Little J & Big Cuz is an Australian animated television series first screened on the NITV network in 2017. The 13-part series is directed by Tony Thorne and produced by Ned Lander and developed with the Australian Council for Educational Research. It was written by Beck Cole, Jon Bell, Erica Glynn, Danielle MacLean, Bruce Pascoe and Dot West, with creative input from Margaret Harvey, Leah Purcell and Adrian Wills.[1]
| Little J & Big Cuz | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Beck Cole Jon Bell Erica Glynn Danielle MacLean Bruce Pascoe Dot West |
| Directed by | Tony Thorne |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original languages | Australian Aboriginal English Kriol Various other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island languages |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Ned Lander |
| Original release | |
| Network | NITV |
| Release | 2017 |
In May 2018, the show was renewed for a second series to air on NITV and ABC Kids in 2019.[2] The series won the 2018 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children's Program.[3]
Plot
editLittle J is five and has just started school. His older female cousin, Big Cuz, is ten. They are a couple of Aboriginal Australian kids living with their Nanna and Old Dog, who also narrates. The gaps in Nanna's ramshackle fence lead to Saltwater, Desert and Freshwater Country. With the help of Nanna and their teacher Miss Chen, Little J and Big Cuz are finding out all about culture, community and country.[4]
Educational value
editDesigned as a school readiness initiative, the series was accompanied by the publication of educational resources designed for preschool and early years teachers.[5] In 2018, educational researchers reviewed the use of Little J and Big Cuz in early childhood, preschool and junior primary settings, producing a series of case studies about the use of the series as a transition to school resource. The research was funded by the Dusseldorp Forum.[6]
Versions
edit22 episodes are available in various Aboriginal languages,[7] including:
Cast
edit- Miranda Tapsell as Little J
- Deborah Mailman as Big Cuz
- Ningali Lawford-Wolf as Nanna
- Aaron Fa'aoso as Old Dog
- Ursula Yovich as Levi
- Shari Sebbens as Sissy/B Boy
- Renee Lim as Miss Chen
- Mark Coles Smith as Mick
- Katie Beckett as George/Jacko
- Kylie Farmer as Ally
- Miah Madden as Monti
References
edit- ^ "Little J & Big Cuz series 1 (2017)". Screen Australia. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ Knox, David (31 May 2018). "Renewed: Little J & Big Cuz". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "Logies awards 2018: Here's the full list of winners and nominees". ABC News. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "About the show". Little J & Big Cuz. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "Educators". Little J and Big Cuz. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ Moyle, Kathryn (1 January 2019). "Little J & Big Cuz: A school readiness initiative: Final report and case studies". ACEReSearch.
- ^ "Little J and Big Cuz (SBS on demand)". Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ "Little J & Big Cuz: 5 things you should know about this award-winning series". NITV. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
External links
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