Ask the StoryBots is an American live-action/animated preschool children's television series based on the characters from the StoryBots educational website and videos. It premiered exclusively on Netflix on August 12, 2016. Originally created and produced by JibJab Bros. Studios, the StoryBots media franchise was fully acquired by Netflix in May 2019.
In its first season, the series was nominated for an Annie Award, was a finalist for a Peabody Award, was nominated in the International category at the British Academy Children's Awards, and received six nominations for the Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Preschool Children's Animated Program. It won the 2017 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Media - Enhancement to a Daytime Program or Series. Its second season, which premiered on Netflix on August 24, 2018, received the Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Preschool Children and won two Daytime Emmy Awards for writing and directing. The third and final season premiered on August 2, 2019.
Ask the StoryBots also inspired the Netflix holiday special A StoryBots Christmas, which won two Daytime Emmy Awards. Starting in its second season, Ask the StoryBots has been translated into 22 languages and is available for streaming on Netflix in 190 countries.
Plot The StoryBots are little robots who live beneath our screens. In every episode, the quintet of Beep, Bing, Bang, Boop, and Bo, of Team 341-B, go on an adventure to the human world to help answer kids' questions like "Why is the sky blue?" or "Why do I need to brush my teeth?" They deliver their answer in the end of each episode in the form of a music video. Each episode features a special celebrity guest, who helps the Storybots discover the answer to their question.
Cast
Main cast Judy Greer as Beep Boppalot, a green knowledgeable StoryBot. Jeff Gill as Bing Badaboom, a yellow, crazy, and hyperactive StoryBot. Fred Tatasciore as Bangford "Bang" Bibblebop III, a blue, slow, and cool StoryBot. Gregg Spiridellis as Boop Bunklebee, a red grouchy StoryBot. Erin Fitzgerald as Bolina "Bo" Bumblefoot, a purple cheerful StoryBot. Evan Spiridellis as Harry "Hap" Hacklebee, an olive-green StoryBot who is the boss of the Answers Department. Nate Theis as Hub and Bub, orange and gold StoryBots who enjoy goofing off while on the job.
Additional voices Lisa Donovan Lukas Randy Crenshaw
Episodes Ask the StoryBots made its first season debut with six half-hour episodes. Its second season premiered August 24, 2018 and includes eight half-hour episodes. Its third season premiered August 2, 2019 and includes eight half-hour episodes.
Series overview
Season 1 (2016)
Season 2 (2018)
Season 3 (2019)
Reception Ask the StoryBots has been called the "best kids' show on Netflix" by both Wired and Decider and has received positive reviews, with critics specifically citing its educational quality and its entertainment value for both children and adults. Common Sense Media wrote, "[It's] both educational and entertaining in every scene yet is visually appealing as well as humorous enough to make both children and parents laugh out loud...While the premise of the show is to answer a child's question, the antics that the characters get themselves into are very funny, and each episode always has an educational twist without being obvious...[T]he magazine format of the show allows for things such as music videos, letter rhyming, songs, and field trips to different places."
The Domestic Geek called the show "a really fun and great way for the family to learn and laugh together", while Chico News & Review wrote that "parents and children alike will want to binge on Netflix's new edutainment series, Ask the StoryBots...The StoryBots dive deep into the natural world, research well-rounded answers and report back through contemporary music, humor and repetition".
Accolades Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result 2017 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children Ask the StoryBots Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Preschool Children's Animated ProgramEvan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Meridith Stokes, Megan McShane, Monica MitchellOutstanding Interactive Media - Enhancement to a Daytime Program or SeriesEvan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Mauro Gatti, Daniel Haack, Meridith Stokes, Rubens Cantuni, Nina Neulight, Romney Caswell, Jeff Gill, Jacob Streilein, Nikolas Ilic, Rohit Mohan, Bradley RoushOutstanding Directing in a Preschool Animated ProgramEvan Spiridellis, Jacob Streilein, Ian WorrelOutstanding Main Title and Graphic DesignIan Worrel, Taylor Clutter, Jeff Gill, Nikolas Ilic, Kendall Nelson, Taylor Price, Evan Spiridellis, Jacob Streilein, Nate Theis, Eddie WestOutstanding Sound Mixing for a Preschool Animated ProgramLeonardo Nasca, Jared Nugent, Jeff ShiffmanOutstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated ProgramJeff Shiffman, David Carfagno, Brad Meyer, Nicholas J. Ainsworth, Elliot HermanPeabody AwardChildren's ProgrammingAsk the StoryBotsCynopsis Kids !magination AwardsEducational Series/SpecialAsk the StoryBotsBritish Academy Children's AwardsInternationalAsk the StoryBots 2019 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children Ask the StoryBotsDirecting in an Animated Television/Broadcast ProductionEvan SpiridellisDaytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Preschool Children's Animated SeriesEvan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Sarah Kambara, Meridith StokesOutstanding Interactive Media for a Daytime ProgramGregg Spiridellis, Evan Spiridellis, Daniel Haack, Greg Mako, Sarah Kambara, Roberto TejedaOutstanding Performer in a Children's, Family Viewing or Special Class ProgramEdward Norton as Gary the Electronics Salesman Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated ProgramEvan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Nate Theis, Jacob Streilein, Eddie West, Jeff GillOutstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated ProgramJacob Streilein, Jeff Gill, Evan Spiridellis2020 Annie Awards Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children Ask the Storybots Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated / Television Broadcast Production Chris O'Hara Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Preschool Children's Animated SeriesEvan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Sarah KambaraOutstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated ProgramEvan Spiridellis, Gregg Spiridellis, Nate Theis, Jacob Streilein, Eddie West, Jeff GillOutstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated ProgramJacob Streilein, Jeff Gill, Evan SpiridellisOutstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated ProgramJeff Shiffman, Nicholas J. Ainsworth, Tess Fournier, Jacob Cook, Ian Howard, Johnathan LopezIndividual Achievement in AnimationChris O'Hara
Music The show's first season soundtrack, Ask the StoryBots: Season 1 (Music from the Original Series), was released to digital vendors in September 2016 and is currently available for download and streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and Amazon.com. The series' second season soundtrack was released on August 31, 2018.
Spinoffs A companion series, StoryBots Super Songs, premiered on October 7, 2016, also on Netflix. A holiday special, A StoryBots Christmas, premiered on December 1, 2017, and features Ed Asner in a guest appearance as Santa Claus. It received two Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Special Class Animated Program, with an additional four nominations.
References
External links
Ask the StoryBots on Netflix