BB3B
| BB3B | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by |
|
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Chris Fenna |
| Starring |
|
| Theme music composer | Bis |
| Opening theme | What Are We Gonna Do Now? |
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 13 episodes |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Nikki Chaplin |
| Producers |
|
| Editor | Stephen Charles |
| Running time | 20 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBBC |
| Release | 2004 – 2005 |
BB3B is a British animated children's television series developed by Will Brenton and Iain Lauchlan for Tell-Tale Productions. The series premiered on the BBC in January 2005 and consists of 13 episodes of approximately 20 minutes each.[1][2] The characters were designed by illustrator Mike Gordon.[1]
Premise
[edit]BB3B follows twins Lucy and Louie, who become convinced that their new baby brother, Billy Bob, is an alien sent to take control of their parents and prepare an extraterrestrial invasion.[3] Influenced by the B-movie science-fiction films they watch with their teenage babysitter, the twins interpret ordinary aspects of life with a new baby as evidence of an alien plot, leading to a different imaginative adventure in each episode. The title BB3B stands for "Billy Bob 3rd Baby".[2][1]
Characters
[edit]The principal characters in BB3B are listed below:
- Louie and Lucy are young twins who become convinced that their baby brother, Billy Bob, is an alien. Their interest in extraterrestrials is encouraged by the science-fiction and B movies they watch with their babysitter, Chubba. Louie is voiced by Teresa Gallagher and Lucy by Colleen Daley.[4][5]
- Billy Bob is Lucy and Louie's infant brother. Although he is an ordinary baby, the twins regard him as an alien "sprog" preparing an invasion of the Earth.[4]
- Jazz and Simon are the children's parents. Jazz is portrayed as creative and practical, while Simon is an architect and dreamer whose ideas are not always successful. They are voiced by Regina Reagan and Gary Martin, respectively.[4][5]
- Nana is Simon's mother, an English woman who lives in a trailer near the family home and is fond of country music and their neighbour, Mr. Wienburger. She is voiced by Colleen Daley.[4][5]
- Chubba is the twins' teenage babysitter and fan of old B movies and science fiction, which influences Lucy and Louie's ideas about their brother. He is voiced by Justin Fletcher.[4][5]
Production
[edit]BB3B originated from a concept by Will Brenton and was developed with Iaian Lauchlan over approximately three years. Brenton and Lauchlan presented the project at the Cartoon Forum in Germany, where it was sold alongside two other projects. The BBC provided around 25% of the programme's £2 million production budget, with additional financing coming through licensing and distribution arrangements.[1]
Production of the 13 episodes took around 20 months. The series was animated entirely using Flash MX, with a production team of up to 30 artists working across studios and freelance teams in Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol and Malaysia Lauchlan directed the animation, while illustrator Mike Gordon designed the characters.[1]
Entertainment Rights acquired Tell-Tale Productions in September 2004, with Brenton and Lauchlan joining its creative division.[6]
Music
[edit]The Scottish band Bis provided the title music for BB3B and recorded an original song for each episode. Animated versions of the band also appeared within the series performing the songs, which were used to accompany action sequences.[1] The music was later released on the album Music for Animations.[7]
Broadcast
[edit]BB3B was broadcast in the United Kingdom on the CBBC.[2] In Australia, the series aired on ABC Kids and ABC2, with repeat broadcasts documented in 2008 and 2009.[8][9]
Reception
[edit]The series received some retrospective attention for its offbeat tone and use of music. In 2020, Martin Horsfield of The Guardian described BB3B as a "gently subversive cartoon" and noted its use of original Bis songs to accompany comic chase sequences.[7] A 2005 feature in Skwigly Animation Magazine described the series as part of Tell-Tale Productions' successful output and highlighted its combination of low-cost Flash animation with an energetic, creative production style.[1]
External links
[edit]- BB3B at IMDb
- "BB3B Episode Guide". BBC.
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Phillips, Julian (1 April 2005). "Baby Aliens! Oh, My! How BB3B Series Was Realized". Skwigly Animation Magazine. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "BB3B". Wish Films. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "CBeebies - Winter highlights 2005" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 6 December 2004.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Nexta. "BB3B, il dvd". www.film.it (in Italian). Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "BB3B - Full Cast & Crew - TV Guide". www.tvguide.com. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "AWN Headline News". Animation World Network. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- 1 2 Horsfield, Martin (31 December 2020). "Banging toons: why bands such as Bis are making soundtracks for kids' TV". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "BB3B – From Here To Maternity" (Television schedule). ABC Television Guide. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 March 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- ↑ "BB3B: From Here to Maternity - ABC2 Television Guide". www.abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2026.
- 2005 British television series debuts
- 2005 English-language television series debuts
- 2005 British television series endings
- 2005 English-language television series endings
- 2000s British animated television series
- 2000s British children's television series
- British children's animated comedy television series
- English-language British television shows
- Disney Channel original programming
- BBC children's television shows
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
- Television series by Universal Television
- Animated television series set in the United States
- BBC animated television series