# Nanalan' > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nanalan' > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nanalan'.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanalan' > Source revision: 1354253006 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Canadian children's television show}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = Nanalan Russell Mona.jpg | caption = Russell (left) and Mona (right) | runtime = 3 minutes {{small|(shorts)}}
21 minutes {{small|(full-length)}} | creator = {{Plainlist| * [Jamie Shannon](/source/Jamie_Shannon) * [Jason Hopley](/source/The_Grogs) }} | composer = Jack Lenz | cinematography = John M. Tran | executive_producer = [Jack Lenz](/source/Jack_Lenz)
Jamie Shannon | producer = Tim Williams | director = Michael Larsh | starring = {{Plainlist| * Jamie Shannon * Jason Hopley * [Ali Eisner](/source/Ali_Eisner) * Marty Stelnick }} | country = Canada | language = English | network = {{Plainlist| * [YTV](/source/YTV_(Canadian_TV_channel)) (shorts) * [CBC Television](/source/CBC_Television) ([Kids' CBC](/source/CBC_Kids)) (series) }} | company = [The Grogs](/source/The_Grogs) | first_aired = {{start date|1998|9|7}} | last_aired = {{end date|2004|11|1}} | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 72 {{small|(shorts)}}
41 {{small|(full-length)}} }} '''''Nanalan'''''' is a Canadian [children's television series](/source/children's_television_series) created by [Jamie Shannon](/source/Jamie_Shannon) and [Jason Hopley](/source/The_Grogs). It began in 1998{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/948549065/|title=YTV moves into a new zone|newspaper=[The Toronto Star](/source/The_Toronto_Star)|page=262|date=September 5, 1998|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} as a series of three-minute shorts originally broadcast on [YTV](/source/YTV_(Canadian_TV_channel)); it later ran for two seasons of full-length (21 minutes) episodes that were first broadcast by [CBC](/source/CBC_Television). The series chronicles the small-scale adventures and discoveries of a three-year-old puppet girl named Mona in her grandmother Nana's backyard. The title is a contraction of the phrase "Nana Land," referring to the setting. Hopley and Shannon produced the series through their puppetry troupe [The Grogs](/source/The_Grogs) in association with [Lenz Entertainment](/source/Jack_Lenz). The show uses a blend of hand puppetry and the manipulation of cardboard cutouts, particularly in the opening theme. While the shorts do not follow a structure, the half-hour episodes follow a loose format that includes at least one song or reading an original story to the viewers. The show received three nominations at the 2004 [Gemini Awards](/source/Gemini_Awards) and was fairly well received by Canadian and U.S. press, with some critics calling attention to the show's surreal presentation and genuine approach to its concept. In 2004, select shorts were released across several [DVD](/source/DVD)s and [VHS](/source/VHS) in the U.S. In the mid-2010s and mid-2020s, the series [went viral](/source/viral_phenomenon) with a resurgence in popularity on websites such as [Tumblr](/source/Tumblr) and [YouTube](/source/YouTube) for its bizarre nature.{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Tanya |date=May 10, 2016 |title=Teens On Tumblr Are Obsessed With This Fucked Up Canadian Kids Show |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/tanyachen/nanalan-why |access-date=4 November 2016 |website=Buzzfeed}}{{cite web |last1=Bobkin |first1=Matt |date=2016-05-12 |title=Canadian kids' show Nanalan' goes viral, validates weirdness of Canadian millennials |url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/television/canadian-kids-show-nanalan-goes-viral-validates-weirdness-of-canadian-millennials |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=National Post}}{{Cite web |last=Van Wort |first=Amber |date=2020-04-17 |title=Nanalan Quarantine Videos Are Being Shared Online And It's Canadian Nostalgia Overload |url=https://www.narcity.com/nanalan-quarantine-videos-are-being-shared-online-and-its-canadian-nostalgia-overload |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Narcity |language=en-ca |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629144603/https://www.narcity.com/nanalan-quarantine-videos-are-being-shared-online-and-its-canadian-nostalgia-overload |url-status=dead }} Interest in the series was renewed in late 2023 after video clips of it went viral on [TikTok](/source/TikTok).{{Cite web |last=Kircher |first=Madison Malone |date=November 21, 2023 |title=Who's That Wonderful Girl? How "Nanalan'" Found New Success on TikTok |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/21/style/whos-that-wonderful-girl-nanalan.html |website=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Angelica |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Who's that wonderful girl? How Nanalan' is taking over TikTok, 20 years later |url=https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/whos-that-wonderful-girl-how-nanalan-is-taking-over-tiktok-20-years-later |website=CBC Kids News}} The new success led to Hopley and Shannon reuniting for the first time since disbanding The Grogs in 2009, reprising Nana and Mona for interviews and online videos.{{cite web |last1=Rashotte |first1=Vivian |title=How Nanalan's viral TikTok success reunited the show's creators after 15 years |url=https://www.cbc.ca/arts/q/how-nanalan-s-viral-tiktok-success-reunited-the-show-s-creators-after-15-years-1.7049441 |website=CBC |access-date=17 February 2024 |date=5 December 2023}} ==Premise== The show focuses on Mona, a three-year-old girl with a big imagination and a tendency to repeat short words or phrases while also mispronouncing them. Each episode begins with Mona's mother dropping her daughter off at Nana's house while heading for work and then picks Mona up after that. Mona, Nana, and Nana's pet dog, Russell, spend the day exploring, learning, and visiting Nana's next-door neighbour Mr. Wooka.{{Cite web |title=IC Punch Media Inc. Announces Acquisition of Two New Children's Shows - "Nanalan" and "Jurassic Cubs" For VU Television Network Launch. |url=http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/ic-punch-media-inc-announces-214900242.html |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=ca.finance.yahoo.com |language=en-US}} ==Characters== *'''Mona''' ([Jamie Shannon](/source/Jamie_Shannon)) is the main character of the series. She is an almost-three-year-old with lime green skin, lime green hair styled in pigtails, a spherical head, and large bean-shaped eyes. In the original shorts, she cannot speak in full sentences and can only say a few words, but quickly started speaking more coherently in the full-length series. She has a tendency to mispronounce words; for example, she says ''pea pod'' as "peepo" and ''mushroom'' as "shoosh." *'''Nana''' ([Jason Hopley](/source/The_Grogs)) (Bea) is Mona's grandmother, who Mona stays with every weekday while her mother goes to work. Nana has bright orange skin and a very tall forehead. She wears a multicolored dress and large, round glasses. In the original shorts, her hair is auburn; in the full-length episodes, her hair is white. *'''Russell''' ([Ali Eisner](/source/Ali_Eisner)) is Nana's pet Dog [Jack Russell Terrier](/source/Jack_Russell_Terrier) whom Mona plays with while visiting Nana's house. Russell does not talk, but often attempts to communicate by barking and gesturing. Mona often pronounces his name incorrectly, calling him "Russer." *'''Mr. Wooka''' (Todd Doldersum) (Hank) is Nana's next-door neighbour who is a main character in the full-length episodes. He is an elderly man with yellow skin and a white mustache who wears green corduroy pants held up with suspenders. Whenever Mona visits his yard, he puts on his own puppet shows to entertain her. *'''Mom''' (Marty Stelnick) is Mona's mother and Nana's daughter. She has a similar appearance to Mona, but is taller and has brown hair in a bob. She is married to Mona’s unnamed father. She works during the day and leaves Mona in Nana's care while she works. *'''Alice''' is Nana's pet cat. She appears infrequently, but when she does appear, she is often at odds with Russell. Like with Russell, Mona mispronounces her name, and often calls her "Ally". ==Episodes== ===Season 1 (2003)=== '''NOTE:''' All episodes in this season were written by Jamie Shannon and Jason Hopley and directed by Tim Williams.{{Episode table |background=#770b47 |overall= |season= |title= |airdate= |episodes={{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 1 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Lollipop | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|11|03}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 2 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = Sunshine | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|10|31}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 3 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = Big Girl | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|09|05}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 4 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Rainy Day | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|11|10}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 5 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = Free | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|09|01}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 6 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = Purple Juice | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|09|03}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 7 | EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | Title = Snow | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|12|29}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 8 | EpisodeNumber2 = 8 | Title = Chirp | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|10|17}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 9 | EpisodeNumber2 = 9 | Title = Play Day | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|12|31}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 10 | EpisodeNumber2 = 10 | Title = Bye Bye | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|12|30}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 11 | EpisodeNumber2 = 11 | Title = Chipmunk in the House | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|10|07}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 12 | EpisodeNumber2 = 12 | Title = Hummingbird | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|11|07}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 13 | EpisodeNumber2 = 13 | Title = Love | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|12|28}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 14 | EpisodeNumber2 = 14 | Title = Home | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|09|04}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 15 | EpisodeNumber2 = 15 | Title = Birdsong | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|09|02}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} }} ===Season 2 (2004)=== '''NOTE:''' All episodes in this season were written and directed by Jamie Shannon and Jason Hopley.{{Episode table |background=#770b47 |season= |overall= |title= |airdate= |episodes={{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 16 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Hooray For You | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|08|30}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 17 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = Smelly Smell | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|08|31}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 18 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = Brownies | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|01}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 19 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Hootenanny | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|02}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 20 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = Under My Wing | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|03}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 21 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = Sick As A Dog | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|06}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 22 | EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | Title = Nanalympics | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|07}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 23 | EpisodeNumber2 = 8 | Title = Spring | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|08}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 24 | EpisodeNumber2 = 9 | Title = Bee Sting | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|09}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 25 | EpisodeNumber2 = 10 | Title = Purple Monster | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|10}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 26 | EpisodeNumber2 = 11 | Title = Bubbles | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|13}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 27 | EpisodeNumber2 = 12 | Title = Helpful Girl | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|14}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 28 | EpisodeNumber2 = 13 | Title = Night, Night Nana | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|09|15}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 29 | EpisodeNumber2 = 14 | Title = Pumpkin | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|29}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 30 | EpisodeNumber2 = 15 | Title = 1, 2, 3 Apple Tree | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|30}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 31 | EpisodeNumber2 = 16 | Title = Windy Day | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|31}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 32 | EpisodeNumber2 = 17 | Title = Russell Did It | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|11|01}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 33 | EpisodeNumber2 = 18 | Title = Treasure | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|02}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 34 | EpisodeNumber2 = 19 | Title = 4-Part Harmony | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|06}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 35 | EpisodeNumber2 = 20 | Title = Soft as Nana | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|07}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 36 | EpisodeNumber2 = 21 | Title = Mud Puddle | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|09}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 37 | EpisodeNumber2 = 22 | Title = Camp Wooka | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|10}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 38 | EpisodeNumber2 = 23 | Title = Toad Meets Budgie | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|14}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 39 | EpisodeNumber2 = 24 | Title = Mona-A-Go-Go | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|15}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 40 | EpisodeNumber2 = 25 | Title = New Friends | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|17}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 41 | EpisodeNumber2 = 26 | Title = Winter Wonderland | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|10|20}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 770b47 }} }} ==Production== The show was filmed in a building "reputed to be an old munitions factory" in the television production district of [Liberty Village](/source/Liberty_Village) in [Toronto, Ontario](/source/Toronto).{{cite news|title=Puppeteers pull their own strings|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/puppeteers-pull-their-own-strings/article1125279/|last=Kohler|first=Nicholas|date=January 8, 2004|access-date=March 13, 2016|work=[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)|publisher=[The Woodbridge Company](/source/The_Woodbridge_Company)}} The shorts were produced in 1998 & 1999. ==Broadcast and home media== ''Nanalan{{'}}'' first aired as one of the short series broadcast during program breaks on [YTV](/source/YTV_(Canadian_TV_channel))'s [YTV Jr.](/source/YTV_Jr.) block. In the United States, Nickelodeon's [Nick Jr. block](/source/Nick_Jr._(block)) and its sister channel [Noggin](/source/Noggin_(brand)) ran 21 of the 72 ''Nanalan{{'}}'' shorts beginning in 1999. Repeats of the shorts continued to air on Nick Jr. until late 2003, when the first full-length season began airing. International distribution for the shorts was handled by [Sunbow Entertainment](/source/Sunbow_Entertainment).[https://cocatalog.loc.gov/ US Copyright Office] Document No. V3482D352 / 2001-11-23 CBC premiered the full-length episodes beginning September 1, 2003 and aired the series until 2007. The show also aired in the U.S. on select [PBS Kids](/source/PBS_Kids) stations from July 8, 2006{{cite web |title=PBS Pressroom - NANALAN' |url=http://pressroom.pbs.org/programs/nanalan |access-date=16 January 2024 |date=6 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106030906/http://pressroom.pbs.org/programs/nanalan |archive-date=November 6, 2007 }} through 2013.{{cite web |title=nineMagazine - July/August 2013 by Nine PBS - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/nine_magazine/docs/ninemag_septoct2013 |website=issuu.com |access-date=16 January 2024 |language=en |date=27 August 2013}} In 2004, Quality Special Products released a set of six [DVD](/source/DVD)s and [VHS](/source/VHS)es including selections of the three-minute shorts. The discs and were mainly sold in the U.S. Rather than simply ''Nanalan{{'}}'', the home media billed the show as ''Welcome to Nanalan{{'}}: As Seen on Nickelodeon''.{{Cite web |url=http://www.shop.ca/c/direct-source-welcome-to-nanalan-seasons-dvd-779836131591-22040279 |title=Welcome to Nanalan - Seasons DVD Canada online at SHOP.CA - 779836131591 |access-date=2016-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084107/http://www.shop.ca/c/direct-source-welcome-to-nanalan-seasons-dvd-779836131591-22040279 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }} The full-length seasons were neither released to DVD nor VHS. The episodes were uploaded to YouTube in 2007 (but have since been deleted).{{Cite web |title=Nanalan' Guys Surprised Own Nana with a Song |url=https://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/04/nanalan-guys-surprised-own-nana-with-a-song/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Neatorama |language=en}} In 2023, an official YouTube channel for the show was created. Shorts and full-length episodes are uploaded weekly.{{cite web |title=nanalan' official - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@nanalanofficial |website=YouTube |access-date=2 July 2023}} ==Reception== During its short run, the series received mostly positive attention from media critics, some of which felt that the show's bizarre and unconventional nature made it more appealing and watchable by viewers of all ages. Although, the demographic for the show is geared toward children ages 3 to 11 years old. The ''[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)'' said that "the series' surprising sweetness, simplicity and humour strike a universal chord with both young adults and kids."{{cite news|title=Nanalan' Info|url=http://www.nanalan.net:80/5_info/5_main.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010621002652/http://www.nanalan.net/5_info/5_main.html|archive-date=June 21, 2001|access-date=March 13, 2016|work=[The Grogs](/source/The_Grogs)|publisher=Objektory|url-status=dead}} Writers for the ''[Windsor Star](/source/Windsor_Star)'' enjoyed its surreal approach to depicting early childhood, saying that "the creators have captured the essence of what it is to be three." A review from the Canadian newspaper ''Broadcast Week'' said that "it made me laugh out loud, even though I'm out of the target audience by more than a couple of decades." ===Awards and nominations=== In 2004, the series was nominated for the following three [Gemini Award](/source/Gemini_Award)s: Best Performance in a Pre-School Program or Series; Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series; and Best Pre-School Program or Series. ''Nanalan{{'}}'' won Best Writing and Best Performance, and the award was shared by all of the puppeteers. ===Cultural relevance=== A particular scene from the show was uploaded to YouTube in August 2023, showing Nana singing "Who's That Wonderful Girl" while Mona is dressed in princess clothes. The clip amassed over 46,000 views and 1,400 likes in three months. This same clip was later reposted on TikTok, where it received more than 8 million plays, 1.5 million likes and inspired 615 other videos using the sound within a month. ==See also== * ''[Mr. Meaty](/source/Mr._Meaty)'', Hopley and Shannon's second television series ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Portal bar|Television|Canada}} * [http://television.aol.com/show/nanalan/58419/episodes?count=14&skip=42]{{IMDb title|0400000}} {{Former YTV original series}} {{Former PBS Kids original programming}} Category:1998 Canadian television series debuts Category:2006 Canadian television series endings Category:1990s Canadian children's television series Category:2000s Canadian children's television series Category:1990s preschool education television series Category:2000s preschool education television series Category:Canadian preschool education television series Category:CBC Kids original programming Category:First-run syndicated television shows in Canada Category:PBS Kids original programming Category:YTV (Canadian TV channel) original programming Category:English-language Canadian television shows Category:Canadian television shows featuring puppetry Category:Interstitial television shows Category:Television series about children --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nanalan'](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanalan') by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanalan'?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.