colorful, block-based characters called Numberblocks, each composed of a specific quantity of unit blocks that represent their numerical value. These characters interact by combining to form larger numbers, illustrating addition and multiplication, or splitting apart to show subtraction and division, thereby visualizing fundamental mathematical operations in an engaging, tangible way.[8][1] The series aims to make early mathematics accessible and enjoyable for young children by transforming abstract concepts into playful adventures, songs, and stories that encourage exploration without reliance on rote memorization or symbols alone. Developed in collaboration with educational experts from the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, it emphasizes deep understanding through visualization, helping preschoolers grasp ideas like the conservation of quantity and the relationships between numbers.[8] Central to the show's theme is the portrayal of numbers as the essential building blocks of mathematics, with episodes dedicated to exploring number bonds (ways to compose a number from smaller parts), patterns, and basic operations to foster confidence and curiosity in numeracy. Created by Joe Elliot as a companion to his earlier literacy program Alphablocks—which uses animated letters to teach phonics—Numberblocks applies a similar innovative, character-driven format to build mathematical literacy.[8] Numberblocks premiered on BBC's CBeebies channel on 23 January 2017, as part of the broadcaster's commitment to educational programming for early years audiences.[9]Format and Style
Numberblocks episodes are structured as short, 5-minute animated segments, each focusing on one or two fundamental mathematical concepts through straightforward, repetitive storytelling that emphasizes exploration and discovery rather than intricate narratives.[2] This format allows for quick, digestible lessons tailored to preschool audiences, encouraging repeated viewings to reinforce learning without overwhelming young viewers.[1] The simplicity of the plots, often revolving around the Numberblocks collaborating to solve everyday number-related challenges, prioritizes playful interaction over dramatic tension, aligning with early childhood educational goals.[2] The visual style employs vibrant 2D animation combined with 3D elements to create a dynamic yet accessible world, featuring cube-shaped characters whose blocky designs literally split and merge to demonstrate addition, subtraction, and other operations in a tangible way.[2] These colorful, expressive figures, each embodying a specific number with distinct personalities, enhance engagement by making abstract math concepts visually concrete and fun.[10] The animation's clean lines and bold hues contribute to a whimsical aesthetic that captivates children aged 3-5, supporting cognitive development through relatable, animated play.[11] Narrative techniques incorporate songs, rhymes, and direct interactive prompts to draw viewers into the action, fostering active participation such as counting aloud or mimicking movements.[12] Episodes maintain a gentle pacing with rhythmic repetition of key phrases and actions, building familiarity and confidence in math skills while gradually increasing complexity across series—from basic counting in early episodes to multi-digit operations later on—without sacrificing core simplicity.[13] This approach ensures the show remains suitable for repeated exposure, promoting long-term retention through joyful, curriculum-aligned discovery.[14]Production
Development
Numberblocks was developed by Blue Zoo Animation Studio in collaboration with BBC Children's Productions, extending the educational animation style established by the successful Alphablocks series, which had popularized phonics learning through character-based adventures.[8] The series was created by Joe Elliot, who also developed Alphablocks, with production handled by Alphablocks Ltd., a joint venture between Elliot and Blue Zoo.[3] Commissioned by the BBC for its CBeebies channel, the concept aimed to make mathematics accessible and engaging for preschoolers by personifying numbers as animated blocks, drawing on consultations with educational experts from the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics to ensure alignment with early years curricula.[8] The initial development phase occurred in 2016, culminating in the series' greenlight and debut on 23 January 2017, with the first season focusing on core counting and basic operations for numbers 1 through 10.[3] Elliot served as the primary writer, guiding the narrative to emphasize visual and playful representations of math concepts over rote memorization, while Blue Zoo's animation team handled the technical realization.[2] Pilot elements and early testing informed the format, prioritizing short, repeatable episodes to build familiarity with numerical ideas through repetition and humor.[8] Subsequent milestones included expansions driven by audience reception, particularly after a surge in viewership during the 2020 lockdowns, which doubled daily engagements and prompted BBC commissions for additional seasons introducing higher numbers and more complex topics.[8] By 2024, a multi-year deal between BBC Children's and Education, Alphablocks Ltd., and Blue Zoo secured ongoing production, with series 8 (commissioned in 2025, which premiered on 18 August 2025) incorporating advanced concepts such as two-digit addition, measurement, and data handling based on feedback from educators and viewers.[15][14][4] These adjustments reflect continuous input from educational consultants, ensuring the curriculum evolves to address gaps like fractions, patterns, and multiplication while maintaining the show's core focus on joyful discovery.[8]Animation and Music
Numberblocks employs a distinctive animation style that combines 3D modeling for the core block-based characters with 2D effects to enhance visual dynamism and playfulness, produced by Blue Zoo Animation Studio. The characters are constructed from modular, cube-shaped blocks, enabling seamless reconfiguration in scenes where numbers split, merge, or rearrange, which facilitates the illustration of mathematical operations like addition and subtraction. This approach draws inspiration from tactile, block-building play, making abstract concepts tangible for young viewers.[2] The sound design integrates original musical scores composed by Ben Lee-Delisle, characterized by upbeat, repetitive melodies and lyrics that echo counting and numerical patterns to aid learning through auditory reinforcement. These tunes are crafted to be catchy and educational, often syncing with on-screen actions to build rhythm-based understanding of math. Sound effects accompany key interactions, such as popping noises for block splits, whooshes for merges, and bouncy impacts for movements, heightening the sensory engagement.[16] Voice acting features an ensemble cast delivering high-pitched, child-like performances to personify the Numberblocks as lively, inquisitive entities. Principal voices include Beth Chalmers (e.g., One, Three, Five), Marcel McCalla (e.g., Two, Four, Eight), Teresa Gallagher (e.g., Six, Ten), and David Holt (e.g., Seven, Nine), whose expressive deliveries convey excitement and curiosity aligned with preschool audiences.[17] In production, the series utilizes procedural techniques for generating varied number combinations efficiently, allowing animators to prototype complex formations without manual rebuilding each time. Over successive series, innovations have introduced more fluid dynamics, such as enhanced particle effects for block interactions and smoother transitions, reflecting advancements in Blue Zoo's pipeline to support evolving math curricula.[18]Characters
Core Numberblocks (1-10)
The core Numberblocks, representing the numbers 1 through 10, form the foundation of the series by embodying basic counting and early arithmetic concepts through their block-based designs and lively personalities. Each character is constructed from a precise number of identical square blocks matching their value, allowing them to demonstrate splitting, combining, and pattern recognition in playful scenarios. Their accessories and traits are tailored to highlight unique attributes, fostering engagement while tying into mathematical themes like unity, pairs, and groups. These characters frequently collaborate in songs and dances, such as the "Numberblocks Band," to explore collective ideas without delving into complex compositions. One is a single red block adorned with a yellow crown, embodying confidence and leadership as the enthusiastic host who guides explorations of singularity and beginnings. Her extroverted, bubbly nature makes her a recurring teacher figure, appearing in every episode to initiate counting adventures. One debuts in the series' first episode, "One," where she celebrates her uniqueness through a solo song.[19] Two consists of two orange blocks, portrayed as sporty and adventurous with a tennis racket accessory, introducing the excitement of doubles and basic addition via bouncing and splitting actions. She exhibits high energy and a love for games, often pairing with others to show evenness. Two's first appearance occurs in episode 2, "Another One," where she is formed from two Ones.[20] Three is a yellow stack of three blocks topped with a party hat and bowtie, reflecting her festive and optimistic personality as the ultimate celebrator who thrives on groups and rhythms. She emphasizes triples and patterns through dancing and stepping, adding joy to collective activities. Three introduces herself in episode 4, "Three," leading a rhythmic parade.[19] Four comprises four pink blocks arranged in a square, depicted as a sturdy builder with a yellow hard hat, showcasing stability and construction through stacking and shape-forming. Her calm, methodical traits underscore squares and multiples of four in building-themed escapades. Four makes her debut in episode 6, "Four," constructing towers and patterns.[19] Five features five green blocks in a cross shape, with a red cape and energetic jumps, capturing high-spirited vitality and the concept of fives through leaping and high-fiving interactions. She represents odd numbers and balance with her dynamic, superhero-like demeanor. Five first appears in episode 7, "Five," zooming around with super jumps.[19] Six is formed by six purple blocks in two rows of three, dressed as a magician with a top hat and wand, illustrating magic in patterns and even splits through tricks and rearrangements. Her clever, showy personality highlights symmetry and hexagons. Six debuts in episode 16, "Six," performing enchanting block manipulations.[21] Seven stacks seven blue blocks in a staircase pattern, equipped with a green horseshoe for luck, portraying an optimistic explorer who chases rainbows and sevens in whimsical quests. She embodies prime numbers and irregularity with her cheerful, fortune-seeking vibe. Seven's introduction comes in episode 17, "Seven," on a lucky adventure.[21] Eight consists of eight magenta blocks in a 3-2-3 formation, wearing a purple tutu and ballet slippers, channeling grace and rhythm as a dancer who twirls to demonstrate eights and multiples. Her elegant, performative style adds flair to group dances. Eight first appears in episode 18, "Eight," spinning through ballet routines.[21][22] Nine arranges nine indigo blocks in a 3x3 grid, accessorized with a green beret and paintbrush, representing creativity and completeness as an artist who paints patterns and nines. Her imaginative, artistic traits focus on squares and artistic expressions. Nine appears initially in episode 19, "Nine," creating colorful block art.[21] Ten is a vibrant figure of ten multicolored blocks in two rows of five, spotted like a dalmatian with numeral details, emphasizing tens and place value through spotting and grouping. She brings scale and excitement to transitions toward larger numbers with her bold, pattern-loving energy. Ten debuts in episode 20, "Ten," spotting patterns across Numberland.[21]Advanced Numberblocks (11+)
The Advanced Numberblocks, comprising numbers from eleven onward, expand the foundational concepts of addition and counting introduced by the core characters, emphasizing place value, composition, and multiplication through composite formations. These characters are typically formed by stacking or combining smaller Numberblocks, such as the ten-block with single-digit blocks for the teens, reflecting numerical properties like rectangularity or squareness in their personalities and abilities.[23][24] The teen Numberblocks (eleven through nineteen) are introduced as combinations of the ten-block and a single-digit Numberblock, visually represented by a tall stack topped with the corresponding digit's block. For instance, Eleven is an active, football-loving leader who captains teams and demonstrates addition by splitting into ten and one, highlighting her enthusiasm for group activities and scoring goals.[23] Twelve, a composed super-rectangle, arranges her blocks into various arrays (such as 3x4 or 2x6) to help friends with problem-solving, like balancing structures or counting items, embodying flexibility and advisory traits.[24] Thirteen is portrayed as friendly yet unlucky, frequently disassembling into ten and three upon mention of his name, which underscores the challenges of stability in composite numbers.[25] Fourteen, an extreme skateboarder with double the luck, uses clever rearrangements to escape predicaments, often forming pairs or multiples of seven.[26] Fifteen operates as a sneaky secret agent, leading the Super Special Secret Step Squad in stealthy additions of five. Sixteen, a party-starting square, composes musical notes and gets celebrations underway with her 4x4 formation.[27] Seventeen, the artistic painter, creates sets of seventeen items in vibrant scenes, exploring repetition and addition. Eighteen, a speedy super-rectangle, rides rays in 3x6 or 2x9 configurations for dynamic movement. Nineteen, a shape-shifting one-off, discovers her unique inability to form neat rectangles, adapting through creative rearrangements.[28] These traits not only personify mathematical attributes but also illustrate how teens build on the ten-block as a foundational unit.[29] Moving to the twenties and higher numbers, formations shift to emphasize tens and place value, with Twenty composed of two stacked ten-blocks, depicted as an athletic dancer performing the Two Tens Tango to showcase multiples of ten and twenty. Numbers like Twenty-One combine Twenty with One in a stacked manner, allowing for explorations of addition across place values, while personalities reflect scalability and grouping—such as Twenty-Four's rectangular prowess in forming 4x6 arrays for multiplication games. Progression to hundreds involves even larger composites, culminating in One Hundred, a celebratory figure made of ten tens, who sings grand songs about her size and appears primarily in specials to mark milestones like counting to one hundred.[30][31] These higher Advanced Numberblocks prioritize multiplication tables and partitioning, using stacking mechanics to visually decompose numbers (e.g., Twenty as 2x10) for conceptual clarity.[32] Advanced Numberblocks were gradually introduced starting in Series 3 (2018–2019) to extend core addition skills into teens and place value, with twenties debuting in Series 4 (2019) and hundreds in later episodes and specials.[1] This evolution builds complexity incrementally, occasionally featuring rare characters like Zero—who acts as a placeholder in equations and heroically enables shifts in place value—in select episodes, or fractions in specials exploring division, such as mixed fractions in partitioning activities.[33][34]Episodes
Series 1 (2017)
Series 1 of Numberblocks, also known as "High Five!", premiered on CBeebies on 23 January 2017 and consists of 15 episodes airing daily from Monday to Friday over three weeks, concluding on 10 February 2017. This inaugural series introduces young viewers to the fundamental concepts of numbers through the adventures of the first five Numberblocks, emphasizing playful exploration of numerical identities and basic operations in Numberland. The episodes build progressively, starting with individual number recognition and advancing to simple combinations, all within short, song-filled narratives designed for preschool audiences.[10] The mathematical focus of Series 1 centers on counting from 1 to 5, number recognition for the digits 1 through 5, and introductory addition, such as 1+1=2 and bonds to 5 (e.g., 2+3=5). Episodes incorporate these concepts through everyday scenarios like games and stories, reinforcing skills without overwhelming complexity, as aligned with early years mathematics curricula. For instance, addition is depicted visually as Numberblocks joining together to form larger numbers, promoting conceptual understanding over rote memorization.[35] In terms of production, Series 1 adopts a pilot-like simplicity with minimalistic animation and straightforward storytelling to test the core format of anthropomorphic blocks solving math puzzles through song and interaction. Produced by Alphablocks Ltd. and animated by Blue Zoo Animation Studio, the episodes feature basic 2D visuals and a runtime of about 5 minutes each, allowing for focused testing of audience engagement with the Numberblocks' personalities and math integration before expanding in later series. This approach ensured the foundational mechanics—such as blocks splitting and merging—were clear and effective for educational impact.[9] The episodes are as follows:| Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One | 23 January 2017 | A small red block falls from the sky, grows eyes and a mouth, and discovers she is Numberblock One, learning to count herself while singing about being the first number.[19] |
| 2 | Another One | 24 January 2017 | One encounters another block like herself, and they join to form Two, introducing the idea of addition as blocks combine to make a bigger number.[19] |
| 3 | Two | 25 January 2017 | Two explores her shape and bounces around, counting pairs of objects and demonstrating evenness through playful movement.[19] |
| 4 | Three | 26 January 2017 | Three arrives as a triangle-shaped block, juggling apples to show counting in threes and introducing odd numbers.[19] |
| 5 | One, Two, Three! | 27 January 2017 | One, Two, and Three team up for a surprise party, practicing counting sequences and simple addition like 1+2=3.[19] |
| 6 | Four | 30 January 2017 | Four appears as a square, rolling and stacking to explore fours and even numbers further.[19] |
| 7 | Five | 31 January 2017 | Five high-fives her way into Numberland, waving her fingers to count to five and celebrating the number's versatility.[19] |
| 8 | Three Little Pigs | 1 February 2017 | One, Two, Three, and Four reenact a fairy tale with the Big Bad Square, using addition to build houses and solve problems.[19] |
| 9 | Off We Go | 2 February 2017 | The Numberblocks go on a rocket adventure, counting down and adding up to reach destinations like five.[19] |
| 10 | How to Count | 3 February 2017 | Five teaches counting techniques with balls and steps, reinforcing recognition of numbers 1 through 5.[19] |
| 11 | Stampolines | 6 February 2017 | The group bounces on trampolines, using addition to figure out how many stamps (Numberblocks) fit on each.[19] |
| 12 | The Whole of Me | 7 February 2017 | Five splits into smaller blocks and recombines, exploring number bonds that make up five.[19] |
| 13 | The Two of Us | 8 February 2017 | Two and her clone play together, doubling items and adding to show 2+2=4.[19] |
| 14 | There Goes Five | 9 February 2017 | Five hides parts of herself behind a tree, revealing addition by uncovering blocks one by one.[19] |
| 15 | Hide and Seek | 10 February 2017 | The Numberblocks play hide and seek, using counting and addition to find each other and form groups up to five.[36] |
Series 2 (2017)
Series 2 of Numberblocks, subtitled "Ten Out of Ten," premiered on CBeebies in the United Kingdom on 1 May 2017 and concluded on 19 May 2017, consisting of 15 episodes that aired weekdays. This series expands the mathematical curriculum by introducing Numberblocks Six through Ten, marking their debut and enabling full ensemble interactions among characters 1 through 10 for the first time.[21] The episodes build on Series 1's foundational counting by focusing on addition strategies to reach 10, the initial exploration of subtraction as "taking away," and pattern recognition, such as doubles, odds, and evens, all presented through playful adventures in Numberland.[37] The series emphasizes conceptual understanding of partitioning numbers up to 10 and simple inverse operations, using visual block rearrangements to demonstrate equations like 4 + 6 = 10 or 8 - 3 = 5 without overwhelming young viewers with rote memorization.[10] Unique to this season, episodes like "Odds and Evens" and "The Two of Us" highlight relational patterns among the newly complete set of single-digit Numberblocks, fostering recognition of even numbers as doubles and odds as "one left over."[38] The episodes are summarized below, with overall episode numbering from the full series run:| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Six | 1 May 2017 | Six debuts as a bouncy, rectangular Numberblock who discovers multiple ways to compose her six blocks, including pairs and steps, while learning addition combinations like 1 + 5 and 3 + 3 through jumping games.[39] |
| 17 | Seven | 2 May 2017 | Seven appears as a tall, pattern-loving Numberblock with seven rainbow blocks, exploring arrangements like a staircase and heptagon while adding to seven, such as 4 + 3, during a parade.[40] |
| 18 | Eight | 3 May 2017 | Eight rolls in as an octagon enthusiast made of eight blocks, experimenting with shapes like a stop sign and roller skates to show additions to eight, including 2 + 6 and doubles like 4 + 4.[41] |
| 19 | Nine | 4 May 2017 | Nine introduces herself as a square-dancing Numberblock with nine blocks, twirling through partitions like 5 + 4 and 3 + 3 + 3 to form squares and other shapes in a dance routine.[42] |
| 20 | Ten | 5 May 2017 | Ten makes her grand entrance as a sparkling, two-digit Numberblock composed of ten blocks, celebrating ways to make ten like 7 + 3 and 5 + 5 while leading a countdown party.[43] |
| 21 | Just Add One | 8 May 2017 | The Numberblocks play a game of adding one repeatedly to build from small numbers to ten, demonstrating sequences like 1 + 1 = 2 up to 9 + 1 = 10 through a chain of adventures.[44] |
| 22 | What's My Number? | 9 May 2017 | Numberblocks hide clues about their identities, prompting viewers to guess based on block counts and simple additions, reinforcing recognition of numbers 1 through 10.[45] |
| 23 | I Can Count to Twenty | 10 May 2017 | Using multiples of Ten and smaller blocks, the group counts objects up to twenty by combining like 10 + 5 + 5, introducing early place value concepts through a treasure hunt.[40] |
| 24 | I Can Subtract | 11 May 2017 | Subtraction debuts as taking away blocks, with examples like 10 - 2 = 8 shown via disappearing tricks, helping Numberblocks solve puzzles by removing parts.[41] |
| 25 | Hide and Seek | 12 May 2017 | The Numberblocks play hide and seek, using addition and subtraction to count hiding spots and reveal themselves, such as 6 + 4 = 10 for a group hideout.[42] |
| 26 | What If? | 15 May 2017 | The characters imagine "what if" scenarios with altered block shapes, like if Seven had even blocks, exploring hypothetical additions and patterns up to 10.[43] |
| 27 | The Whole of Me | 16 May 2017 | Each Numberblock celebrates their complete form versus split parts, using addition to reform wholes like 3 + 4 = 7, emphasizing number bonds in a mirror maze.[44] |
| 28 | The Two of Us | 17 May 2017 | Two teams up with Eight to explore doubles as even numbers, adding pairs like 2 + 2 = 4 up to 5 + 5 = 10 through synchronized dances and mirrors.[45] |
| 29 | Odds and Evens | 18 May 2017 | The group sorts into odd and even teams, identifying patterns like evens as shareable pairs (e.g., 6 = 3 + 3) and odds with a leftover one, via a sorting game.[40] |
| 30 | The Story of Seven | 19 May 2017 | Seven recounts her creation through a storybook adventure, revisiting additions to seven and her unique patterns, concluding the series with a reflective tale.[41] |
Series 3 (2018–2019)
Series 3 of Numberblocks aired on CBeebies in the United Kingdom from 24 September 2018 to 1 February 2019, comprising 30 episodes that shift focus from single-digit foundations to teen numbers 11 through 20, represented as taller, composite characters built from a "ten" base plus additional blocks. This season introduces basic multiplication concepts, including doubling (e.g., 6×2=12, 7×2=14) and other simple times tables (e.g., 3×5=15, 4×4=16), often visualized through group activities and multiplication trees that demonstrate how numbers can be grouped and scaled. The episodes feature increased group interactions among the Numberblocks, with taller characters enabling more dynamic explorations of addition beyond ten, comparisons, and early problem-solving in Numberland. The first 10 episodes review numbers 1-10, while the latter 20 introduce 11-20.[46][47][48] The season's episodes are summarized in the following table, with overall episode numbering (31–60) used for continuity across series. Air dates reflect UK CBeebies premieres, and summaries highlight key plots and mathematical emphases. (Note: Full 30-episode table abbreviated for brevity; complete list available on official sources.)| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Plot Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Once Upon a Time | 24 September 2018 | A bedtime story recounts the arrival of the first five Numberblocks in Numberland, reviewing their basic characteristics and interactions. Mathematics: Composition and recognition of numbers 1–5. |
| 32 | Blockzilla | 25 September 2018 | The Numberblocks attempt to build the tallest tower in Numberland, only for a monster called Blockzilla to knock it down repeatedly, leading to lessons on size comparisons. Mathematics: Greater than and less than relationships. |
| 33 | The Numberblocks Express | 26 September 2018 | The Numberblocks board a magical train for an adventure, discovering all possible ways to make five through partitioning during the journey. Mathematics: Number bonds to 5. |
| 34 | Fruit Salad | 27 September 2018 | The Numberblocks gather fruits to create a salad, counting items and combining them to reach target totals. Mathematics: Addition and counting in sets. |
| 35 | Zero | 28 September 2018 | The Numberblocks encounter Zero, a special block that represents nothing, and learn how adding or subtracting zero leaves numbers unchanged. Mathematics: The concept and properties of zero. |
| 36 | Now We Are Six to Ten | 1 October 2018 | The numbers six through ten revisit their skills in a celebratory review, participating in games that reinforce their compositions. Mathematics: Review of numbers 6–10 and their bonds.[49] |
| 37 | Numberblobs | 2 October 2018 | The Numberblocks transform into wobbly "Numberblobs" and experiment with rearranging to form different shapes and numbers. Mathematics: Flexible partitioning and 2D shape recognition.[49] |
| 38 | Building Blocks | 3 October 2018 | When an alien spaceship crashes in Numberland, the Numberblocks use their blocks to repair it and send the visitor home. Mathematics: 3D shapes and spatial composition.[49] |
| 39 | Hiccups | 4 October 2018 | One develops hiccups that disrupt Numberland, prompting the others to team up and try scaring her with surprise additions to cure it. Mathematics: Addition strategies and teamwork. |
| 40 | What's Next? | 5 October 2018 | The Numberblocks play a guessing game to predict the next arrival in a sequence of increasing numbers. Mathematics: Patterns and sequencing. |
| 41 | What's the Difference? | 8 October 2018 | Ten and One combine to form Eleven, who embarks on a balloon adventure to discover what makes her unique among the odds and evens. Mathematics: Odd and even numbers; introduction to 11.[50] |
| 42 | Numberblock Rally | 9 October 2018 | Twelve emerges from six twos and leads a high-speed rally, showcasing ways to double numbers for faster results. Mathematics: Doubling and multiplication by 2; introduction to 12. |
| 43 | Five and Friends | 10 October 2018 | Five teams up with Eight to create Thirteen, who joins friends in activities that explore addition combinations. Mathematics: Addition beyond 10; introduction to 13. |
| 44 | Octoblock to the Rescue! | 11 October 2018 | Seven doubles to become Fourteen, who rescues Eight from the mischievous Terrible Twos using her extendable arms. Mathematics: Multiplication (7×2); introduction to 14. |
| 45 | Fifteen's Fifteen | 12 October 2018 | Three fives combine into Fifteen for a birthday party, where guests demonstrate multiples of five. Mathematics: Multiplication (3×5); introduction to 15. |
| 46 | Flatland | 15 October 2018 | Sixteen arrives as four fours and visits Flatland, contrasting 2D and 3D worlds while exploring squares. Mathematics: Square numbers (4×4); introduction to 16. |
| 47 | Heist | 16 October 2018 | Ten and Seven form Seventeen, who helps foil a jewel heist by the naughty numbers using quick additions. Mathematics: Addition (10+7); introduction to 17. |
| 48 | The Legend of Big Tum | 17 October 2018 | Eighteen (nine twos) awakens the legendary Big Tum in a cave adventure, learning about even multiples. Mathematics: Multiplication (9×2); introduction to 18. |
| 49 | Mirror, Mirror | 18 October 2018 | Nineteen (ten and nine) encounters mirror reflections that create tricky doubles, solving puzzles with odd number properties. Mathematics: Addition (10+9); introduction to 19. |
| 50 | The Wrong Number | 21 October 2018 | Twenty begins as twenty separate ones causing chaos but learns to group as two tens, celebrating with a proper introduction. Mathematics: Multiplication (2×10); introduction to 20. |
| 51 | Eleven | 21 January 2019 | Detailed review and adventure with Eleven, focusing on odd teens. Mathematics: Teens and odds. |
| 52 | Twelve | 22 January 2019 | Twelve's rectangle ways and doubling. Mathematics: 12 as 6×2. |
| ... | ... | ... | (Episodes 53-60: Continued introductions and reviews for 13-20, aired Jan 23 - Feb 1, 2019, e.g., Ep60 Step Squads on 1 Feb 2019.) |
Series 4 (2019)
The fourth series of Numberblocks aired on CBeebies from 10 June to 16 August 2019, comprising 30 episodes that shifted the educational focus to place value, particularly through the introduction of the twenties (numbers 20–29), building on the teen numbers from the previous series. Episodes explored how these numbers are composed of tens and units, with activities emphasizing counting by 10s, number bonds to 20 and beyond, and the role of place value in larger numbers. This series featured an increased emphasis on patterns and sequences, using visual and rhythmic elements to demonstrate mathematical relationships, such as how Twenty can be split into two tens or combined with units to form Twenty-One through Twenty-Nine. The series also touched on higher numbers like 30, 40, 50, and 100.[51][52][53] The 30 episodes are summarized below, with overall numbering 61–90. (Table abbreviated; full details on official sites.)| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Plot Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Fifteen's Minute of Fame | 10 June 2019 | Fifteen gains fame through quick calculations. Mathematics: Bonds to 15. |
| 62 | On Your Head | 11 June 2019 | Stacking games with teens. Mathematics: Place value in teens. |
| 63 | Ten's Place | 12 June 2019 | Ten explains place value. Mathematics: Tens and units. |
| ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 71 | Twenty | 8 July 2019 | Twenty debuts as two stacks of ten blocks, strutting in a dance number to explore the number 20 and its place value as tens; the episode features Twenty's sports day challenges that demonstrate addition and grouping by 10s.[54] |
| 72 | Tall Stories | 9 July 2019 | Building tall with twenties. Mathematics: Place value. |
| ... | ... | ... | (Episodes include Riddle Me This, I Can Count to Twenty ~11 July; up to One Hundred as ep90, 14 August 2019.) |
| 90 | One Hundred | 14 August 2019 | Introduction to 100 as ten tens. Mathematics: Place value to hundreds. |
Series 5 (2020–2021)
Series 5 of Numberblocks aired on CBeebies from 8 March to 25 June 2021, comprising 30 episodes that build on previous series by exploring advanced addition and multiplication concepts with numbers scaling from the thirties to hundreds.[55] The series emphasizes large-scale addition through grouping and patterns, introducing strategies for composing and decomposing larger Numberblocks like Thirty through Ninety, culminating in episodes featuring One Hundred. This focus helps young viewers understand place value and skip-counting in higher decades, using celebratory scenarios such as parties and competitions to illustrate concepts. Overall episodes 91–120.[56] The production of Series 5 was notably extended to 30 episodes—the longest run to date—and included a three-month hiatus midway through airing, attributed to delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed for more detailed animations of complex number formations and additional festive themes in episodes like birthday celebrations and talent shows.[55] These unique elements made the series more engaging for home viewing during lockdowns, with an emphasis on interactive math play that reinforces addition up to 100 without introducing new core characters beyond scaling existing ones. The episodes are summarized below, highlighting key math explorations (full 30-episode list abbreviated):| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | Your Turn | 8 March 2021 | The Numberblobs disrupt a theatre performance, teaching number lines, comparing quantities, and pattern recognition through bouncy games involving groups up to 20. |
| 92 | Now You See Us | 9 March 2021 | A magic spell renders the Numberblocks invisible, prompting them to regroup and add up to find each other, focusing on addition and visibility in sets of 10s and 20s. |
| ... | ... | ... | (Mid-series: Ten's Top Ten 10 March, etc.) |
| 100 | The Three Threes | 19 March 2021 | Three's triples lead to adding groups of three to form 30, 60, and 90, in a rhythmic dance sequence.[57] |
| ... | ... | ... | (Later: Hidden Talents, Making Patterns for 50s–70s.) |
| 120 | 100 Ways to Leave the Planet | 25 June 2021 | One Hundred leads an adventure counting 100 ways to blast off, celebrating addition to 100 with all major Numberblocks.[58] |
Series 6 (2023–2024)
Series 6 of Numberblocks premiered on CBeebies on 4 March 2024, following a three-year hiatus since the conclusion of Series 5 in 2021, and consists of 15 episodes broadcast over three weeks (overall 121–135). This series emphasizes multiplication through times tables (particularly the 3s and 4s, extending to 10x10), arrays, and skip counting, with Numberblocks collaborating in group formations to solve puzzles and create visual patterns that illustrate these concepts. The narratives incorporate more puzzle-solving elements, such as navigating challenges or building structures, to demonstrate how repeated addition leads to multiplication in engaging, song-filled stories.[59][60] The episodes build on foundational addition from prior series by showing how groups of numbers can be multiplied, using arrays to represent equal groups and skip counting to reinforce table patterns without delving into subtraction or advanced operations. For example, characters like Three and Four lead formations to explore their respective times tables, creating rectangular arrays that highlight scaling and repetition. This approach helps young viewers conceptualize multiplication as grouping and patterning rather than rote memorization.Episode List
| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | Painting by Numbers | 4 March 2024 | The Numberblocks paint pictures of each other, learning to count and identify groups of blocks in artwork, introducing the idea of equal groups as a precursor to multiplication arrays.[61] |
| 122 | Leap Blob | 5 March 2024 | Numberblocks leap over blob obstacles in a game, practicing skip counting by 2s and 5s to reach goals, demonstrating early times table patterns through rhythmic jumps.[59] |
| 123 | Ice and Dice | 6 March 2024 | Using dice rolls to build ice structures, the Numberblocks explore random groups and skip counting outcomes, focusing on probability within multiplication contexts like doubles.[59] |
| 124 | Go Go Domino | 7 March 2024 | The Numberblocks play a domino chain game, forming pairs and groups to create chains that illustrate multiplication by 2 and addition patterns leading to times tables.[62] |
| 125 | Ten in the Bed | 8 March 2024 | In a counting-down song adventure, the Numberblocks roll out of bed in groups of 10, reinforcing skip counting by 10s and the structure of the 10 times table.[63] |
| 126 | Shape Party | 11 March 2024 | At a 2D shape celebration, Numberblocks arrange themselves into triangular and rectangular arrays, learning how shapes represent multiplication groups like 3x4.[63] |
| 127 | Flatland | 12 March 2024 | Diving into a 2D world, the Numberblocks flatten to form area arrays, exploring how multiplication calculates space in patterns up to 10x10.[64] |
| 128 | The Patternberry Hunt | 13 March 2024 | Hunting patterned berries, the Numberblocks identify repeating sequences for skip counting by 3s and 4s, building arrays from found groups.[60] |
| 129 | On My Way to Numberblock Fair | 14 March 2024 | Navigating to a fair with directional patterns, the Numberblocks use skip counting steps to form multiplication paths and group formations.[65] |
| 130 | Octoblock and the Path of Justice | 15 March 2024 | Octoblock solves justice puzzles by creating 8s times table arrays, using equal groups of eight to balance scales and patterns.[65] |
| 131 | Five's Handy Shop | 18 March 2024 | Five organizes shop items into handy groups of five, demonstrating the 5 times table through arrays and skip counting for quick calculations.[60] |
| 132 | As Tall as the Sun | 19 March 2024 | Building sun-high towers, the Numberblocks stack vertical arrays to explore multiplication scaling, focusing on taller groups in the 4s and 6s tables.[66] |
| 133 | Rockets and Rekenreks | 20 March 2024 | Launching rockets with rekenrek beads, the Numberblocks skip count by multiples to fuel patterns, visualizing 7x and 9x tables.[60] |
| 134 | Feeding Time | 21 March 2024 | Feeding garden animals in equal portions, the Numberblocks form multiplication groups for the 3s table, using arrays to distribute fairly.[1] |
| 135 | The Pattern of Patterns | 22 March 2024 | Culminating in a grand pattern challenge, the Numberblocks combine all times tables into a mega-array puzzle, reinforcing skip counting and group strategies up to 10x10.[67] |
Series 7 (2024)
Series 7 of Numberblocks, aired on CBeebies from August 19 to September 6, 2024, comprises 15 episodes (overall 136–150) that advance the show's exploration of multiplication and division introduced in Series 6. The season centers on the six, seven, eight, and nine times tables, with each group of episodes featuring the corresponding times table character leading the Numberblocks in adventures that demonstrate multiplication patterns, division strategies, and problem-solving in engaging scenarios like rescues, sea voyages, and space explorations. These real-world-inspired settings, such as beach outings and hero missions, help children apply mathematical concepts to practical situations while balancing equations through teamwork and creative block arrangements.[68][69] The episodes emphasize conceptual understanding of times tables, using number lines and grid patterns to visualize operations, and include songs and rhymes to reinforce learning. Unlike earlier series, this season integrates more complex group dynamics among higher Numberblocks, showcasing how multiples collaborate to solve larger problems.[70]| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | Grid Unlocked | 19 August 2024 | The Numberblocks rotate to rescue the Five Times Table's 5 by 5 booster grid from a malfunction, learning about grid-based multiplication along the way.[71] |
| 137 | Friendly Fours' Beach Day | 20 August 2024 | The Four Times Table organizes a beach day with the Numberblocks, using sandcastles and waves to explore multiples of four in a playful setting.[72] |
| 138 | All-Star Line-Up | 21 August 2024 | The Numberblocks form an all-star team to line up for a big event, demonstrating how to arrange multiples on a number line for efficient counting and multiplication.[73] |
| 139 | Rescue Racers | 22 August 2024 | Rescue teams of Numberblocks race to save the day, applying division to share resources and multiplication to build vehicles quickly. |
| 140 | The Rolling Sixes | 23 August 2024 | The Six Times Table introduces rolling games where the Numberblocks use dice and patterns to discover multiples of six. |
| 141 | Remix the Sixes | 26 August 2024 | The Six Times Table remixes familiar Numberblocks into new teams, teaching flexible grouping for multiplication problems.[74] |
| 142 | Grid Games Galore | 27 August 2024 | The Numberblocks play grid-based games to reinforce times table patterns, focusing on strategic moves with multiples.[75] |
| 143 | The Rainbow Makers | 28 August 2024 | Using colors and blocks, the Numberblocks create rainbows by multiplying to match spectrum patterns, introducing division for sharing colors evenly. |
| 144 | Sail the Seven Seas | 29 August 2024 | The Seven Times Table captains a sea voyage, navigating with multiples of seven to chart courses and divide treasures among the crew. |
| 145 | We Need Another Hero | 30 August 2024 | Octoblock assembles heroes using the Seven Times Table to tackle a crisis, highlighting addition and multiplication for team formation.[76] |
| 146 | Super Eights Assemble | 2 September 2024 | The Eight Times Table rallies superheroes for an assembly, using power doubles to solve large-scale multiplication challenges. |
| 147 | Seventy-Two's Super Surprise | 3 September 2024 | Seventy-Two plans a surprise party with the Eight Times Table, balancing guest lists through division and multiplication equations. |
| 148 | The Magical Nines | 4 September 2024 | Ninety hosts a magic show to demonstrate the Nine Times Table, using tricks to reveal patterns and divide audiences into groups.[77] |
| 149 | Nine's Time to Shine | 5 September 2024 | The Nine Times Table shines in a performance, teaching multiplication through rhythmic dances and visual patterns for young learners.[78] |
| 150 | Space Division | 6 September 2024 | One Hundred leads a space mission where the Numberblocks use division to explore signals and share discoveries from the stars.[79][69] |
Series 8 (2025)
Series 8 of Numberblocks premiered on 18 August 2025 on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer, comprising 15 five-minute episodes (overall 151–165) produced by Blue Zoo Animation Studio. All episodes aired by early September 2025. This installment builds on prior series by incorporating magical elements and the chaotic Numberblobs to engage young viewers in more advanced mathematics, such as perimeter, area, capacity, subtraction strategies, and creative representations of numerical operations.[4][80] The episodes emphasize problem-solving through fantasy-themed adventures, like magic performances and somersault challenges, while maintaining the show's core focus on building conceptual understanding of math.[81] The series features Numberblobs as mischievous, unpredictable characters that introduce fun chaos to lessons, particularly in performance-based episodes involving nines and subtraction.[82] The content aligns with curriculum goals for preschoolers, using magical contexts to make abstract ideas accessible.[4] The following table lists all episodes from Series 8, including titles, air dates, and brief plot summaries highlighting their mathematical focus (corrected dates):| Overall Episode | Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | The Third Button | 18 August 2025 | Three loses a button needed for juggling practice, and detective One investigates clues to find it, introducing basic deduction and counting.[83][84] |
| 152 | The Great Bug Race | 19 August 2025 | One through Four enter their pet bugs in a race along special tracks, learning to measure and follow perimeters to navigate the course.[85] |
| 153 | The Big Picture | 20 August 2025 | Seventeen leads One through Four in an outdoor art class, where Three demands the largest canvas, prompting a challenge to compare sizes and areas creatively.[85][86] |
| 154 | Space Repair | 21 August 2025 | One repairs missing tiles on a Numberland space satellite, assisted by Twenty and an area specialist, exploring tile coverage and spatial arrangement.[85][83] |
| 155 | Capacity for Magic | 8 September 2025 | The Numberblocks use enchanted containers in a magic trick to measure and compare capacities, demonstrating volume through whimsical experiments.[87] |
| ... | ... | ... | (Episodes 156-161: Sequential adventures on perimeter, area, etc., aired late August to mid-September 2025.) |
| 162 | Double Doors Challenge | 1 September 2025 | One through Five tackle a series of locked double doors in a test, unlocking them with the "Super Special Secret Step" to practice addition patterns.[88] |
| 163 | The All-Knowing Nine | 2 September 2025 | Nine hosts a theatre magic show but fears boring the Numberblobs, so friends help revamp it with advanced nines tricks like multiplication and patterns.[82] |
| 164 | Subtraction Somersaults | 3 September 2025 | Thirteen aims to join the Subtraction Somersault Team but only knows subtracting threes; Ten coaches her on versatile subtraction at the gym.[89] |
| 165 | Ten-pin Tournament | 4 September 2025 | The Numberblocks compete in a bowling event, using tens to score and strategize pins, with Numberblobs adding unpredictable twists.[90] |
Specials (2021–2022)
The specials produced between 2021 and 2022 represent standalone episodes of Numberblocks with extended narratives focused on mathematical adventures and seasonal themes, distinguishing them from the standard 5- to 10-minute series format. These episodes, typically around 20 minutes in length, emphasize problem-solving through addition, subtraction, and pattern recognition, often incorporating holiday elements or crossovers to enhance educational engagement.[91] Three key specials aired during this period, each featuring core Numberblocks characters like One through Ten in collaborative scenarios.| Title | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| The Treasure of Hexagon Island | 27 August 2021 | In this pirate-themed adventure, the Numberblocks embark on a treasure hunt, solving Captain Hexbeard's math riddles involving shapes, counting, and number bonds to locate hidden gems on Hexagon Island. The episode highlights geometric patterns and addition strategies in a quest narrative.[92][93] |
| The Twelve Days of Christmas | 12 December 2021 | The Numberblocks celebrate the holiday season with a festive rendition of the classic carol, using a magical Christmas train to count and distribute gifts through addition and multiplication, teaching cumulative counting in a joyful, gift-giving context.[94][95] |
| Making Friends | 14 February 2022 | This crossover episode introduces the Numberblocks to the Alphablocks from the companion series, exploring similarities and differences between numbers and letters as they team up to overcome challenges, blending arithmetic with phonics in a friendship-building story.[96][97] |
Numbersongs (2019–2023)
Numbersongs is a collection of short, standalone animated musical videos featuring the Numberblocks characters, aimed at teaching preschoolers counting and number recognition through catchy tunes and repetitive lyrics. Released primarily during production hiatuses between main series episodes, the series ran from 2019 to 2023 and includes adaptations of traditional nursery rhymes alongside original compositions focused on sequential counting. These videos emphasize early numeracy skills, such as counting objects and understanding small quantities, using vibrant animations to engage young viewers. Each Numbersong typically lasts 2 to 3 minutes, featuring simple melodies with no spoken dialogue beyond the lyrics to promote rhythmic memorization and active participation. The absence of narrative structure allows the focus to remain on the musical elements, making them ideal for repeated viewing in educational settings. The songs utilize the familiar Numberblocks designs, with voice performances by the same actors from the main series, including Marcel McCalla and Teresa Gallagher for key characters. Produced as a spin-off by Alphablocks Ltd. in collaboration with Blue Zoo Animation Studio—the same teams responsible for the core Numberblocks series—these shorts were distributed via the official Numberblocks YouTube channel and CBeebies platform to maintain audience engagement during off-seasons. They align with the BBC's educational goals for early years mathematics, drawing on research into music's role in cognitive development for number skills. The following table lists select Numbersongs from the period, highlighting representative examples that cover counting themes from small numbers to larger ones like 100:| Title | Release Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scoop a Scoop | April 26, 2019 | Numberblocks One through Ten count colorful ice cream scoops in a sunny parlor, reinforcing addition and quantity. |
| Five Little Speckled Frogs | April 26, 2019 | An adaptation of the classic rhyme where five frog Numberblocks jump off a log, teaching countdown from five. |
| Counting Cars | May 16, 2019 | Vehicles drive by as Numberblocks count them up to ten, introducing vehicle-themed sequential counting. |
| Ten in the Bed | 2019 | Ten Numberblocks roll out of a shared bed one by one, demonstrating subtraction through countdown. |
| How Many Passengers? | 2019 | Passengers board a train, with Numberblocks counting groups up to ten to fill the cars. |
| One Hundred (Sing-along) | May 21, 2022 | A celebratory tune featuring Numberblock One Hundred, reviewing counting from one to 100 with block formations. |