Mecha Builders (also known as Sesame Street: Mecha Builders) is an animated children's television series and a spin-off of Sesame Street that began production in May 2020.[1] The series is produced by Sesame Workshop and Guru Studio.[1][2]
| Mecha Builders | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | Sesame Street: Mecha Builders |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Based on | Sesame Street by Joan Ganz Cooney Lloyd Morrisett Muppet characters by Jim Henson |
| Developed by | Joe Fallon |
| Directed by | Yurie Rocha |
| Voices of | Leslie Carrara-Rudolph Ryan Dillon David Rudman |
| Theme music composer | Inabakumori |
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | United States Canada |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Cartoon Network (United States) Treehouse TV (Canada) |
| Release | April 30, 2022 – November 24, 2023 |
The project was announced in October 2019.[3] Visual development was started remotely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series intended to add 80 staff as it entered production.[2]
The first of the two stories comprising the first episode was released on April 26, 2022, on the Sesame Street YouTube channel.[4] The series premiered on May 9, 2022, on Cartoon Network, within its Cartoonito pre-school block.[5] The series was later available on the streaming service Max.[5]
Premise
editThe series focuses on "mecha" versions of three legacy characters: Mecha Abby Cadabby, Mecha Elmo, and Mecha Cookie Monster, all reimagined as mechanical beings with the power to enlarge to giant size in addition to unique built-in tools and gadgets. The trio usually solve a problem using a three-step formula: plan, test, and solve. Later episodes would add a fourth main cast member in the form of Elmo's pet dog Tango.
Much like the Muppet Babies reboot, the animated nature of the show's visual style allows more expression in the characters besides body language and opening mouths.
Characters
editMain
edit- Mecha Abby Cadabby (voiced by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) is one of the three Mecha Builders. Mecha Abby is the sole female of the main trio, and acts as the group's leader. Her gadgets include jet boosters in her wings, a flying hologram generator used to outline their plans, and she has the ability to stretch her arms to great lengths in order to reach faraway objects. She represents the planning aspect of the show's problem-solving formula.
- Mecha Elmo (voiced by Ryan Dillon) is one of the three Mecha Builders. Mecha Elmo has high technical powers and is able to assemble many of the devices the team needs (often with some help). His gadgets include wheels in his feet, a safety helmet and visor, and his forearms have the ability to morph his hands into any tool needed for the job, though he typically has to try more than once to get the correct tool. He represents the testing aspect of the show's problem-solving formula.
- Mecha Cookie Monster (voiced by David Rudman) is one of the three Mecha Builders. Mecha Cookie Monster is typically excited when it comes to food and while good-hearted tends to be both dimwitted and skeptical. His gadgets include springs in his feet, the ability to see things to identify, search, or scope out a situation (dubbed the "Goggly Vision"), and his right hand can morph into a large hammerhead (dubbed the "Handy Hammer Hand"), though both hands can also merge into a large rolling drum. He represents the solving aspect of the show's problem-solving formula. After a Mecha Builder shrinks (going "Mecha Tiny") or enlarges (going "Mecha Giant"), Mecha Cookie Monster's chest badge also displays the Cookie Clock, a timer that shows how much time the team has left before they return to normal size.
- Mecha Tango is a fourth Mecha Builder, and Mecha Elmo's pet dog. Energetic and unable to communicate outside of dog noises, her abilities include "super-hearing", "super-sniffing" and her "Turbo Tail", in which her tail spins rapidly to allow her to fly.
Recurring
edit- Izzy is a young girl who is often around much of the Mecha Builders' cases.
- Timmy is a young boy and also Izzy's friend who is often around to help the Mecha Builders a lot. In one episode, he helped them using his own "superpowers".
- Marwyn is a man who is always in different food trucks. He also helps out the Mecha Builders on rare occasions.
- Grandma is an old lady who is nice to the Mecha Builders. In one episode, she also has a twin sister.
- Ranger Nat is the park ranger of Treetop Woods. He sometimes needs help from the Mecha Builders, or assists them with problems around the park.
- Farmer MacBarm is a farmer who lives on a farm. He is usually in farm related problems the Mecha Builders must solve.
- Zee is a space guy and Farmer MacBarm's friend who helps the Mecha Builders.
- Roof is a train conductor who helps the Mecha Builders a lot and he has his pet chicken with him as well.
- Berta is a forest ranger lady who explores the woods and helps the Mecha Builders.
- Sif is an astronaut lady who uses the spacecraft and helps the Mecha Builders.
- Orie is an artist guy who likes making art stuff and helps the Mecha Builders.
- Billie is a construction lady who likes to build stuff in the construction yard and helps Mecha Builders.
- Barb
- Martians
Additional voices include Alan Aisenberg, Dave Droxler, Krystina Alabado, Jaba Keh, Kaitlin Becker, Ezra Knight, Chris Cafero, Martin P. Robinson, Lilli Cooper, Chanel Umoh, Jorge Cordova, and Matt Vogel.
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | PBS Kids air date | Prod. code [6] | U.S. viewers (millions) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "They Sent Us a Pie!" | Yurie Rocha | Joe Fallon | April 26, 2022 ("They Sent Us a Pie!")[4] April 30, 2022 (entire episode) | May 13, 2024 | 101 | 0.07[7] | ||||||
| "Dust in the Wind" | Sandra Willard | ||||||||||||
|
When the Mechas notice a giant pie floating above Pretty Big City, they slice it up to share with all their friends. After the last slice is gone, the team learns that the pie was sent by some friendly aliens to stop an asteroid! Now it’s up to the Mechas to find something else to catch the asteroid. A quartet of singing stone heads are ready to perform at Big Old Boulder Museum, but they can’t stop sneezing. The Mechas have to go “Mecha Tiny” to figure out what’s causing the sneezing, and work together to solve the problem before the concert. | |||||||||||||
| 2 | "Pull Together" | Yurie Rocha | Joe Fallon | May 9, 2022 | May 14, 2024 | 102 | 0.07[8] | ||||||
| "Lift Up and Lift Off!" | |||||||||||||
|
The Mechas arrive on the scene to help a park ranger stuck at the bottom of a crevice. The problem multiplies when Mecha Abby gets stuck on a tree branch trying to reach him. The Mechas need to find a way to lift heavy things so they can free Abby from the tree and lift the ranger out. The Mechas’ friend, Zee, is ready to launch his rocket into space, but a launchpad malfunction sends the rocket flying off to the farm instead. Once the Mechas get the rocket back to Zee’s launchpad, they need to figure out how to point it back up toward the sky in time for liftoff. | |||||||||||||
| 3 | "That Ol' Time Rock Rolls!" | Yurie Rocha | Joe Fallon | May 9, 2022 | May 15, 2024 | 103 | 0.06[8] | ||||||
| "Make Like a Banana and Split!" | Maxwell Nicoll | ||||||||||||
|
Berta is taking a picture with the Big Old Boulder for the city’s museum, but she needs the Mechas' help when the boulder starts rolling down a hill. The Mechas then work together to get the rock back up the hill and to keep it there. It’s Food Day in Pretty Big City, and the city is celebrating by unveiling a banana split statue! But when the statue is revealed, the banana atop the banana split statue is not squashed. The Mechas need to fix it quickly before everyone’s ice cream melts. | |||||||||||||
| 4 | "Magnet Mayhem" | Yurie Rocha | Andrew Moriarty | May 9, 2022 | May 16, 2024 | 104 | 0.05[8] | ||||||
| "Stop That Train" | |||||||||||||
|
The magnet crane at the construction site is switched on by mistake, sucking up all the metal in the area, including Mecha Cookie and Mecha Abby. The Mechas learn about magnetism as they figure out how Mecha Elmo can stop the pull of the magnet before anything or anyone else gets trapped. Mecha Elmo then gets stuck to the magnet. Marwyn is waiting for an egg delivery at the Treetop Woods Train Station. When the engineer tries to stop the train, the brake lever snaps. The Mechas try different ways to stop the train without breaking any of Marwyn’s eggs. | |||||||||||||
| 5 | "Picture Perfect Park Party" | Yurie Rocha | Jordan Gershowitz | May 9, 2022 | May 17, 2024 | 105 | 0.05[8] | ||||||
| "Sun Block" | |||||||||||||
|
Hero Celebration Day is coming to an end; the big finale is a slideshow of the everyday heroes of Pretty Big City. When the screen rips during the event, the Mechas need to find something flat and opaque to show off the photos and celebrate the city’s heroes properly. The people of Pretty Big City are cooling off on a hot day with an ice slide in the park, but the situation gets slippery when the ice slide starts melting. The Mechas hunt for something to slow down the melting process and protect their friends’ summer fun. | |||||||||||||
| 6 | "Roll, Chickens, Roll!" | Yurie Rocha | Scott Gray | May 16, 2022 | May 20, 2024 | 106 | N/A | ||||||
| "Ramp Up, Up, and Away!" | Maxwell Nicoll | ||||||||||||
|
Farmer MacBarm is hosting the Sunny Field Farm Chicken Roll, but the race gets off to a slow start when the chicken's carts don’t roll. The Mechas must find a way to keep the chicken's race going. Ranger Nat can’t wait to see Pinecone’s Comet, that is, until his telescope falls to the bottom of a cliff. The Mechas must get the telescope back up the mountain before it's too late. | |||||||||||||
| 7 | "Yip Yip, Book Book!" | Yurie Rocha | Joe Fallon | May 16, 2022 | May 21, 2024 | 107 | N/A | ||||||
| "Stick To It!" | Clark Stubbs | ||||||||||||
|
It’s the Pretty Big All City Read and Izzy and Barb are ready, that is, until all the books go missing. Note: This episode features a special appearance by the Martians. Pretty Big City finds itself in a sticky situation when the factory starts spewing extremely sticky slime everywhere. | |||||||||||||
| 8 | "The Treasure of Treetop Woods" | Yurie Rocha | Maxwell Nicoll | May 16, 2022 | May 22, 2024 | 108 | N/A | ||||||
| "Zee Makes an Amazing Maze!" | Scott Gray | ||||||||||||
|
Ranger Nat’s hike turns to adventure when he finds a treasure map. Now he & and the Mecha Builders go on a treasure hunt. They just need to follow the directions on the map. Zee and MacBarm are setting up their corn maze with the help of Zee’s Zee Mobile, that is, until it breaks down inside the maze. The Mecha Builders need to make sure they don't get lost looking for the mobile. | |||||||||||||
| 9 | "That's the Way the Windmill Blows!" | Yurie Rocha | Miden Wood | May 16, 2022 | May 23, 2024 | 109 | N/A | ||||||
| "Mecha Machine Makers!" | Joe Fallon | ||||||||||||
|
The broken windmill isn’t turning, which means that Sunny Field Farm has no power. The broken windmill needs to turn again so Zee can launch his rocket. The Mechas need to fix the broken windmill blade to get it working again. The Mechas help out Izzy and Timmy with their Rube Goldberg-inspired bird caller for Grandma. | |||||||||||||
| 10 | "The Need for Feed" | Yurie Rocha | Andrew Moriarty | May 16, 2022 | May 24, 2024 | 110 | N/A | ||||||
| "The Zipline Sisters of Treetop Woods" | Clark Stubbs | ||||||||||||
|
MacBarm is bringing food to his hungry chickens, that is, until all of the food falls out of his truck. The Mecha Builders must find the perfect container to hold all the feed. Grandma and her twin sister want to recreate their old zipline act, but quickly discover that the zipline no longer exists. The Mechas would therefore have to rebuild the Zipline. | |||||||||||||
| 11 | "The Whatsacallit of Treetop Woods" | Yurie Rocha | JP Meier | August 29, 2022 | May 31, 2024 | 111 | N/A | ||||||
| "Nat in the Dark!" | Katiedid Langrock | ||||||||||||
|
Berta is opening an exhibit on the Whatsacallit of Treetop Woods. If only she could get a picture to prove it is real. Gerry and Nat are leading the Treetop Troops on a hike, but Nat finds himself lost in the woods as it gets darker. | |||||||||||||
| 12 | "Let's Get Rolling!" | Yurie Rocha | Jesse Nicholas | August 30, 2022 | June 7, 2024 | 112 | N/A | ||||||
| "A Bit of a Stretch" | Clark Stubbs | ||||||||||||
|
It's MacBarm's croquet tournament and Zee made giant decorations but they're too big to get to the farm. It's the opening day of the skyscraper and the Mechas need to put the sphere on top of the building before the ribbon cutting ceremony. | |||||||||||||
| 13 | "Moo-ving Day!" | Yurie Rocha | Scott Gray | August 31, 2022 | June 14, 2024 | 113 | N/A | ||||||
| "Follow That Breeze" | Andrew Moriarty | ||||||||||||
|
During Macbarm's sleepover, Zee's growth ray turns Moobert bigger. The Mechas would need to build a shelter big enough to fit her, to protect her from the rainstorm. After Ranger Nat's kite blows away in the wind, the Mechas and Timmy learn to build their own kite to find it. | |||||||||||||
| 14 | "Cross That Bridge" | Yurie Rocha | Maxwell Nicoll | September 1, 2022 | June 21, 2024 | 114 | N/A | ||||||
| "Knock Knock! Who's There?" | Joe Fallon | ||||||||||||
|
The train needs to cross the ravine, which becomes difficult when the Martians accidentally break the bridge. The Zee Mobile is great at counting the chickens at the farm, but won't stop crashing into and ruining MacBarm's barn door. While Zee performs some maintenance on the Zee Mobile, the Mechas use different materials to make a new barn door. | |||||||||||||
| 15 | "Pinecone Palooza" | Yurie Rocha | Stacey Greenberger | September 2, 2022 | June 28, 2024 | 115 | N/A | ||||||
| "The Big Footed Cavebird" | Jordan Gershowitz | ||||||||||||
|
Grandma and Timmy are entering the Pinecone Art Show by carving a sculpture out of stone, that is, if they can learn how to carve. The Mechas learn how to use old-fashioned tools to help Grandma and Timmy carve their sculpture. Ranger Nat is hiking and comes across the Big-Footed Cave Bird, and realizes it can't get back into her home. The Mechas find out that the bird's door keeps closing, and need to find something to keep the door in place. | |||||||||||||
| 16 | "Yip Yip, Tree Tree!" | Yurie Rocha | Andrew Moriarty | December 5, 2022 | July 5, 2024 | 116 | N/A | ||||||
| "The Snowman Scarecrow" | Scott Gray | ||||||||||||
|
When the ornaments on the Pretty Big City tree break, the Mechas must build new ones and save the holidays for their friends. It is time for Zee and MacBarm's gift exchange, but the snowman scarecrow Zee made for MacBarm keeps blowing away. The Mechas had to use some strong materials, so the snowman won't blow away. | |||||||||||||
| 17 | "All Mechas on Deck" | Yurie Rocha | Miden Wood | December 16, 2022 (New Zealand) January 16, 2023 (United States) | July 12, 2024 | 117 | 0.10[9] | ||||||
| "Where There's a Wheel There's a Way" | Katiedid Langrock | ||||||||||||
|
Lloyd is testing a wind-up powered go-cart, but a problem arises when it keeps running out of energy. Sif's coming in for a landing at the rocket launch site, until her rocket is pushed off course by a satellite. | |||||||||||||
| 18 | "Silly Hat Catastrophe!" | Yurie Rocha | Maxwell Nicoll | December 20, 2022 (New Zealand) January 17, 2023 (United States) | July 19, 2024 | 118 | N/A | ||||||
| "Zee in a Bottle" | Jesse Nicholas | ||||||||||||
|
Lloyd is selling Silly Hats at the factory, but when the hat machine malfunctions, it starts raining Silly Hats on Pretty Big City. Zee makes a giant rocket ship in a bottle, but things take a turn when he gets stuck inside. | |||||||||||||
| 19 | "MacBarm's Day Off" | Yurie Rocha | Andrew Moriarty | December 22, 2022 (New Zealand) January 18, 2023 (U.S.) | July 26, 2024 | 119 | 0.08[10] | ||||||
| "Playhouse Problem!" | Scott Gray | ||||||||||||
|
Zee gives MacBarm the day off for what turns out to a busy day, and while he fixes the Zee Mobile, the Mecha Builders and Mecha Tango, have to pick, sort and pack the carrot crops of the recent harvest, a task that is harder than it first appears. Ranger Nat is bringing a playhouse on the train for Timmy and Izzy, but it won't fit through the tunnel. | |||||||||||||
| 20 | "Can't Stop the Martians!" | Yurie Rocha | Miden Wood | December 26, 2022 (New Zealand) January 19, 2023 (U.S.) | August 2, 2024 | 120 | N/A | ||||||
| "The Best Nest Test" | Joe Fallon | ||||||||||||
|
The Martians come to Pretty Big City but find themselves in need of help when they are unable to land their spaceship. Zee needs to communicate with Sif in outer space. Zee fails to do so because a bird has made its home on top of the satellite dish. | |||||||||||||
| 21 | "Get in Gear" | Yurie Rocha | Clark Stubbs | December 28, 2022 (New Zealand) January 20, 2023 (U.S.) | August 9, 2024 | 121 | N/A | ||||||
| "Free Wheelin' Ferris Wheel" | Miden Wood | ||||||||||||
|
Panic erupts in Pretty Big City when the big clock breaks and no one is able to tell what time it is. Zee shows off his inventions at his rocket-powered show, including his latest creation, a rocket powered Ferris wheel. | |||||||||||||
| 22 | "The Legend of Jack O'Lantern" "The Mecha T-Rex" | Yurie Rocha | Scott Gray JP Meier | February 10, 2023 (New Zealand) October 27, 2023 (U.S.) | August 23, 2024 | 122 | N/A | ||||||
|
It's Halloween and everything is set for the Zee Mobile to pull the haunted hayride, until it drives away. Timmy could not wait to trick or treat as a Mecha T-Rex, but his Halloween was almost ruined when he could not reach the arms to his costume. | |||||||||||||
| 23 | "The Escaping Cows of Sunnyfield Farm" "Measure for Measure" | Yurie Rocha | Stacey Greenberger Billy Lopez | February 10, 2023 (New Zealand) November 3, 2023 (U.S.) | August 16, 2024 | 123 | N/A | ||||||
|
Zee's new drone accidentally doubles as a cow caller, and the cows keep leaving the farm to go see it. Marwyn attempts to make Pretty Big City's largest cookie, but to do so, he would need a lot of help. | |||||||||||||
| 24 | "Special Delivery" "Super Duper Sled Slide" | Yurie Rocha | Claire Yorita Lee Harron Atkins | February 10, 2023 (New Zealand) November 10, 2023 (U.S.) | August 30, 2024 | 124 | N/A | ||||||
|
The Martians want to help Lloyd deliver packages, but keep breaking them when they drop them from up high. MacBarm and Zee built a slide that sends people all the way across the farm, which means people spend more time walking than sliding. | |||||||||||||
| 25 | "The Case of the Missing Crystal Pinecone" "The Pretty Big Thing" | Yurie Rocha | Katiedid Langrock Jesse Nicholas | February 10, 2023 (New Zealand) November 17, 2023 (U.S.) | September 6, 2024 | 125 | N/A | ||||||
|
Izzy and Timmy go to dig up treasure at the top of Lawrence Pinecone's Statue's shadow, only to find that nothing is there. The mysterious "Pretty Big Thing" is scaring the people of Pretty Big City from going to work, and its identity is yet to be discovered. | |||||||||||||
| 26 | "Sticky Space Race" "The Big Ice" | Yurie Rocha | Monique D. Hall Pilot Viruet | February 10, 2023 (New Zealand) November 24, 2023 (U.S.) | September 13, 2024 | 126 | N/A | ||||||
|
Zee's sticky slime spills on Zee and MacBarm, leaving them stuck together. When Marwyn runs out of ice, the Martians send a giant hunk of ice. All went well until the ice starts sliding towards the skyscraper. | |||||||||||||
Broadcast
editThe series debuted in Canada on Treehouse TV.
On January 10, 2023, Channel 5 acquired the UK broadcast rights to the series for their Milkshake! strand, within a Spring 2023 window. The UK broadcasts redub the secondary characters with British voice actors as part of an effort by Milkshake! to tell stories aimed at a British preschool audience.[11]
On May 13, 2024, the series began airing in the United States on the PBS Kids channel.[12]
Home media
editAll 26 episodes were released on DVD on April 9, 2024 by Shout! Factory.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b Milligan, Mercedes (12 May 2020). "Sesame Workshop, Guru Studio Team for Animated 'Sesame Street' Spin-Off". Animation Magazine. Calabasas CA. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ a b De Wit, Alex Dudok (28 May 2020). "Quarantine Chronicles: How Guru's New 'Sesame Street' Robot Series Is Entering Production Mid-Lockdown". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ Anderton, Ethan (3 October 2019). "'Sesame Street' Heads to HBO Max with Deal for Five New Seasons, Four Spin-Off Shows & More". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Gear up for 'Sesame Street Mecha Builders' with Sneak Peek Episode". 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ a b Steinberg, Brian (March 8, 2022). "WarnerMedia, Sesame Workshop Expand Content Alliance to Fight Kids' Streaming Wars". Variety. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "Shows A-Z - Sesame Street Mecha Builders on hbo max | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Saturday 4.30.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". Showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ^ a b c d "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Monday 5.9.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". Showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ^ Mitch Metcalf (January 18, 2023). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Monday 1.16.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ^ Mitch Metcalf (January 19, 2023). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Wednesday 1.18.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ "Channel 5's Milkshake! Picks up Sesame Street animated spin-off Mecha Builders". Archived from the original on 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
- ^ "WOSU Week Schedule - KIDS". pw.myersinfosys.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Sesame Street Mecha Builders: The Complete Series". Archived from the original on 2024-03-30. Retrieved 2024-04-04.