Total Drama Island
| Total Drama Island | |
|---|---|
| File:The Campers.jpg Top: DJ, Duncan, Tyler, Harold, Goeff, Heather Middle: Lindsay, LeShawna, Eva , Justin, Owen , Noah, Trent, Gwen, Cody Bottom: Izzy, Bridgette, Courtney, Katie, Sadie, Ezekiel, Beth. | |
| Genre | Reality TV/Comedy/Animation |
| Created by | Jennifer Pertsch Tom McGillis |
| Developed by | Fresh TV Inc. / Teletoon / Cake |
| Directed by | Todd Kauffman Mark Thornton |
| Presented by | Teletoon/Fresh TV/Cake |
| Voices of | Christian Potenza as Chris Megan Fahlenbock as Gwen Drew Nelson as Duncan Rachel Wilson as Heather Scott McCord as Owen/Trent Peter Oldring as Tyler/Cody/Ezekiel Emilie-Claire Barlow as Courtney Drew Nelson as Duncan Clé Bennett as Chef/DJ Novie Edwards as Leshawna Sarah Gadon as Beth Kristin Fairlie as Bridgette Brian Froud as Harold |
| Narrated by | Chris (Total Drama Island Host) |
| Theme music composer | Voodoo Highway |
| Opening theme | I Wanna be Famous! |
| Ending theme | I Wanna be Famous! Instrumental |
| Country of origin |  Canada |
| Original language | English/French |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 27 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Tom McGillis, Jennifer Pertsch, George Elliott, Brian Irving |
| Production locations | Camp Wawanakwa, Muskoka, Ontario |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Teletoon (Canada) (Original/Canada) Cartoon Network (America) |
| Release | July 8, 2007 (Original Airdate/Canadian)[1][2] June 5, 2008 (American Airdate)[3] |
Total Drama Island is a Canadian animated television series which lampoons the conventions commonly found in reality shows. It premiered on the Canadian cable television specialty channel Teletoon on July 8, 2007. The show was created by the creators of 6teen, another Teletoon program. It was the first Cartoon Network show outside of both Adult Swim and Toonami combined to have the U.S. rating of "TV-PG" [citation needed] and a parental-discretion warning after every commercial break and at the beginning of the show. Most of the time its rating in Canada is "G" and PG.
Plot
The series is an "animated reality show" where twenty-two teens settle at Camp Wawanakwa — an island located in an unspecified area in Muskoka, Ontario. The plot is somewhat like Survivor. The producers of the reality show plan various challenges the campers must participate in, usually involving extreme stunts. At times, the show also spoofs elements of Fear Factor and Iron Chef. Every three days, the losing team is called to the campfire at night, where the host passes out marshmallows. Those who receive a marshmallow get to stay, while the one who does not get a marshmallow has been voted off the island, and must walk down the Dock of Shame to the Boat of Losers, which will take them away. This process continues on until one player remains on the island. There are many similarities in each of the elimination rounds, but also many unique variations. At the end of the series, the last contestant will win a $100,000 prize (which the host is certain the contestant will "blow in a week") and cheesy tabloid fame. In the Canadian version, Owen is the winner. But Gwen wins America's version of Total Drama Island, so the winner will be between Owen and Gwen.
Characters
Total Drama Island cast consists of the host, the chef, and the twenty-two teens that make up the contestants. The contestants are split into two groups of eleven: the "Screaming Gophers" and the "Killer Bass". There are also an unknown number of cameramen on the island. The contestants personify various teenage stereotypes:hot goth, nerd, cool guy, hot bad boy, hot bossy girl and so forth. There are also various reality show stereotypes, such as the stuck-up know-it-all and the fat guy.
Production
Total Drama Island was developed, financed and produced by Fresh TV Inc. The series was animated at Elliott Animation. The series was directed by Todd Kauffman and Mark Thornton. It is primarily targeted at eight- to twelve-year-olds, and the creators, Tom McGillis and Jennifer Pertsch, studied what pre-teens liked and disliked about reality television shows in the writing process.[4] Fresh TV Inc. partners McGillis, Pertsch, Elliott and Irving produced the series.[5] The budget for the series was US$8 million.[6] It was animated in Flash,[7] at Elliott Animation's studio in Toronto.[5] Total Drama Island has also been dubbed into French. Every cast and crew member on Total Drama Island had to sign a confidentiality agreement not to tell who the winner was.[8] All the characters were designed by Kauffman.[9] An early name for the series was Camp TV[10]
Various voice actors on 6teen have also lent their voice for Total Drama Island; Christian Potenza as Chris, Julia Chantrey as Eva; Drew Nelson as Duncan; Megan Fahlenbock as Gwen; Adam Reid as Justin; Stephanie Anne Mills as Lindsay and Katie; and Rachel Wilson as Heather. The above play the roles of Jude, Jen, Wayne, Kirsten, and Melinda Wilson. Also, Lindsay nearly resembles Kristen of 6teen. Emilie-Claire Barlow plays a recurring role on 6teen, and is Courtney on Total Drama Island.[11]
Total Drama Island Interactive
Total Drama Island Interactive is an online game marketed in conjunction with the television series. It is produced by Xenophile Media. By registering a free account, the player can play games to earn points for marshmallows. Marshmallows are used as money in the game so the player can buy various items. The top 22 players at the end of the season will be entered into a draw to have their customized avatar edited into the final episode of the season.[12] The games are based on the challenges in the show, and are updated weekly as new episodes air.[12]
The winner of this challenge in the Canadian airing was Chaserocks, who was put in the episode as an intern recently hired by Chris to test the safety of the second stage of the final challenge; a pair of planks bridging a gorge. He manages to stay on the plank for just a few seconds before falling off and being eaten by the camp's freshwater sharks in the water below. The American version has a separate website and will have a different avatar added to its unique ending.
Total Drama Action
Total Drama Action is the title for season two of Total Drama Island. Chris McClean will return as the host. The show takes place on a deserted film studio lot, and 15 of the campers from season one will be competing for one million dollars. Several posts on the official blog suggest that the returning campers are Courtney, Heather, Lindsay, Harold, Duncan,Izzy, Gwen, Beth, LeShawna, Trent, Geoff, Bridgette, Justin , Owen and DJ.[13] This time, the show also includes talk shows, featuring the non-returning characters from season one. It is slated to premiere in the Spring of 2009.[14]
Total Drama, the Musical
Total Drama, the Musical is the title for the third season of Total Drama Island and Total Drama Action that Teletoon has commissioned, as announced on the Fresh TV Inc. website. Fifteen contestants will travel around the world to take on outrageous and embarrassing challenges and break into spontaneous musical numbers in each episode, all with the usual backstabbing, alliances, and tender moments.[15]
Total Drama Invasion
Cartoon Network's currently planning a spin-off call Total Drama Invasion. This going to place during the end of the last episode of it's airing. It's a crossover of Total Drama Island with several Cartoon Network shows like Ben 10, Ed, Edd n Eddy, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, etc.
Reception
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Total Drama Island was nominated for "Best Animated Program or Series" in the 23rd Gemini Awards.[16]
In the United States, Total Drama Island is currently one of Cartoon Network's highest rated shows, and is frequently rerun hours on end. During the 2008 Olympics, Total Drama Island was airing in the US, where it was the top tenth show watched by 9-14 year olds for the week ending August 17, 2008.[17]
References
- ^ "Elliott Animation - Productions - Total Drama Island".
- ^ "Total Drama Island: GOPHERS vs. BASS".
- ^ Thorny (2008-06-03). "Howdy Neighbour! ... (or is it neighbor?)". Total Drama Action. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Total Drama Island ribs reality TV".
- ^ a b Total Drama Island: And So It Begins
- ^ "Total Drama Island: Kid Screen".
- ^ "Total Drama Island: What a Poser".
- ^ CHANNEL CANADA :: From the creators of the award winning series 6TEEN, the number one show on TELETOON, comes a truly unique reality show for kids
- ^ Total Drama Island: FINAL 4
- ^ http://totaldramaisland.blogspot.com/2008/08/some-not-so-familiar-faces.html
- ^ Up close with a familiar voice; From Sailor Mars to Timmy's ads, Emilie-Claire Barlow is someone you've definitely heard
- ^ a b BellFund Annual Report 2006
- ^ http://totaldramaisland.blogspot.com/2008/09/tda-trailer.html
- ^ http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/8895
- ^ http://www.freshtvinc.com/news/news_details.asp?c=1&id=24
- ^ http://www.geminiawards.ca/gemini23/gemnoms.cfm
- ^ http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Younger_viewers_49/But_one_group_s_not_into_it_Teen_girls.asp