Cyberchase is an animated mathematics series that currently airs on PBS Kids. The show revolves around three Earth children (Matt, Jackie, and Inez) who use mathematics and problem-solving skills to save Cyberspace from a villain known as The Hacker. The three are transported into Cyberspace by Motherboard, the ruler of this virtual realm. Together with Motherboard's helper, Digit (a robotic bird), the three new friends compose the Cybersquad.
Each animated episode is followed by a live-action For Real interstitial before the credits, hosted by young, comedic actors who explore the episode's math topic in the real world. The show is created by the Thirteen Education division of WNET (channel 13), the PBS station for Greater New York.
Series overview
Episodes Webisodes (2001; 2003; 2005) Preceding the televised animated episodes, in December 2001, three webisodes called "How It All Started" were added to the website.
Webisode 1 had 16 panels. Webisode 2 had 13 panels. Webisode 3 had 13 panels.
By April 13, 2003, the trilogy was expanded into "Web Adventures", with a 4th webisode called NUMBERLESS PUDDLES! which had 20 panels.
On December 14, 2005, a 5th webisode called HACKER JACK was added, which had 4 panels.
The "Web Adventures" webisodes page was still up in December 2012, but as of March 8, 2014, it was changed into a redirect to the Math Games page introduced in 2011.
Season 1 (2002) All episodes this season were directed by Larry Jacobs. "The Poddleville Case" was co-directed by Yvette Kaplan and is the remake of the original pilot of the same name, produced in 1999.
Season 2 (2003) All episodes this season were directed by Larry Jacobs.
Season 3 (2004) All episodes this season were directed by Larry Jacobs.
Season 4 (2005) This is the last season directed by Larry Jacobs, who had directed every episode up to this point.
Season 5 (2006–07) During the season, a special two-hour program, "Cyberchase: My Big Idea!" was broadcast. The program comprised episodes 64–67 shown sequentially, and was built around the theme of inventions. Each episode covered a different invention topic. The program was hosted by Bianca and Harry from Cyberchase For Real! and in between episodes, they talked about inventions that were made by kids, and showed clips of kids who had made inventions of their own.
Len Carlson, the original voice of Buzz, was replaced about halfway through the season by Philip Williams. Carlson died in 2006, and the episode "EcoHaven Ooze" was dedicated to him. Williams began voicing Buzz starting with "The Halloween Howl". This was the last season that was animated by Nelvana Limited and the last one traditionally animated, before moving over to Flash animation by PiP Animation Services, starting with season six.
All episodes this season were directed by Jason Groh.
Season 6 (2007–08) This is the first season to use Flash animation.
This is the first season where Buzz is voiced by Philip Williams from beginning to end.
All episodes this season were directed by Brandon Lloyd.
Season 7 (2009) In the first two episodes, "For Real" segments included Janice Huff, a meteorologist with New York's WNBC-TV who played "Stormy Gale" in episodes 83–84.
All episodes this season were directed by Brandon Lloyd.
Season 8 (2010) This is the last season directed by Brandon Lloyd, who had directed every episode up to this point. This is also the last season based on mathematical concepts.
Season 9 (2013–14) On April 3, 2013, it was announced on the official Facebook page that the series would return for a ninth season. The season premiered November 4, 2013, after being on hiatus since 2010. Issues in development for episode 95 caused some versions of the aired episode to air with the title "placeholder" cards in place. e.g. act 1, act 2, and act 3. In this season, Harley, Alicia, and Harry (from For Real) now work at Camp Henry teaching 8-year-old kids about the environment. Season 9 was animated in Flash by Pip Animation in Ottawa.
All episodes this season were directed by J. Meeka Stuart.
This is the last season to be in Fullscreen.
Season 10 (2015) All episodes this season were directed by J. Meeka Stuart.
The opening sequence has been updated to look consistent with the Flash animation.
This is the first season to be in 16:9 widescreen.
Season 11 (2017–18) All episodes this season were directed by J. Meeka Stuart.
Season 12 (2019–20) All episodes this season were directed by J. Meeka Stuart.
Season 13 (2022) This is the final season where Gilbert Gottfried provides the voice of Digit before his death on April 12, 2022.
Season 14 (2023) Following Gilbert Gottfried's death on April 12, 2022, Ron Pardo now provides the voice of Digit. The episode "Clean-Up on Isle 8" was dedicated to Gottfried.
Season 15 (2024) This is the final season where Phillip Williams provides the voice of Buzz before his death on September 8, 2024.
Season 16 (2026) Peter Cugno provides the role as Buzz following the death of Phillip Williams on September 8, 2024.
Home media DVD/VHS Between 2004 and 2005, five Cyberchase titles were released on DVD and VHS. Each DVD release of the titles contained three episodes. +Cyberchase home video releasesSeason Episodes Release dates United States 12002 26 Codename Icky: August 3, 2004 Episode(s) featured: "Of All the Luck" • "Codename: Icky"Totally Rad!: August 3, 2004Episode(s) featured: "Fortress of Attitude"Starlight Night: October 26, 2004 Episode(s) featured: "Snow Day to Be Exact" 22003 14 Codename Icky: August 3, 2004Episode(s) featured: "Harriet Hippo and the Mean Green"Totally Rad!: August 3, 2004Episode(s) featured: "Totally Rad!"Starlight Night: October 26, 2004Episode(s) featured: "A Time to Cook"The Snelfu Snafu: March 29, 2005 Episode(s) featured: "The Wedding Scammer" 32004 12 Totally Rad!: August 3, 2004Episode(s) featured: "The Borg of the Ring"Starlight Night: October 26, 2004Episode(s) featured: "Starlight Night"The Snelfu Snafu: March 29, 2005Episode(s) featured: "The Snelfu Snafu"EcoHaven CSE: August 23, 2005 Episode(s) featured: "EcoHaven CSE" • "The Creech Who Would be Crowned" 42005 10 EcoHaven CSE: August 23, 2005Episode(s) featured: "A Crinkle in Time"
iTunes iTunes Canada has released the first eight seasons, though they are not always according to the American airdates and use different season numbering. The Canadian releases also do not include the For Real segments, due to them not being included on Canadian airings of Cyberchase on CBC Television, Discovery Kids and the Knowledge Network. iTunes US has a collection of 24 random episodes, a couple of themed collections, and the two specials. See below tables. +Canadian iTunesSeason Episodes Release number Episode count 12002 26 1 13 2 13 2 2003 14 3 14 3 2004 12 4 12 4 2005 10 5 10 5 2006–07 10 6 10 6 2007–08 10 7 12 72009 78 10 8 2010 5 +American iTunesSeason Episodes Releases 1 2002 26 CyberchaseEpisode(s) featured: "Castleblanca" • "And They Counted Happily Ever After" • "Clock Like An Egyptian" • "Codename: Icky"Numbers & DataEpisode(s) featured: "Castleblanca" • "And They Counted Happily Ever After" 2 2003 14 CyberchaseEpisode(s) featured: "Totally Rad" • "Double Trouble" • "The Wedding Scammer" • "Trick or Treat"Numbers & DataEpisode(s) featured: "Double Trouble"Fractions & GeometryEpisode(s) featured: "Totally Rad" 3 2004 12 CyberchaseEpisode(s) featured: "EcoHaven CSE" – "A World Without Zero" • "The Creech Who Would Be Crowned" • "Shari Spotter and the Cosmic Crumpets" • "Starlight Night"Numbers & DataEpisode(s) featured: "A World Without Zero"Fractions & GeometryEpisode(s) featured: "The Borg of the Ring" • "Shari Spotter and the Cosmic Crumpets" 4 2005 10 CyberchaseEpisode(s) featured: "The Icky Factor" • "Past Perfect Prediction" • "A Crinkle In Time" – "A Tikiville Turkey Day"Numbers & DataEpisode(s) featured: "Past Perfect Prediction" 5 2006–07 10 CyberchaseEpisode(s) featured: "The Flying Parallinis" – "A Fraction of a Chance"Fractions & GeometryEpisode(s) featured: "The Flying Parallinis" • "A Fraction of a Chance" 6 2007–08 10 7 2009 7 Earth DayEpisode(s) featured: "The X-Factor" 8 2010 5 9 2013–14 5 Earth DayEpisode(s) featured: "An Urchin Matter" – "Trash Creep"The Cyberchase MovieEpisode(s) featured: "The Cyberchase Movie" 10 2015 5 11 2017–18 10 12 2019 12 Space Waste OdysseyEpisode(s) featured: "Space Waste Odyssey" Volume 12Episode(s) featured: "Giving Thanks Day" • "A Garden Grows in Botlyn" • "Water Woes" • "Soil Turmoil" • "Missing Bats in Sensible Flats" 13 2022 10
Streaming The show is available to stream on PBS Kids' official streaming partner, Amazon Prime Video. The For Real segments are omitted on most of the episodes.
References
Notes