// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Canadian Made say to its date? "You're maple-y the one.
| Canadian Made | |
|---|---|
 Series logo | |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Created by | Kevin McMahon |
| Theme music composer | Kurt Swinghammer |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 14 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Michael McMahon |
| Producers | Kristina McLaughlin Kevin McMahon Michael McMahon |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production company | Primitive Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | History Television |
| Release | June 1, 2012 |
Canadian Made is a Canadian documentary television series about the history of Canadian invention, innovation and scientific discovery. Produced by Primitive Entertainment for History Television, the series consists of 14 episodes examining inventions, discoveries and technological developments associated with Canada.[1]
Each episode groups three subjects around a common theme and examines their historical, scientific and human stories. The program combines conventional documentary material with animation, dramatic and comedic sketches, historical recreations and computer-generated graphics.[1] Subjects range from the Wonderbra, snowmobile and Robertson screw to Canadarm, the discovery of stem cells, electronic music, standard time and the electron microscope.
The series was created by documentary filmmaker Kevin McMahon and narrated by Canadian actor and comedian Rick Miller.[2] It premiered on History Television in 2012. The production received a Platinum Award for Animation and a Gold Award for Use of Effects at the Pixie Awards.[3]
Premise and format
[edit]Canadian Made examines Canadian contributions to invention, technology and scientific discovery. Rather than organizing the series chronologically, each episode is built around a theme linking three inventions, discoveries or technological developments.[1]
The subjects encompass consumer products, transportation, medicine, engineering, communications, food, sport and scientific research. Among the inventions and developments featured are the Wonderbra, the gas mask, standard time, instant replay, key-frame animation, the Canadarm, Dextre, the pacemaker, Trivial Pursuit, the Robertson screw, the Canadair CL-215 water bomber and the NEPTUNE underwater observatory.
The series uses a mixture of documentary interviews and historical material together with animation, sketches, recreations and computer graphics.[1] Primitive Entertainment described the series as exploring the historical, scientific and human stories behind the featured inventions and using them collectively to examine aspects of Canadian culture and character.[1]
Production
[edit]Canadian Made was produced by Toronto-based Primitive Entertainment as a 14-part half-hour documentary series for History Television.[1][4] The program was included in Shaw Media's 2011–12 specialty-channel programming lineup, where it was announced as a forthcoming world premiere on History Television.[5]
Kevin McMahon created the series. Production credits include Kristina McLaughlin, Kevin McMahon and Michael McMahon as producers, with individual episodes written and directed by several Canadian documentary filmmakers.
Rick Miller served as narrator throughout the series.[2] The individual episodes have a finished running time of approximately 22 minutes, while the production was commissioned and marketed in a half-hour television slot.[6]
Episodes
[edit]The series consists of 14 episodes. Each episode focuses on three related subjects, although some segments encompass more than one closely connected invention or development.[6]
| No. | Title | Subjects | Writer/director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clothing Revolutions | Wonderbra; lumberjack shirt; gas mask | David New |
| 2 | Snow Crossings | Snowshoes; snowmobile; snowplows and puck road sensor | Sean Wainsteim |
| 3 | Time Shifting | Standard time; keyframe animation; instant replay | David New |
| 4 | Space Explorations | Canadarm; Dextre; LIDAR | David New |
| 5 | Cultural Revolutions | Superman; electronic music and the electronic sackbut; Trivial Pursuit | Sean Wainsteim |
| 6 | Sweet Treats | Maple syrup; ginger ale; chocolate bar | Sean Wainsteim |
| 7 | Game Gear | Lacrosse stick; hockey stick; goaltender mask | Ian Ross MacDonald |
| 8 | Experimental Vehicles | JetLev water jet pack; Mosquito ultralight helicopter; Uno dicycle | Buffy Childerhose |
| 9 | Medical Breakthroughs | Pacemaker; Blissymbolics; discovery of stem cells | Dylan Reibling |
| 10 | Imperviousness | Quinzhee; Canada Goose parka; Exo-Suit | Michael Morrow |
| 11 | Working Watercraft | Kayak; Sawfish harvester; Hibernia oil platform | Su Rynard |
| 12 | Brilliant Amenities | Robertson screw; plastic garbage bag; bear-resistant garbage container | Annie Bradley |
| 13 | Foresting | Totem poles; Charles Fenerty and wood-pulp newsprint; Canadair CL-215 water bomber | Buffy Childerhose |
| 14 | Revolutionary Perspectives | Electron microscope; telerobotic surgery; NEPTUNE underwater observatory | Dylan Reibling |
The episode numbering above follows Primitive Entertainment's distribution of the complete series.[6]
Selected episodes
[edit]Snow Crossings examines technologies developed for movement through the Canadian winter, including snowshoes and the snowmobile. The episode discusses the different forms of traditional snowshoes and the circumstances that influenced Joseph-Armand Bombardier's development of snow-going vehicles.[7]
Sweet Treats examines the histories of maple syrup, ginger ale and the chocolate bar, using food inventions as its common theme.[7]
Game Gear focuses on equipment associated with Canada's major sports and examines the historical relationship of lacrosse equipment to Indigenous traditions.[7]
Medical Breakthroughs examines the development of the cardiac pacemaker, Blissymbolics and Canadian research associated with the discovery of stem cells.[7]
Foresting examines subjects connected with Canada's forests, including totem poles, the development of wood-pulp newsprint associated with Charles Fenerty, and the purpose-built Canadair CL-215 aerial firefighting aircraft. The episode was written and directed by Buffy Childerhose.[6]
Awards
[edit]Canadian Made received two Pixie Awards for its visual production.[3]
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Pixie Awards | Animation | Won Platinum Award |
| 2011 | Pixie Awards | Use of Effects | Won Gold Award |
Release and availability
[edit]Canadian Made was broadcast by History Television in Canada in 2012. Contemporary Shaw Media publicity announced the program as a world premiere for the network's 2011–12 programming schedule.[5]
The complete series was subsequently released for online distribution by Primitive Entertainment. Its digital edition contains all 14 episodes with individual running times of approximately 22 minutes.[6] Primitive Entertainment continues to list the series in its catalogue.[8]
The series has also been distributed through Apple TV, where it is classified as a documentary/history program and lists Miller as its featured performer.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Canadian Made". Primitive Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "Film & TV". Rick Miller. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "About". Primitive Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Work". Primitive Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "Shaw Media Unveils 2011-2012 Programming Lineup For Its Specialty Channels". Channel Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Canadian Made". Vimeo. Primitive Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Canadian Made". Apple TV. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Shop". Primitive Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
External links
[edit]- Canadian Made at Primitive Entertainment
- Canadian Made at Vimeo
- Canadian Made at Apple TV