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Octonauts
GenreChildren
Action
Adventure
Based onOctonauts series
by Meomi: Vicki Wong
& Michael C. Murphy
Written byGabe Pulliam
Carin Greenberg
Allan C Neuwirth
Directed byDarragh O'Connell
Henry Lenardin-Madden (uncredited)
Creative directorStephen Robinson
Voices ofSimon Greenall
Rob Rackstraw
Paul Panting
Keith Wickham
Jo Wyatt
Teresa Gallagher
Michael C. Murphy
Theme music composerDarren Hendley
ComposerDarren Hendley
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Ireland
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes121 + 12 specials (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersKurt Mueller
Stephanie Simpson
Cathal Gaffney
Darragh O'Connell (2010–2018)
Jackie Edwards (CBeebies)
ProducersAdam Idelson
Karen Ialacci
Gillian Higgins
Theresa Mayer
Julie Abecassis
Andrew Peters
Brian Gilmore
Running time11 minutes
23–72 minutes (specials)
Production companiesBrown Bag Films (2010–2018)
Mainframe Studios (2020–present)
Chorion (2010–2012)
Silvergate Media (2012–present)
Original release
NetworkCBeebies
Release4 October 2010 (2010-10-04) –
present
Related
Octonauts: Above & Beyond

Octonauts is an animated children's television series, produced by Chorion in series 1 and Silvergate Media starting from series 2 for the BBC channel CBeebies. It is based on the children's books written by Meomi, the design team of Vicki Wong and Michael C. Murphy.

The show follows an underwater exploring crew made up of stylised anthropomorphic animals, a team of eight adventurers who live in an undersea base, the Octopod, from which they go on undersea adventures with the help of a fleet of aquatic vehicles. Although its technology is fictional, the exotic creatures and locations that the crew encounter are based on real marine animals in their natural habitats. The show's subject matter has been compared to that of Star Trek and Thunderbirds[1] blended with Jacques Cousteau.

The show was animated in Ireland by Brown Bag Films for its first four series.[2] The show was renewed for a fifth series in 2018, with Canada's Mainframe Studios taking over animation work.[3][4] A Netflix-original spinoff, subtitled Above & Beyond, was released in September 2021, and featured the Octonauts venturing onto more land-based habitats of the natural world.

In March 2023, five new episodes under the original Octonauts branding and format were released via the BBC iPlayer.

Characters

[edit]
Left to right: Kwazii, Barnacles and Peso

Main characters

[edit]

The Octonauts, consisting of the Octopod crew and captain, are the recurring main characters.

Name Rank Species Voice cast Description
Barnacles Captain Polar bear Simon Greenall (speaking)
Ross Breen (singing) 		Barnacles is the brave polar bear captain of the Octonauts. He knows how to drive any vehicle and is strong enough to lift a giant clam. However, despite his bravery, it was revealed in The Caves of Sac Actun that he was claustrophobic. Catchphrases: "Octonauts, let's do this!", "Sound the Octo-Alert!", "Octonauts, to your stations!", "Octonauts, to the HQ / launch bay!" and "Hold on, this could get bumpy!".
Kwazii Lieutenant and Cryptozoologist Cat Rob Rackstraw A cat who speaks in a Cockney accent. Kwazii is a daredevil cat with a mysterious pirate past. He believes in many sea monsters such as the Nackerwhack, Tri-Toothed-Terror, Giant Shrimp Monster and Monster of Creepy Cove. He likes to drive fast in the Gup-B. In the episode "The Octonauts and the Giant Spider Crab", it reveals that he has a fear of spiders. Catchphrases: "Shiver me whiskers" and "Yeow!".
Peso Medic Penguin Paul Panting (UK)
Wayne Grayson (US) 		He is a penguin with a British accent (Spanish accent in the US version) and the medic of the Octonauts. He is not fond of scary situations, but if someone is hurt or in trouble he can be the bravest Octonaut of all. He has a younger brother called Pinto. Catchphrase: "Flappity flippers!".
Inkling (Prof.) Oceanographer and Founder Dumbo octopus Keith Wickham An octopus who speaks in a posh accent. Inkling brought the Octonauts together, to study the oceans and have adventures. Catchphrase: "Fascinating!"
Shellington (Dr) Biologist Sea otter Keith Wickham A sea otter who speaks with a Scottish accent. Dr. Shellington is a biologist who assists the Octonauts on missions. He is not a very good driver and once crashed the GUP-D. Catchphrase: "Jumping jellyfish!" and "Fascinating".
Tweak Engineer Rabbit Jo Wyatt
Jaimie Kelton (US, season 1) 		A rabbit who speaks with a Southern-US accent. Tweak lives and works in the launch bay. She often invents things like the GUP-X, GUP-S, the Octo-Max suit and the Friend Finder she made for her friend, Sandy the leatherback sea turtle. She often refers to Captain Barnacles as "Cap". Catchphrases: "Right away, Cap!", "...faster than you can say 'buncha munchy crunchy carrots'!", and "Oh, me, oh, my!".
Dashi (Previously Sauci) Computer programmer and photographer Dog (Dachshund) Teresa Gallagher (UK)
Mary Murphy (US, seasons 1–4)
Jenny Yokobori (US, "The Caves of Sac Actun"–present) 		A dog who speaks with an Australian accent (American in the US version). Dashi is the photographer for the Octonauts and takes care of all the computers aboard the Octopod. She's also a professional surfer. Catchphrase: "Already on it, Captain!"
Tunip Chef and Horticulturist Vegimal Michael C. Murphy Tunip is half-tuna, half-turnip, but has the outward appearance of a harbour seal mixed with a turnip. He loves to make kelp cakes and work in the greenhouse. He often faints at shocking news. Tunip the Vegimal is the Octonauts' head cook and gardener. He is a Vegimal, a half-animal, half-vegetable creature capable of breathing on land as well as underwater. Tunip is very childish and innocent, always wanting to help the Octonauts in any way he can. He is the smallest main character in the Octonauts crew. Aside from cooking the meals, Tunip works in the garden, cultivating vegetables he can use to cook meals. His two favourite meals are fish biscuits and kelp cakes. Tunip, like all Vegimals, speaks Vegimalese. Since he was born, his first words were "Cheepa cheepa!, Cheepa cheepa!" and "Zuupa zuupa!"

Vegimals

[edit]

Vegimals are half-animal, half-vegetable creatures. The vegimals were discovered by Shellington as eggs attached to the side of the Octopod. To protect them he brought them into his lab, where they hatched a few days later. After a few weeks, they established themselves as an integral part of the crew.[5][6] They primarily speak Vegimalese, a language made of chirps and warbles (heavily accented English with inter-mixed gibberish), though they also speak a limited amount of English (with an accent). Shellington is the only (non-vegimal) Octonaut who has some fluency in Vegimalese.

Name Taxonomy Description
Albachoy half-bok choy and half-albacore
Barrot half-bass, half-carrot. Although nervous, he can go super fast in an emergency.
Carprika half-paprika and half-carp
Charchard half-chard and half-char
Codish half-cod, half-radish. He is very clumsy and also causes accidents.
Grouber half-grouper, half-tuber. He is big and can eat almost anything.
Halibeet half-beet and half-halibut
Maccoli half-broccoli and half-mackerel
Perchkin half-pumpkin and half-perch
Pikato half-tomato and half-pike
Tominnow half-minnow, half-tomato. She is the littlest one, but she is also a daredevil.
Tunip half-tuna, half-turnip. He is a recurring main character.
Salepeño half-jalapeño and half-salmon
Sharchini half-zucchini, half-shark
VegiBot a vegimal robot[7]
Wallabaga half-rutabaga and half-walleye
Yamchovy half-anchovy and half-yam

Minor characters

[edit]
Name Animal Relationship
to Octonauts 		Description First Seen
Calico Jack Cat Kwazii's grandfather As a pirate, his exploits are frequently talked about but he is assumed long dead until he finally makes an initial first appearance.[8] In real life, the pirate John Rackham was a notable pirate of the 1720s whose likely fictional nickname was Calico Jack, though the Octonauts character's name might also be an allusion to the Calico cat. Special 3[9]
Pinto Penguin Peso's little brother A young penguin who visits in season 1 – episode 24,[10] season 1 – episode 32[11] and Special 1.[12] He initially aspires to be a pirate, like Kwazii, but later decides he'd rather be a medic like Peso. Season 1 – Episode 24 (24)[13]
Sandy Sea turtle Friend A good friend of Tweak. She swims long distances and makes appointments to meet the Octonauts in several episodes.
Boris Narwhal Friend A friend of Captain Barnacles from when he was young. Boris remains in the Arctic but the Octonauts meet him in several episodes.
Pearl sea otter Shellington's married sister She recently had a baby named "Periwinkle". The Urchin Invasion
Bianca polar bear Captain Barnacles' twin sister Special 7[14]
Orson and Ursa polar bear Bianca's cubs. Captain Barnacles' niece and nephew Special 7[15] and season 4 – episode 7 (99)[16]
Professor Natquik Arctic fox Captain Barnacles's old friend A polar explorer who loves to explore rivers under the ice. Special 8[17]
Tracker Polar Bear Special 8
Ranger Marsh Rabbit Tweak's father A park ranger who loves to explore swamps. Episode 9[18]
Koshi Dog (Dachshund) Dashi's little sister Season 4 – Episode 17 (109)[19]
Squirt Dumbo Octopus Professor Inkling's Nephew Squirt lives in 'sea mount' which is an underwater mountain. Season 1 – Episode 52

Vehicles

[edit]
Vehicle Purpose Resemblance First Appearance
Octopod The Octonauts' mobile home base and the biggest vehicle. It has an almost unlimited range. Giant octopus "The Whale Shark" (Season 1, episode 1)
GUP-A A propeller-powered vehicle and Captain Barnacles' favourite. It is occasionally modified by Tweak during the series:-
1) a turbo booster for greater speed ["Giant Whirlpool" (Season 1, episode 21)]; and
2) extra lights to help see in the midnight zone, which flash when the vehicle's power is running low ["Midnight Zone" (Season 1, episode 18)]. 		Anglerfish "The Whale Shark" (Season 1, episode 1)
GUP-B Kwazii's favourite. This vehicle is a turbo sub so is the fastest of all GUPs. When Kwazii loses this GUP, it is revealed that he painted the shark teeth. In some episodes, Kwazii continuously crashes the GUP-B, leading to occasional modification by Tweak during the series:
1) a set of fully adjustable pectoral fins and a tail fin, to enable it to emulate the flying fish's movements when launching itself out of the water; and
2) an eject button to escape from the GUP in an emergency.

3) a tiger shark camouflage mode to scare away other predators (since tiger sharks can eat almost anything).

Tiger shark Intro Credits, but substantively in "The Undersea Storm" (Season 1, episode 2)
GUP-C This strong vehicle has a towline and is powerful enough to tow an elephant seal or the entire Octopod ["Narwhal" (Series 1, episode 17)]. It can also be used as an icebreaker when fitted with a special reinforced prow. Blue whale Intro Credits, but substantively in "The Undersea Storm" (Season 1, episode 2)
GUP-D Tweak's favourite. This multi-purpose vehicle has two claws, two drills and six legs. Manta ray (or a crab when legged) Intro Credits, but substantively in "The Crab and Urchin" (Series 1, episode 3)
GUP-E This is an ambulance GUP and coloured green. A tank at the vehicle's rear can be filled with water for creatures with gills. Guppy Intro Credits, but substantively in "The Orcas" (Season 1, episode 7)[20]
GUP-F This was a pedal-powered metal-framed vehicle and the very first prototype GUP built. In its only appearance, in ["The Speedy Sailfish" (Season 1, episode 10)], it was used to round up the runaway GUPs A-E. It was destroyed by a hurricane and converted into an artificial reef ["The Artificial Reef" (Series 3, episode 4)] Clownfish The Speedy Sailfish (Series 1, episode 10).
GUP-G This is a ship with "sturdy legs for walking on ground and a special tank for carrying large sea creatures". The GUP-G was built "to travel in water and on land, just like a salamander". Salamander Appearing in the book entitled, "The Octonauts & the Growing Goldfish" (3 July 2014,[21][22] 25 August 2014[23] & 5 June 2018[24]). Also appearing in The Caves of Sac Actun (10th special).
GUP-H This is a helicopter. It is used to soar above the sea and watch the animals hop in and out of the water. Dragonfly The Poison Dart Frogs (Series 4, episode 1) and The Caves of Sac Actun (10th special).
GUP-I This is a polar exploration station and rugged vehicle. Water bear Operation Deep Freeze (8th special).
GUP-J This is a small, but powerfully-fast, hovercraft. Tree frog Only in the toys made for the series.[25]
GUP-K This is a half-air-boat, half-tank vehicle that can float on the surface. It was used to save Tweak's hometown the Everglades from fire in "The Great Swamp Search" (9th Special). Crocodile or alligator The Great Swamp Search (9th Special)
GUP-L This is a seaplane. Flying fish Only in the toys made for the series.[26]
GUP-M This is a rugged three-wheeling buggy, with a creature-carrying sidecar, designed to scout and search swamplands or manoeuvre through the muddy marsh. Mudskipper The Caves of Sac Actun (10th special)
GUP-O This is a jet ski designed to be able to mimic the movements of an orca whale, including a tail that moves up and down as it travels. Orca whale Only in the Season 4 end credits & the toys made for the series.[27][28]
GUP-P This is a first response emergency vehicle and medical station (complete with an X-Ray machine), allowing Kwazii to treat and transport sea creatures to safety. A beak-like hatch exists at the nose of the vehicle for capturing sea creatures being rescued by the vehicle. Parrotfish Octonauts and the Great Barrier Reef (11th Special)
GUP-Q This is an undersea exploration vehicle for search and rescue, especially in dark caves. It is structured like a hammerhead shark, featuring a flat head with searchlights for eyes. Hammerhead shark The Caves of Sac Actun (10th special)
GUP-R This vehicle (pronounced GUP-ARRRR by Kwazii) is designed for rescue missions in and out of water. It possesses a dorsal fin and wings that are lower for hydroplane mode. It can deploy rescue buoys. Sailfish Only in the toys made for the series.[29][30]
GUP-S This is a propeller-powered amphibious Antarctic exploration vehicle, which can split into 2 sections, like the GUP-X. The main body of the vehicle is an underwater Octo-Shuttle, which has 2 pairs of continuous track wheels for travelling on the Ocean floor, an antifreeze system to prevent the ship from freezing over (modelled on arctic fish which have antifreeze in their blood), a research lab, a sleeping quarters, and even a hot cocoa machine. The detachable cockpit forms an above-water snowmobile called the Octo-Sled, with a tusk-like ice-penetrating heated drill at its nose, and an extendable rescue line. Accessories for this GUP include an ice-proof camera. Swordfish or narwhal The Over Under Adventure (6th Special)
GUP-T This is a rescue rover, which travels on the seafloor, on rotating tread wheels, scouring the ocean floor for waste recycling. The Gup-T Rescue Rover is equipped with two sea slime cannons, containing a special sanitising slime that the Octonauts use to break down harmful pollutants in the ocean and rescue contaminated creatures. It has middle and rear doors that open to safely transport wounded creatures. Sea pig Only in the toys made for the series.[31][32]
GUP-U This is an agile vehicle that can travel fast and also stand in patrol position, giving the crew a better view for scanning and spotting creatures in trouble. Frogfish Only in the toys made for the series.[33][34]
GUP-V This is a vehicle designed by the Vegimals and made from improvised materials. Train A Very Vegimal Christmas (5th Special)
GUP-W This is a mobile emergency medical centre, specially designed to help treat the world's endangered coral reefs and their inhabitants. The front can open, creating a ramp that can also function as a launch bay for other GUP vehicles. It is used by Peso to rescue injured creatures, which are stored in a rescue tank. Whale shark Octonauts and the Great Barrier Reef (11th Special)
GUP-X This is an armoured, powerful and sturdy tracked vehicle presented to Captain Barnacles as a Christmas present from Tweak. It can split into three sections; for instance, a glider, the 'Octo-Ski' and its central main section with the caterpillar tracks. Horseshoe crab The Great Christmas Rescue (Series 1, episode 52)
GUP-Y The vehicle is a deep sea excavation vehicle for working around the Deep Sea Octolab in the Mariana Trench. It has long arms, ideal for hauling, lifting and even scooping up sea materials, including slimy rocks. Yeti crab Only in the toys made for the series.[35]
Mega GUP-Z A specialised vehicle meant for work in volcanic environments and combined from 5 smaller Z-GUPs. It is also capable of assuming a humanoid robot configuration for a limited amount of time. Vent shrimp
Mantis shrimp (robot form) 		The Octonauts Movie: The Ring of Fire
Deep Sea Octolab This is a moveable base from which the deepest parts of the ocean can be studied. It is dome-shaped and stands on springy legs to cope with subterranean tremors. — The Mariana Trench Adventure (4th Special)
Octo Servicing Station This is a vehicle servicing scaffold constructed on the seabed. It is used to refurbish the Octopod and manufacture the GUP K and GUP H. — Season 4 and The Great Arctic Adventure (7th Special)

Books

[edit]

The original books were first published in the US by Immedium in 2006 and were republished in the UK by HarperCollins in 2009. Six titles by Meomi have been published:

  • The Octonauts & the Only Lonely Monster, about an Architeuthis (Giant Squid).
  • The Octonauts & the Sea of Shade, about a world where everyone's shadows have gone missing.
  • The Octonauts & the Frown Fish, about a glum-looking catfish.
  • The Octonauts & the Great Ghost Reef, about coral bleaching.
  • The Octonauts Explore the Great Big Ocean, about the search for the home of Tunip the Vegimal.
  • The Octonauts & the Growing Goldfish, about Dunkie, a giant goldfish who won't stop growing.

A series of shorter books based on individual episodes from the TV series is being published by Simon & Schuster. These titles can be distinguished by the "As seen on TV" label on the covers and are not written or illustrated by Meomi.[citation needed] The books have the same titles as the episodes they are based on.

History

[edit]

In 2010, The Octonauts was adapted into a 52-episode CGI animated television series co-produced by Chorion and Brown Bag Films. It first aired in the UK on 4 October 2010 on CBeebies, a BBC television channel for children under 7. The first series ended in February 2011 but continued to be aired as repeats. A second series of 22 episodes commenced in November 2012.

The Octonauts had its US premiere on the Disney Channel on 9 January 2012[36][37] In September 2014, Silvergate Media announced its sale of season 4 to the Disney Channel, to be aired in 2015.[38][39] In Australia, in 2014, the Octonauts became the second most-watched children's TV show in the country, seen daily on ABC2 by 257,000 viewers nationally.[40] By season 4, the Octonauts had been picked up in more than 100 countries, including RTÉ Two (Ireland), Treehouse TV (Canada), ABC Television (Australia), TF1 (France), SuperRTL (Germany), CCTV (China), Karusel (Russia), Disney Junior (Spain, Portugal), and SVT (Sweden).[41]

The show has been translated and shown in French (TF1), Spanish and Portuguese (Discovery Kids Latin America), Finnish (YLE TV2), Welsh (S4C), and Slovakian (STV 2).[42] The series was made with the help of marine biologists Dr. Lara A. Ferry-Graham and Dr. Michael H. Graham, who had previously worked on Finding Nemo.[1]

Episodes

[edit]
Main article: List of The Octonauts episodes

The TV show is episodic, with each 11-minute episode seeing them encountering an unusual but real sea creature as they explore strange underwater worlds. Often they must discover a vital biological or behavioral fact about that creature to rescue it or themselves from danger. The stories usually feature three main characters: Captain Barnacles, Kwazii, and Peso, with the other five Octonauts acting in supporting roles.

The opening theme tune finishes with the chant "Explore! – Rescue! – Protect!", the Octonauts' motto.

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1504 October 2010 (2010-10-04)11 February 2011 (2011-02-11)
22219 November 2012 (2012-11-19)3 September 2013 (2013-09-03)
3204 September 2013 (2013-09-04)22 September 2015 (2015-09-22)
42423 September 2015 (2015-09-23)27 October 2017 (2017-10-27)
Specials1213 December 2010 (2010-12-13)30 March 2021 (2021-03-30)
52727 March 2023 (2023-03-27)present

Creature Reports

[edit]

Creature Reports are one-minute, musical, poem-like sequences that recap the facts learned about the sea creature that the Octonauts encountered in the associated episode. In the UK, these were shown as separately scheduled items, but in the American version, they were used after each regular episode. The exception is the episode of "The Surfing Snails", where it was replaced with a surf rock song called, "Surf's Up, Bubbles Up (Ready to Ride)".

The Creature Report's addictive, repetitive nature has been postulated to have psychological benefits. For children, it provides a sense of predictability that promotes good feelings and mental balance. For adults, it provides a sense of virtual participation via the principle of involuntary musical imagery.[43]

The initial working title of the 2017 American superhero film Thor: Ragnarok was Creature Report, a reference to the Octonauts,[44][45] which acted as the movie production's code word.[46]

Video services

[edit]

Seasons of The Octonauts are available on variety of streaming and direct purchase video services.

Streaming services

[edit]
Service provider Country availability Content
ABC iView Australia
  • Season 3 (episodes 73, 74, 78, 82 & 84–91)
  • Season 4 (episodes 93–101, 103–110 & 114)[47]
  • Special 8[48]
Netflix Worldwide
  • Seasons 2–4
  • Special 3, 5, 8 & 9[49]
Stan Australia
  • Season 4
  • Specials 3–5 & 7[50]

Direct purchase services

[edit]
Service provider Country availability Content
Apple TV/iTunes Worldwide
  • Seasons 1–4
  • Specials 1–9[51]
Google Play Worldwide
  • Season 1 (except episodes 49 & 50)
  • Season 2
  • Season 3 (except episode 76)
  • Season 4 (except episode 115)
  • Specials 1–9[52]
Microsoft Store Worldwide
  • Season 1 (episodes 22–28, 29–35 & 36–42)[53][54][55]
  • Season 4 (episodes 99, 102, 112, 113, 116)[56]

Google Play and Microsoft Store organise their episodes into packages, similar to the region 4 DVD titles.

Package Episodes
Meet the Octonauts Season 1 (1–7)
To the Gups! Season 1 (8–14)
Ready for Action! Season 1 (15–21)
Sound the Octoalert! Season 1 (22–28)
Jumpin' Jelly Fish Season 1 (29–35)
Shiver me Whiskers Season 1 (36–42)
The Great Penguin Race Season 1 (43–47) & Special 1
GUP X to the Rescue! Season 2 (51–55) & Special 2
Amazon Adventure Season 2 (56, 57, 62, 63) & Special 3
Calling All Gups! Season 2 (56, 64, 69–71, 83 & 92)
Deep Sea Adventures! Season 2 (60, 61) & Season 3 (73, 79, 80) & Special 4
Flappity Flippers Season 2 (episodes 66–68), Season 3 (episode 75, 84–86)
Great Arctic Adventure Season 2 (episodes 66–68), Season 3 (episode 75, 84–86) & Special 7
Here Come the Vegimals Season 3 (episode 74, 78, 87–89) & Special 5
Over Under Adventure Season 3 (episode 94, 97, 98, 101) & Special 6
The Great Swamp Search Season 4 (episode 96, 100, 103, 105–107) & Special 9
Octopod Mystery Season 4 (episode 93, 95, 104, 108–111)
Operation Deep Freeze Season 4 (episode 99, 102, 112, 113, 116) & Special 8
ABC Kids Season 4 (episode 48)

Reception

[edit]

The TV series was well received when shown on CBeebies in the UK and by ABC in Australia. According to the authors' website, it was the No. 1 pre-school age show in the UK, and the first pre-school show to be ranked in the top ten by older audiences (aged 3–4 and up).[57] The show was the top-ranked ABC programme for 5- to 12-year-olds in January 2011 in Australia, with the ABC calling its first month an "unprecedented success online and on-air".[58] The Octonauts DVD boxset was the 4th best-selling Children's TV DVD at Amazon UK as of 7 April 2013.[59]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

In 2013, Octonauts was nominated for two awards: an International Emmy Award in the "Kids—Preschool" category[60] and an Irish Film and Television Award in the "Best Children's/Youth Programme" category.[61]

In 2017, the series took home the Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production in the Preschool category for the episode "Operation: Deep Freeze".

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2011 British Academy Children's Awards[62] Pre-School Animation Octonauts Nominated
2013 International Emmy Award Kids-Preschool Nominated
11th Irish Film & Television Awards Children's/Youth Programme Won
British Academy Children's Awards[63] Pre-School Animation Nominated
2017 45th Annie Awards Best Animated Television Production "Operation: Deep Freeze" Won
2018 British Academy Children's Awards[64] Pre-School Animation Octonauts Nominated

Films

[edit]

In 2020, two new movies were released on Netflix: on August 14, The Octonauts Movie: The Caves of Sac Actun[65] (which takes place in a cenote in Mexico) and on October 13, The Octonauts & the Great Barrier Reef (a musical).[66] In 2021, The Octonauts Movie: The Ring of Fire was released March 30 on Netflix in the United States.[67][68]

Spin-offs

[edit]
Main article: Octonauts: Above & Beyond

The Octonauts brand has been licensed by the production company for numerous spin-off activities. These include Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure, a themed rollercoaster within the CBeebies Land of Alton Towers theme park and themed bedrooms with the CBeebies Land Hotel. There is also a travelling live show called Octonauts Live, which has toured in the U.S.[69] and other countries.

An Octonauts app was launched for iOS on 17 November 2016, produced in partnership with Night and Day Studios.[70]

A spin off series, titled Octonauts: Above and Beyond, premiered on September 7, 2021, with the full first episode being released on YouTube on August 25.[71][72][73] Rather than an aquatic setting, Above and Beyond features the crew exploring and assisting in natural habitats such as forests and deserts; essentially all terrestrial habitats.

In 2024, a new spin-off set in China aired exclusively on Chinese broadcast stations, with no news for an international release date.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Octonauts

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Octonauts is a British-American animated created by Vicki Wong and Michael Murphy of Meomi Design, based on their book series about an international team of anthropomorphic animal explorers who live aboard the high-tech submarine Octopod and embark on adventures to rescue marine animals, discover ocean phenomena, and promote environmental awareness. The series premiered on October 4, 2010, on in the and was produced by Silvergate Media in collaboration with animation studios such as and , airing four seasons with 104 episodes from 2010 to 2018, followed by a fifth season in 2023. The core team consists of eight members led by Captain Barnacles Bear, a brave ; Kwazii Kitten, a daring pirate-inspired feline; Peso Penguin, the ; Dashi Dog, the and IT ; Shellington Sea Otter, the ; Tweak Bunny, the engineer; Professor Inkling, the octopus oceanographer and founder; and Tunip, a Vegimal chef hybrid of vegetable and animal. Each episode features the Octonauts deploying from their Octopod base in customizable submersibles called GUPs to address emergencies like creature rescues or habitat threats, incorporating real scientific facts about sea life delivered through catchy "creature reports." Octonauts has received widespread acclaim for its educational content, blending adventure with accurate lessons that foster children's curiosity about the and conservation. It earned a 2018 Annie Award for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children, a 2018 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program, and a BAFTA nomination for Best Pre-School Animation in 2018. The show's positive reception is reflected in its 7.5/10 rating from nearly 2,000 users and praise from critics for encouraging toward without overwhelming young viewers. In , a spin-off titled Octonauts: Above & Beyond expanded the adventures to land and air environments, addressing broader ecological issues like , and premiered on with continued production by Silvergate Media. The original series continued with a fifth season in 2023, and in , a titled Octonauts and the Crisis of the was released. The franchise has also spawned merchandise, interactive apps, and live experiences, extending its reach to global audiences and reinforcing its in early STEM education.

Premise and Production

Concept and Setting

The Octonauts is a centered on an international team of anthropomorphic animal explorers dedicated to underwater adventures and marine rescue operations. The core concept revolves around the team's missions to investigate and protect ocean ecosystems, blending excitement with factual learning to inspire curiosity in young viewers. This educational approach targets children aged 3-7, emphasizing through detailed portrayals of sea creatures' behaviors and habitats, while promoting ocean conservation by highlighting environmental threats and protective actions. The setting unfolds across the Earth's vast oceans, with the Octopod serving as a mobile headquarters that enables the team to traverse diverse biomes such as vibrant coral reefs, mysterious deep-sea trenches, and icy polar regions. These environments provide a backdrop for exploring real-world oceanic diversity, from shallow coastal waters teeming with colorful to the extreme pressures of abyssal depths and the frozen expanses of the and . The narrative structure consistently follows high-stakes rescue missions where the explorer team responds to calls for help from distressed sea creatures, employing specialized skills to resolve crises like entanglements or disruptions. Central to the series is its promotion of STEM concepts through problem-solving and teamwork, as the characters collaborate using engineering ingenuity and scientific knowledge to aid marine life. Episodes integrate authentic science facts, such as the ecological roles of species like sunfish in coral ecosystems or the adaptations of creatures in polar waters, fostering an understanding of biodiversity and sustainability. This unique fusion of anthropomorphic protagonists—who embody human-like roles such as captain or medic—interacting with realistic depictions of ocean animals creates an engaging, accessible entry into underwater science, encouraging viewers to value global ocean health.

Development and Production History

The Octonauts franchise originated in 2006 when Vicki Wong and Michael C. Murphy, working under their collaborative studio Meomi Design, published the first in a series of children's books featuring an underwater team of animal explorers. The books drew inspiration from the creators' fascination with and aimed to spark young readers' interest in ocean adventures through illustrated stories and activity elements. The animated television series adaptation premiered on October 4, 2010, on BBC's channel, co-produced by and animated by Irish studio using 2D-assisted CGI techniques. handled production for the original series from 2010 to 2018, delivering four full seasons and contributing to its distinctive stylized animation that blended hand-drawn aesthetics with computer-generated elements. International co-productions expanded the series' reach, including partnerships with Canada's for North American distribution, alongside other global broadcasters. In 2020, production transitioned to (previously Rainmaker Entertainment) for new content, marking a shift toward fully 3D CGI in spin-offs like Octonauts: Above & Beyond, which premiered on in September 2021 under Silvergate Media. This evolution allowed for more dynamic land-based explorations while maintaining the core ocean theme. The series has continued with ongoing seasons of Above & Beyond, including Season 5, which was announced in May 2025 and began airing in on May 29, 2025, featuring 26 episodes focused on global habitats. Additional updates that year encompassed Halloween-themed specials, such as "The Mystery of the Lost Pirate King" and "The Mysterious Fossil Monster," released in late to engage young audiences with seasonal mysteries. These developments underscore the franchise's sustained growth under , which now oversees licensing and distribution.

Characters

Main Characters

The Octonauts' core team consists of eight primary members, each an anthropomorphic animal with specialized skills derived from their species, enabling them to conduct and missions effectively. These characters form the leadership and operational backbone of the group, collaborating from their base, the Octopod, to address emergencies and discover marine life. Captain Bear is the courageous leader of the Octonauts, renowned for his bravery, strong sense of duty, and expertise in . As a skilled player and meticulous log writer, he often takes the forefront in dangerous situations to aid sea creatures. His physiology grants him exceptional swimming abilities and resilience in cold waters. is voiced by in the UK version of the series. Kwazii Kitten, an orange tabby cat with a pirate heritage, serves as the team's daredevil lieutenant and pilot, thriving on high-speed adventures and GUP vehicle operations. His feline agility and quick reflexes make him ideal for swift maneuvers, while his mysterious past as a pirate's grandson adds a swashbuckling flair to his personality. Kwazii is voiced by Rob Rackstraw. Peso Penguin acts as the team's , a who provides expert medical care, including bandaging and analysis, despite his timid nature around scary scenarios. His avian precision and calm demeanor under pressure, honed by his origins, ensure effective treatment during missions. Peso is voiced by Paul Panting. Professor Inkling Octopus, a dumbo octopus and the Octonauts' founder, functions as the chief historian and inventor, drawing on his vast knowledge of from the Octopod's to guide and preservation efforts. His eight tentacles allow multitasking in data analysis and artifact handling, reflecting his brilliant yet occasionally absent-minded personality. Inkling is voiced by . Shellington Sea Otter is the , a whose playful curiosity and deep expertise in marine science drive laboratory investigations into ecosystems. His dexterous paws and ottery adaptability aid in specimen collection and , though he can become easily sidetracked by fascinating discoveries. Shellington is voiced by . Dashi Dachshund handles and IT operations as the team's tech-savvy , managing the Octopod's computer systems and documenting missions with her camera. Her elongated body and keen senses enable efficient navigation through tight spaces and rapid data processing. Dashi is voiced by . Tweak Bunny, an engineer, designs and maintains the team's vehicles and gadgets, leveraging her mechanical ingenuity to create innovative tools like the GUPs. Her bunny-like speed and resourcefulness shine in high-pressure repairs, often resulting in quirky inventions tailored to mission needs. Tweak is voiced by . Tunip, the leader of the Vegimals, is a turnip-daisy hybrid who assists as the team's and occasional , preparing nutritious kelp-based meals and aiding in simple repairs with his plant-animal versatility. His cheerful disposition and unique "Vegimalese" communication facilitate brief collaborative moments during missions. Tunip is voiced by Ross Breen.

Vegimals

The Vegimals are a group of hybrid sea creatures in the Octonauts series, uniquely combining vegetable and traits to form playful, child-like assistants aboard the Octopod. Discovered by the team's Shellington, who found their eggs attached to the Octopod's exterior and brought them inside where they hatched, the Vegimals became helpful crew members. The official book The Octonauts Explore the Great Big Ocean, where the characters embark on a quest to trace their origins to a distant home, emphasizing themes of and marine . Key Vegimals include Tunip, the de facto leader and a turnip-inspired hybrid who serves as the Octopod's head cook and gardener, specializing in kelp-based recipes like cakes and soufflés; Barrot, a carrot-based skilled in repairing vehicles and gadgets; Grouber, a tuber-grouper hybrid acting as the with a voracious for ingredients; Codish, a cod-radish hybrid who assists with daily tasks and organization; (or Halibeet), a strong halibut-beet hybrid providing muscle for heavy lifting. These characters enhance the team's efficiency through their specialized roles, often collaborating briefly with the main Octonauts during missions. The Vegimals communicate primarily in Vegimalese, a whimsical of chirps, squeaks, and phrases like "cheepa cheepa" for excitement or "walla" for completion, which Shellington can partially translate due to his expertise in . Their abilities extend to , where they cultivate fruits and not only for sustenance but also as improvised tools, such as using grown vines for or pods for storage. This hybrid physiology allows them to thrive in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, underscoring educational lessons on symbiotic relationships between and life. Their dynamic is marked by innocence and teamwork, adding lighthearted moments to the series while supporting kitchen duties and occasional support.

Minor and Recurring Characters

In the Octonauts series, several recurring characters serve as allies during ocean explorations and rescues, including Calico Jack, Kwazii's grandfather and a legendary pirate cat who aids in adventures with his seafaring expertise. Calico Jack first appears in the special "The Legend of Calico Jack," where he reunites with Kwazii after being presumed lost at sea, and continues as a supportive figure in subsequent episodes. Another key recurring ally is Ranger Marsh, Tweak Bunny's father and a in the , who collaborates with the team to address environmental threats in wetland habitats. Professor Natquik, an and longtime friend of Captain Barnacles, provides guidance on polar expeditions and creature behaviors in colder regions. Notable recurring sea creatures often appear as episodic allies or figures in need of assistance, such as the , featured in episodes where the Octonauts explore abandoned shipwrecks and highlight its camouflage abilities and preferences. The has been depicted in underwater hunts, showcasing its schooling behavior and bioluminescent features as the team intervenes to prevent territorial conflicts. These creatures emphasize the series' educational focus on , appearing across multiple missions to illustrate ecological roles without ongoing antagonistic roles. Antagonists in the series are rare and typically non-sentient threats resolved through education and relocation, such as invasive species like the lionfish, which disrupt native ecosystems and require transport back to their origin habitats. Similarly, the appears as an invasive predator in the , where the Octonauts work with local allies to mitigate its impact on wildlife while promoting habitat protection. Pirate-themed elements occasionally introduce mild conflicts, but these are framed as adventurous challenges rather than persistent villains, often tied to Kwazii's backstory. Voice acting for minor and recurring characters is handled by versatile performers, with providing voices for multiple roles including Ranger Marsh, alongside his main cast duties. voices Calico Jack, bringing a rugged pirate flair to the character's appearances. In the spin-off Octonauts: Above & Beyond, recurring characters evolve to include more land-based allies as Octo-Agents, such as Ranger Marsh assisting in terrestrial rescues and Calico Jack joining global missions with his grandson, expanding the scope beyond oceans to forests and mountains. Professor Natquik gains prominence in arctic-focused episodes, aiding in climate-related interventions.

Vehicles and Equipment

The Octopod

The Octopod serves as the primary headquarters and mobile base for the Octonauts, functioning as both a home and a versatile undersea vessel for their exploration and rescue operations. Designed in the shape of an octopus, it reflects the creative vision of Meomi Design, the studio behind the original , and enables the to navigate the depths while supporting their of "Explore! ! Protect!" Shaped like a , the structure includes a central dome connected to eight flexible arms that house specialized modules, such as the engineering room, medical bay, and quarters, allowing for efficient operations in underwater environments. Engineered and maintained by Tweak, the Octonauts' resident bunny mechanic, the Octopod incorporates advanced systems for mobility and sustainability, including for air and water regulation to sustain the crew during extended missions. It features the iconic Octo-Alert system, a communication tool that sounds alarms and dispatches mission calls to the team, often initiating adventures from . The vessel's design supports self-maintenance capabilities, as demonstrated when Tweak uses specialized tools and vehicles to repair structural damage during breakdowns, ensuring operational continuity. In addition to its core aquatic functions, the Octopod demonstrates adaptability for challenging terrains, such as maneuvering through ice formations during polar expeditions. Built to embody and , it houses the launch from which exploration vehicles are deployed, underscoring its role as the operational heart of the Octonauts' endeavors. In the spin-off series Octonauts: Above & Beyond, the Octopod expands its support for global missions, facilitating transitions to terrestrial environments via complementary technology while remaining the crew's steadfast base.

GUPs and Other Vehicles

The GUPs are specialized, detachable vehicles central to the Octonauts' and rescue operations, engineered by Tweak Bunny for mission-specific adaptability across diverse ocean environments. These submersibles, often animal-inspired in design, enable the crew to navigate challenging terrains, perform high-speed pursuits, and execute precise interventions while protecting . Launched from the Octopod's garage bay, GUPs emphasize versatility, with many models functioning both subaquatically and on land to support the team's global ocean guardianship efforts. The GUP-A serves as the flagship multi-purpose vehicle, primarily piloted by Captain for rapid response and missions. Resembling a streamlined sub with motifs, it achieves moderate speeds enhanced by turbo boosters, allowing it to traverse multi-terrain landscapes effectively. On land, its cranks to produce a wavy driving motion, while in water, it propels forward with floating capability. The GUP-B is a high-acceleration, shark-shaped speedster optimized for urgent extractions, frequently associated with Kwazii's daring maneuvers. Its design incorporates opening jaws for gripping, a water-spraying mechanism to disperse hazards, and a deployable rope, making it ideal for swift interventions in dynamic sea conditions. The GUP-C functions as an agile reconnaissance sub, tailored for stealthy scouting and heavy-lift s, often utilized by Shellington in low-visibility scenarios. Featuring a transparent for underwater observation, it includes a robust towline for hauling large creatures like whales to safety and supports ice-breaking configurations for polar expeditions. Powerful integrated lights illuminate dark depths. Among other notable GUPs, the GUP-D operates as a compact diving apparatus akin to a diving bell, facilitating deep-sea descents with retractable crab-like arms and legs for stability on seabeds. It supports diver simulations through an air hose mechanism that enables controlled up-and-down movements in water, while maintaining land mobility for transitional explorations. The GUP-E excels in excavation and recovery tasks as a claw-and-drill equipped hauler, with spinning tools for burrowing through sediment and dual cargo bays for securely transporting rescued animals or debris. It rolls on land to activate its mechanisms and floats in water for seamless transitions. The GUP-X stands out as a modular transformer, reconfiguring into tank, glider, and ski modes to address varied crises, including structural repairs to the Octopod during emergencies. Its horseshoe crab-inspired form accommodates the full crew and provides propulsion across ice, air, and rough terrain. In the spin-off series Octonauts: Above & Beyond, the GUP fleet evolves to include land-focused variants like the Terra GUPs, alongside enhanced models such as the GUP-R, a sailfish-based explorer designed for ultra-high-speed chases through ecosystems. These additions expand the vehicles' scope to terrestrial habitats, incorporating features like all-terrain legs, drills, and hovering propellers for global adventures beyond the depths. For instance, the TG-1 employs expandable legs with spikes and suction for mud traversal, while the Octoray serves as an aerial transport with agility for deploying smaller GUPs. Season 5, premiered in May 2025, introduced additional vehicles such as the TG-9 for expanded missions.

Technology and Gadgets

The Octo-suits are essential for the Octonauts, consisting of waterproof gear with integrated helmets, systems, and built-in communication devices tailored to each member's needs. These suits enable safe and rescue operations by providing protection against pressure, temperature extremes, and allowing seamless team coordination during missions. Tweak, the team's inventive , designs numerous portable gadgets to support fieldwork, including the Octo-grip, a versatile arm attachment that enhances gripping strength for manipulating objects or assisting creatures in challenging aquatic settings. The Octo-alert functions as a wristwatch-style communicator that issues emergency signals to assemble the swiftly and track mission progress. Additionally, Tweak's bubble generators produce protective air bubbles to transport injured animals or shield explorers from hazards like strong currents. These inventions emphasize practicality and innovation, often customized for specific rescue scenarios. Professor Inkling contributes scholarly tools such as the Octo-scope, a portable magnifier device that allows for close-up analysis of marine specimens and environmental details during investigations. Complementing this, devices—compact gadgets that interpret and vocalize the communications of sea creatures—facilitate direct interaction and understanding, crucial for identifying distress signals and coordinating with . These technologies not only aid rescues but also promote educational insights into ocean ecosystems by demonstrating scientific principles in action. In the spin-off series Octonauts: Above & Beyond, gadgetry evolves to incorporate eco-friendly designs, such as enhanced suits and tools supporting land-sea transitions to address broader environmental challenges like habitat protection. These updates integrate with vehicle systems for hybrid operations, expanding the team's capability to explore diverse terrains while maintaining a focus on .

Books

Original Book Series

The Original Book Series of Octonauts was created by the design duo Meomi, consisting of Vicki Wong and Michael C. Murphy, who wrote and illustrated the stories to introduce young readers to and . The inaugural book, The Octonauts & the Only Lonely Monster, was published in 2006 by Immedium, an independent publisher based in , and follows the Octonauts—a team of anthropomorphic animal explorers—as they encounter and befriend a solitary giant sea monster, emphasizing themes of empathy and companionship while incorporating factual details about deep-sea creatures like the . This debut established the series' blend of adventure, character-driven narratives, and educational content on ocean ecosystems. The core series comprises six illustrated storybooks by Meomi released between 2006 and 2014, each centering on a distinct sea adventure that highlights the Octonauts' rescue missions, use of submersibles like the GUPs, and interactions with unique marine animals. The initial four titles are The Octonauts & the Sea of Shade (2007), which explores bioluminescent ocean depths and the importance of light in marine habitats; The Octonauts & the Frown Fish (2008), addressing emotional expression through a story of a perpetually sad fish; and The Octonauts & the Great Ghost Reef (2009), delving into coral reef restoration and biodiversity. Later additions include The Octonauts Explore the Great Big Ocean (2012), focusing on Tunip's Vegimal home and ocean zones, and The Octonauts and the Growing Goldfish (2014), involving a quest to return a massive goldfish to its owner. These books introduce key characters such as Captain Barnacles the polar bear and Kwazii the pirate cat, along with vehicles like the Octopod headquarters, while weaving in real scientific facts about sea life to foster curiosity about the natural world. Formats vary, including standard hardcovers (36 pages each, approximately 11 x 8 inches) and special editions like pop-up books and board books for younger audiences, all featuring Meomi's distinctive whimsical, collage-style illustrations. Publication history reflects the series' grassroots origins and growing international appeal, with Immedium handling the initial U.S. releases to target niche markets for creative children's literature. In 2009, HarperCollins Children's Books reissued the titles in the United Kingdom, broadening accessibility and leading to translations and distributions in multiple languages across Europe and Asia via platforms like Amazon. These foundational works inspired the animated television adaptation, preserving their educational mission in a visual format.

Tie-in Publications

Following the launch of the Octonauts television series, published an extensive line of books adapting episodes into illustrated story formats, beginning in 2011 and continuing through 2018. These novelizations, often featuring titles like Octonauts and the and Octonauts and the , retold key adventures from the show's underwater missions in accessible for young readers, with vibrant artwork capturing the series' exploratory spirit. 23 such titles were released, expanding the franchise's reach beyond the screen while reinforcing themes of marine rescue and teamwork. In addition to story adaptations, produced a variety of activity and educational books designed to engage children with ocean science. The Octonauts Creature Report sticker book, for instance, included over 300 stickers and factual profiles on creatures from to orcas, encouraging interactive learning about . Complementary coloring books, such as The Octonauts Color the Ocean!, offered over 50 single-sided designs of sea animals paired with "Octo-facts" on habitats and behaviors, blending creativity with educational content to foster appreciation for underwater ecosystems. The spin-off series Octonauts: Above & Beyond, which premiered in 2020, inspired its own line of publications starting in 2021, shifting focus to land-based global adventures with Octo-agents. Titles like Octonauts Above & Beyond: The Elephant Rescue and Octonauts Above & Beyond: The Honeybee Rescue adapted episodes into storybooks emphasizing on terra firma. These books, published by Orchard Books (an imprint of Hachette), included activity companions such as the , released in August 2025, featuring puzzles and missions tied to the show's expanding narrative. Recent 2025 editions, including The Ocean Rescue, coincided with new specials and seasons, marking the franchise's 15th anniversary by integrating anniversary-themed content like commemorative eco-adventures. These tie-in publications built upon the inspiration of the original Meomi , adapting its core concept of oceanic exploration for a audience.

Television Series

Original Series (2010–2023)

The Original Series of Octonauts is a British-Irish CGI-animated children's television program that follows an international team of underwater explorers as they conduct rescue operations to aid marine animals and habitats. Produced primarily by in collaboration with (seasons 1–2) and Silvergate Media (seasons 3–5), the series debuted on October 4, 2010, on the BBC's channel in the . It comprises 121 episodes distributed across five seasons, with the final season airing in 2023, each standard episode running approximately 11 minutes and centering on adventure-driven rescue plots that incorporate educational elements about life. The series aired extensively on public and commercial networks worldwide, including in the , Disney Junior and in the United States starting in 2012, and various international broadcasters such as ABC in , in , and in . It also gained prominence through streaming on in regions including the US, , , , and , where full seasons became available for on-demand viewing. By 2018, the program had been dubbed and subtitled in over 40 languages and distributed to more than 150 territories, fostering global appeal among preschool audiences. Over its run, the series evolved in scope and production, with season 4 (2015–2017) marking a key milestone through the introduction of advanced vehicles like the Gup-K, a exploration sub, which enhanced the team's ability to navigate diverse underwater environments. Recurring characters, such as engineer Tweak's father Ranger Marsh and Dashi's sister Koshi, also debuted during this period, adding familial dynamics to the core ensemble. The fifth season, co-produced with China's CCTV since a 2015 deal and further developed in 2018, consists of 26 episodes, with 5 aired in English on starting March 27, 2023, and the full season available in Chinese earlier, solidifying the series' emphasis on international collaboration while maintaining its focus on oceanic exploration before transitioning to spin-off formats.

Octonauts: Above & Beyond (2020–present)

Octonauts: Above & Beyond is a spin-off animated that serves as a successor to the original Octonauts show, expanding the team's missions from underwater rescues to global adventures encompassing land, air, and diverse habitats. Premiering on on September 7, 2021, the series is produced by Silvergate Media and features 3D CGI animation by . It introduces new vehicles, Octo-Agents, and a broader focus on protecting ecosystems worldwide, with the Octonauts enlisting additional allies to address environmental challenges. The series initially released four seasons between 2021 and 2024, with Season 1 debuting in September 2021, Season 2 on May 2, 2022, Season 3 on October 16, 2023, and Season 4 on February 19, 2024, primarily on , , and . These seasons collectively include over 50 episodes, typically 11 minutes each, often paired into half-hour blocks, alongside occasional 22-minute specials that highlight extended adventures. In May 2025, Season 5 was officially announced on May 21, following a promotional release on May 20, featuring the team at a new Reef Base headquarters; the season premiered in on May 29, 2025, with 26 episodes airing through June 10. A key innovation in Above & Beyond is its emphasis on multi-environment explorations, including terrestrial and aerial elements, moving beyond the oceanic focus of its predecessor. The Reef Base, introduced prominently in Season 5, serves as an above-water with an component, supporting missions from land-based operations. The series also updates its format with a new "Explore, Rescue, Protect" intro sequence starting in Season 5, set at the Reef Base. Themes extend to pressing environmental issues such as , depicted through storylines involving droughts, permafrost thaw, floods, and habitat disruption, educating young viewers on conservation in an age-appropriate manner. As of November 2025, production continues with ongoing releases on platforms like and international broadcasters, ensuring the series remains active.

Films and Specials

Feature-Length Films

The feature-length films of the Octonauts franchise expand the animated series' underwater exploration theme into standalone cinematic adventures, typically running 45 to 80 minutes and emphasizing large-scale environmental threats alongside educational content about marine ecosystems. Produced primarily by Silvergate Media in collaboration with animation studios like , these Netflix originals (with one recent Chinese theatrical release) feature the core team of Captain Barnacles, Kwazii, Peso, and others tackling global ocean challenges, often incorporating musical elements or innovative gadgets to engage young audiences. Released between 2020 and 2025, the films build on the series' format by escalating stakes to continental or regional crises, such as systems, reefs, volcanic zones, and tsunamis, while promoting themes of conservation and teamwork. Octonauts & the Caves of Sac Actun, the first feature-length installment, premiered on on August 14, 2020. In this 72-minute adventure, the Octonauts navigate the vast underwater cave system of Sac Actun in Mexico's to return a lost baby to its home, facing narrow passages, strong currents, and collapsing tunnels along the way. The production, directed by Blair Simmons and animated by , highlights real-world cenote exploration and Mayan cultural ties, with educational segments on cave-dwelling species like blind fish and bats. Silvergate Media oversaw the project, incorporating stop-motion-inspired animation sequences to depict the labyrinthine caves. Following shortly after, Octonauts & the debuted on on October 13, 2020, as a 47-minute musical special. The plot centers on the team's mission to combat an outbreak of devouring the , enlisting a young named Orca to restore the coral ecosystem before irreversible damage occurs. Produced by Silvergate Media with animation from and , the film features original songs composed to teach about and , drawing from Australian marine research for authenticity. Director Rob Boutilier emphasized the musical format to make reef conservation accessible and rhythmic for preschool viewers. Octonauts & the Ring of Fire, released on Netflix worldwide on March 30, 2021 (following a January 8 theatrical debut in China), runs 71 minutes and depicts the Octonauts' high-stakes response to a chain of volcanic eruptions and tsunamis along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The story involves deploying a mantis shrimp-inspired robot to rescue marine life, including whales and octopuses, from seismic upheavals triggered by an undersea quake. Co-produced by Silvergate Media and Pinkfong with Mainframe Studios animation, the film was directed by Blair Simmons and incorporates geological facts about tectonic plates and subduction zones, using dynamic CGI to visualize eruptions. This entry marked the franchise's first major international theatrical release, underscoring volcanic threats to ocean habitats. The most recent addition, Octonauts: The Crisis of the , premiered theatrically in on May 1, 2025, with an 80-minute runtime focused on a treasure hunt at that escalates into a rescue operation. Kwazii leads the expedition seeking legendary artifacts, but a massive wave endangers local sea turtles and island ecosystems, prompting the full to use advanced GUP vehicles for evacuation and protection. Produced as a Chinese-led project by entities including Pearl River Film, with writing by Wang Liping and Huang Dandan, the film highlights and coastal conservation without Western studio involvement like Mainframe. As of November 2025, no official English-language release has been announced, though fan-subtitled versions have circulated online.

Holiday and Special Episodes

The Octonauts series features a variety of holiday-themed episodes and that integrate seasonal celebrations with adventures, emphasizing conservation and missions with festive twists. These episodes typically run 22 to 24 minutes, though some holiday compilations extend to 44 minutes or more as double-length formats, blending holiday motifs like cheer or Halloween spookiness with education. Christmas specials form a prominent category, often centering on or polar rescues to evoke winter . In "The Great Christmas Rescue" (2011), the team visits Inkling's undersea mountain childhood home, where a rockslide traps local creatures, requiring the use of the Gup-X vehicle to save for ocean inhabitants. "," aired on December 15, 2015, follows Captain Barnacles reuniting with an old friend, Natquik, to thwart emperor penguins from stealing research station supplies in , highlighting cold-weather teamwork during the holiday season. Later entries include "A Very Vegimals " (2013), where the Vegimals' feast preparations are derailed by a snot entanglement, leading to a collaborative that restores holiday spirit aboard the Octopod. Halloween specials introduce eerie ocean mysteries with playful scares. The 2025 episode "The Haunted Shipwreck," released on October 25 via the official YouTube channel, depicts Kwazii seeking a mythical sword in a pirate wreck guarded by swashbuckling swordfish, blending pirate lore with bioluminescent "ghostly" effects for a spooky underwater quest. This ties into the "SPOOKY HALLOWEEN COLLECTION 2025" playlist on YouTube, which adds new episodes weekly throughout October, featuring themes like haunted shipwrecks and fossil monsters to engage young viewers in seasonal marine exploration. Other holiday episodes adapt and themes to oceanic contexts. specials, such as the 2018 compilation protecting endangered coral reefs from , underscore with global rescue arcs. "The Great Arctic Adventure" (2014), a special, addresses global warming's impact on and ice habitats, portraying Peso aiding his sister's cubs in survival lessons. For , episodes like the 2017 "Easter Adventures" compilation involve egg-hunting missions for marine species, such as nests, infusing spring renewal with underwater discovery. These specials maintain the series' core format of creature reports and GUP vehicle usage while weaving in holiday elements to promote timely educational messages.

Episode Features

Episode Format

The episodes of the Octonauts television series adhere to a consistent structure that combines , , and educational content to captivate young audiences. Each installment typically opens with Captain Barnacles sounding the "Octo-Alert," a urgent call summoning the crew to the Octopod for a mission briefing on an or creature encounter. The team then deploys in their specialized Gup submersibles for exploration and rescue operations, navigating challenges like treacherous currents or environmental hazards while collaborating to aid . The narrative resolves with the successful completion of the mission, emphasizing themes of bravery and conservation, before transitioning to a brief educational recap. In the original series (2010–2023), this format unfolds over approximately 11 minutes per episode, allowing for fast-paced storytelling that fits broadcast schedules on networks like . A total of 121 episodes were produced, focusing exclusively on underwater adventures in Earth's . The pacing maintains high-energy action throughout, with roughly 1–2 minutes dedicated to factual integration, such as habitat details or animal behaviors, woven into the plot to reinforce learning without disrupting the flow. Some episodes conclude with subtle teases to build anticipation for subsequent stories. Octonauts: Above & Beyond (2020–present) extends the runtime to about 25 minutes per episode, enabling more complex narratives that incorporate global scopes beyond the sea, including land-based habitats and new Octo-agents. As of November 2025, the spin-off has produced approximately 90 episodes across five seasons, adapting the core structure—Octo-Alert, briefing, exploration/rescue, and resolution—while broadening missions to terrestrial ecosystems like forests and mountains. This variation allows for heightened stakes in diverse environments, yet preserves the balance of dynamic action and concise educational moments. The concluding Creature Report segment, detailed separately, summarizes key facts from the adventure in both series.

Creature Reports

The Creature Reports are brief animated educational segments, typically lasting 1 to 2 minutes, that conclude each of the original Octonauts television series by presenting factual information on marine animals. These segments follow the adventure narrative, serving as a dedicated learning coda that reinforces science concepts for young viewers. Presented in a musical style with upbeat songs, the reports use simple, engaging language and vibrant animations to deliver accurate details about the featured creature's , , behaviors, and ecological . Narrated by members of the Octonauts crew, such as Captain Barnacles or the team's biologist, they emphasize real-world facts drawn from marine , including migration patterns and conservation needs. For instance, the report on the explains its remarkable camouflage abilities, where it imitates other sea animals like lionfish or to evade predators. Another example covers the , detailing its massive size—the largest animal on —and the long-distance songs used for communication across oceans. These reports appear in every episode of the original series (2010–2023), providing consistent educational reinforcement. In the spin-off Octonauts: Above & Beyond (2020–present), similar segments known as Octo Reports expand to include terrestrial and mixed ecosystems, such as forests and their associated species. The format has been adapted into print media, including spotter guides and activity books that compile creature facts with illustrations and stickers for . Designed specifically for preschool-aged children, the Creature Reports promote early understanding of through accessible visuals, rhymes, and real-life footage clips at the end of each segment, fostering curiosity about ocean conservation. Recent 2025 episodes and specials incorporate updates on climate-impacted species, such as those in vulnerable habitats like mangroves, to highlight environmental challenges.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Reception

The original Octonauts series has been widely praised for its educational content, particularly in promoting (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) principles through engaging stories about and ocean exploration. Common Sense Media awarded it a 4-out-of-5-star rating, highlighting its ability to teach children about sea creatures, adaptations, and while encouraging and problem-solving without overwhelming young viewers. Reviewers and parents have noted its appeal to preschool-aged children, with the show's energetic yet soothing format fostering imagination and family discussions on diversity and cooperation. On , it holds a 7.5-out-of-10 rating from nearly 2,000 users, who commend the charming anthropomorphic characters and blend of adventure with factual "creature reports." Criticisms of the series have centered on its repetitive episode structure in later seasons, which some reviewers describe as formulaic and potentially less stimulating for older children, leading to perceptions of boredom or flat storytelling. Additionally, tie-in merchandise and apps have been called out as overly commercialized, detracting from the core educational experience for some families. Despite these points, the show's global reach underscores its popularity, having been broadcast in over 100 countries and demonstrating strong audience demand on platforms like Netflix, where it ranks significantly above average for children's programming. The spin-off Octonauts: Above & Beyond (2020–present) has received similar acclaim for expanding its educational scope to terrestrial habitats while maintaining a focus on conservation and , earning a 4-out-of-5-star rating from for its gentle adventures and positive messages on compassion and courage. It has been lauded for introducing more diverse characters, including those with global accents and backgrounds, which enhance representation and relatability for young audiences. However, some viewers have critiqued the shift to full CGI animation from the original's 2D style, arguing it alters the visual charm, alongside changes like abbreviated creature reports that deviate from the established format. The series holds a 7.2-out-of-10 rating from over 200 users, reflecting continued engagement despite these adjustments. In 2025, marking the franchise's 15th anniversary, new content such as the special Octonauts: The Crisis of the has been well-received by fans for its thematic relevance to environmental challenges and high production values, though initial ratings remain mixed with a 5.5-out-of-10 on based on early viewership. The release of Octonauts: Above & Beyond Season 5 further expanded the spin-off's adventures, announced in May 2025. Promotional materials and fan celebrations have emphasized the series' enduring appeal in blending education with excitement.

Awards and Nominations

The original Octonauts series received several nominations and wins from prestigious children's media awards bodies. It was nominated for the Children's Award for Pre-School Animation in 2011, 2013, and 2018. The series earned a nomination for the International Emmy Award in the Kids: category in 2013. For its writing, Octonauts was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Animated Program in 2017 and won the award in 2018. Additionally, the episode "Octonauts and the " won the Annie Award for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children in 2018. The spin-off Octonauts: Above & Beyond continued the franchise's recognition, receiving a nomination for the Children's & Family Emmy for Outstanding in 2022. It also garnered a nomination for the for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming in 2022. In 2025, the series was nominated for a Canadian Cinema Editors for Best Editing in – for episodes from the ongoing season. Feature-length films associated with the franchise also achieved accolades. Octonauts: The (2021) won a Children's & Family Emmy for Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a in 2022. The series as a whole received a Parents' Choice Recommended Seal in 2015 for its educational content.
YearAwardCategoryResultNotes/Source
2011BAFTA Children's AwardsPre-School AnimationNominatedOriginal series
2013BAFTA Children's AwardsPre-School AnimationNominatedOriginal series
2013Kids: PreschoolNominatedOriginal series
2017Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated ProgramNominatedOriginal series
2018Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated ProgramWonOriginal series, writers Stephanie Simpson et al.
2018Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool ChildrenWonEpisode: "Octonauts and the "
2018BAFTA Children's AwardsPre-School AnimationNominatedOriginal series
2015Parents' Choice AwardsRecommended SealWonOriginal series for educational value
2022Outstanding Preschool Animated SeriesNominatedAbove & Beyond
2022Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated ProgramWonThe
2022Outstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingNominatedAbove & Beyond
2025Canadian Cinema Editors AwardsBest Editing in Animation – PreschoolNominatedAbove & Beyond episodes

Cultural Impact and Merchandise

The Octonauts series has significantly influenced children's and environmental awareness, particularly in promoting ocean conservation. It has inspired initiatives such as a 2014 project in that encouraged public exploration of local through interactive exhibits and educational activities modeled after the show's underwater adventures. The program is frequently incorporated into school curricula for lessons, where episodes serve as tools to introduce young students to marine ecosystems, , and basic scientific concepts like animal habitats and behaviors. In 2025, marking the franchise's 15th anniversary since its 2010 debut, promotional events and content releases, including special playlists, Halloween collections, and fan celebrations, have emphasized ocean awareness by highlighting real-world conservation efforts tied to the series' themes. Merchandise tied to Octonauts has expanded its commercial footprint, with toys forming a core offering. produced detailed GUP vehicle models and character figures, such as the Gup-A playset featuring Captain Barnacles and rescue tools, which replicate the show's exploratory missions. Apparel lines include licensed t-shirts, hoodies, and jogger sets for children, often featuring characters like Peso and Tweak, available through major retailers. Interactive apps, including the Octonauts Explorer app and adventure titles like Octonauts and the , allow users to engage in virtual rescues and creature explorations, enhancing the educational play experience. The 2021 spin-off, Octonauts: Above & Beyond, has boosted demand for eco-themed toys, with launching playsets like the Octoray Transforming HQ that incorporate land-based conservation elements. The series remains widely accessible across digital platforms. Full seasons stream on , including the original episodes and spin-off content updated through 2025. In the UK, episodes are available on , with recent additions like Above & Beyond specials. Free episodes and compilations, such as 2025 YouTube playlists for World Ocean Day, are hosted on the official Octonauts channel. Viewers can also purchase seasons or episodes via and for on-demand access. Octonauts has achieved broad international distribution, licensed in over 140 territories worldwide since its launch. This global reach has amplified its role in pop culture, with the spin-off series further driving interest in sustainable toys that align with .

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