Zigby

Lore & Background

Zigby lives in a treehouse in Mudwater Creek on a lush tropical island. In typical stories, the enthusiastic zebra's slightly eccentric behavior leads him into adventures, followed by his best friends McMeer the meerkat and Bertie Bird the anxious guinea fowl. The character first appeared in the picture book 'Zigby Camps Out' (2002), published by HarperCollins for children aged approximately 2 to 5. Additional picture books include 'Zigby Hunts for Treasure' (2002), 'Zigby and the Ant Invaders' (2003), 'Zigby Dives In' (2003), and 'Zigby and the Monster' (2005). Four board books—'Go-Kart', 'The Picnic', 'The Birthday Party', and 'Toy Box'—were released in 2004. By early 2005, 350,000 copies of Zigby books had been sold in fifteen countries.

Reader's Guide

The television adaptation of Zigby was announced in 2005 and resulted in 52 episodes of 11 minutes each, produced in 3D animation by companies in Australia, Singapore, and Canada. The series aired on Treehouse TV in Canada from February 23, 2009 to July 31, 2011, with repeats from June 2013 to May 2015. In the UK, it aired on CBeebies from 2009 to early 2011, and in Australia on ABC from March 25, 2009 to January 3, 2015. The series specifically targeted 4 to 5 year olds, with a wider target audience of 3 to 6 year olds. The voice cast included Tracey Moore as Zigby, Brian Drummond as McMeer, and Matt Hill as Bertie Bird. The show was also acquired by German ZDF, France 5, and Univision's Planeta U for Spanish-dubbed broadcasts in America. Zigby's significance lies in its cross-media presence as both a book series and an internationally broadcast animated series, appealing to preschool audiences with gentle adventure themes.

Did You Know?

• Zigby was created by Scottish-born English author Brian Paterson.
• The television series consisted of 52 episodes, each 11 minutes long.
• Zigby's friends include McMeer the meerkat and Bertie Bird the guinea fowl.
• By early 2005, 350,000 copies of Zigby books had been sold in fifteen countries.