# WonderWorks

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American children's television anthology series

For the family indoor amusement park, see [WonderWorks (museum)](/source/WonderWorks_(museum)).

WonderWorks Country of origin United States Original release Network PBS Release 1984 (1984) – 1993 (1993)

***WonderWorks*** is an American [children's](/source/Children's_television_series) [anthology](/source/Anthology_television_series) television series which ran from 1984 to 1993. It was produced by the [Public Broadcasting Service](/source/Public_Broadcasting_Service) (PBS). [Walt Disney Home Video](/source/Walt_Disney_Studios_Home_Entertainment) purchased the rights to the series in 1987 and made it available on [VHS](/source/VHS) and later [DVD](/source/DVD), in addition to airing some of the programs on the [Disney Channel](/source/Disney_Channel).[1]

## Films

The series consisted of [made-for-television films](/source/Television_film), many of which were adapted from acclaimed [children's books](/source/Children's_books).

Before the final season, most episodes were just under one hour, with longer films either being edited for time or split into multiple episodes.

Examples of book adaptations include [Lucy Maud Montgomery](/source/Lucy_Maud_Montgomery)'s *[Anne of Green Gables](/source/Anne_of_Green_Gables_(1985_film))*, *[Bridge to Terabithia](/source/Bridge_to_Terabithia_(1985_film))*, *[All Summer in a Day](/source/All_Summer_in_a_Day)*, *[Jacob Have I Loved](/source/Jacob_Have_I_Loved)*, *[The Box of Delights](/source/The_Box_of_Delights_(TV_series))*, C.S. Lewis' *[The Chronicles of Narnia](/source/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(TV_series))* series (co-produced by WonderWorks and the BBC), *[Miracle at Moreaux](/source/Miracle_at_Moreaux)*, *[The Hoboken Chicken Emergency](/source/The_Hoboken_Chicken_Emergency)*, *Odile & Yvette at the Edge of the World*, *[How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!](/source/How_to_Be_a_Perfect_Person_in_Just_Three_Days)* (by [Stephen Manes](/source/Stephen_Manes)), *Gryphon*, *[A Little Princess](/source/A_Little_Princess)*, *A Girl of the Limberlost*, *[Sweet 15](/source/Sweet_15)*, *[A Waltz Through the Hills](/source/A_Waltz_Through_the_Hills)*, *[The Canterville Ghost](/source/The_Canterville_Ghost_(1985_film))*, *[Frog](/source/Frog_(film)),* *The Haunting of Barney Palmer*, *Lone Star Kid*, *[Caddie Woodlawn](/source/Caddie_Woodlawn)*, *[The House of Dies Drear](/source/The_House_of_Dies_Drear)*, and *[The Boy Who Loved Trolls](/source/The_Boy_Who_Loved_Trolls)*.

WonderWorks also co-produced the Australian *[Clowning Around](/source/Clowning_Around)* series, which in 1993 was edited into a 3-hour movie for PBS (split into two parts on some stations).

## Production

During the airing of new productions, the series was retitled as *The WonderWorks' Family Movie* up until the series' ending in 1993.

The program was co-produced by numerous PBS stations, including [WQED](/source/WQED_(TV)) (Pittsburgh, PA), [KCET](/source/KCET) (Los Angeles, CA), [KTCA](/source/Twin_Cities_Public_Television) (St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN), [WHRO](/source/WHRO-TV) (Hampton-Norfolk, VA), [South Carolina Educational Television](/source/South_Carolina_Educational_Television) (SC), [WETA](/source/WETA-TV) (Washington, D.C.), and [KERA](/source/KERA-TV) (Dallas-Fort Worth, TX).

## Broadcast and home media

*WonderWorks* primarily aired on PBS from 1984 through 1991. From 1987 to the mid-1990s, some programs also aired on The Disney Channel.

In late 1986, WonderWorks entered into a 5-year agreement with The Disney Channel to supply content and engage in co-productions. Under the deal, some programs would first air on The Disney channel, some on PBS. The deal also gave Walt Disney Home Video the rights to release several previous WonderWorks titles and all upcoming shared programming, and it gave Disney's Buena Vista Television syndication rights over the same material.[2]

In 1990, Public Media Video acquired the home video rights more broadly, and began releasing *WonderWorks Family Movie* titles on VHS starting in August of that year.[3]

Although the series was discontinued after the 7th season in 1991,[4] reruns continued to air on most PBS stations. Several new productions also appeared in 1992 and 1993, first being released on home video before airing as *WonderWorks Family Movie* presentations on PBS and Disney.

In 1996, the home video line, then at 44 titles, was acquired and reissued by Salt Lake City-based Bonneville Worldwide Entertainment, which began reissuing content at lower prices, as well as releasing new titles over at least the next two years.[5] By 1998, there were 52 titles in the series.[6]

In 1999, VHS rights to 55 *WonderWorks* specials were passed over to Canadian company [CINAR Corporation](/source/CINAR_Corporation) (now in WildBrain),[7] which sold the rights to [Questar Entertainment](/source/Questar_Entertainment) sometime in the 2000s.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** "Home Video: Disney HV Gets Video Rights To 'Wonderworks'". *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. **328** (4): 44. August 19, 1987.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Disney's WonderWorks deal"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-TV-Radio-Age/80s/1986/1986-12-29-RTVA.pdf) (PDF). *Television/Radio Age*. December 29, 1986. p. 75. Retrieved July 24, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** McCormick, Moira (July 14, 1990). ["Public Media Gets Rights To Kid Vid Series"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-07-14.pdf) (PDF). *Billboard*. p. 52. Retrieved July 24, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["PBS "Unfunds" Four Shows Under New System"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-BC/Broadcasting-Magazine/BC-1990/BC-1990-12-03.pdf) (PDF). *Broadcasting*. December 3, 1990. p. 45. Retrieved July 24, 2025. In its first round of decisionmaking, Public Broadcasting Service's newly centralized National Programing Service has opted no longer to fund its critically acclaimed *Wonderworks* and three other series currently on the air.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Goldstein, Seth (November 9, 1996). ["Bonneville Expands Into Video With Revamped WonderWorks"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-11-09.pdf) (PDF). *Billboard*. p. 59. Retrieved July 24, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Fitzpatrick, Eileen (April 11, 1998). ["Bonneville Taps Smart Vids For Teens"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-04-11.pdf) (PDF). *Billboard*. p. 84. Retrieved July 24, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Kelly, Brendan (December 2, 1999). ["Cinar nabs Wonderworks' family pix"](https://variety.com/1999/film/news/cinar-nabs-wonderworks-family-pix-1117758549/). *Variety*. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

## External links

- [List of WonderWorks films on Movieretriever](https://web.archive.org/web/20160820032319/http://www.movieretriever.com/videohound_lists/90154/Wonderworks-Family-Movie-Series) at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (archived August 20, 2016)

Awards for WonderWorks v t e Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program 1950–1980 Time for Beany (1950) Time for Beany (1951) No Award (1952) Time for Beany (1953) Kukla, Fran and Ollie (1954) Lassie (1955) Lassie (1956) No Awards (1957–1959) The Huckleberry Hound Show (1960) Young People's Concert (1961) New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein (1962) Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1963) Discovery (1964) No Award (1965) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1966) Jack and the Beanstalk (1967) No Awards (1968–1969) Sesame Street (1970) Sesame Street (1971) Sesame Street (1972) ABC Afterschool Special / The Electric Company / Sesame Street / Zoom (1973) Marlo Thomas and Friends in Free to Be... You and Me (1974) Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus (1975) Huckleberry Finn / You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1976) Ballet Shoes (1977) Halloween Is Grinch Night (1978) Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1979) Benji at Work (1980) 1981–2005 Donahue and Kids (1981) The Wave (1982) Big Bird in China (1983) He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (1984) American Playhouse ("Displaced Person") (1985) WonderWorks ("Anne of Green Gables") (1986) Jim Henson's The Storyteller ("Hans My Hedgehog") (1987) Hallmark Hall of Fame ("The Secret Garden") (1988) Free to Be... a Family (1989) A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story (1990) You Can't Go Home Again: A 3-2-1 Contact Extra (1991) Mark Twain and Me (1992) Avonlea / Beethoven Lives Upstairs (1993) CBS Schoolbreak Special ("Kids Killing Kids / Kids Saving Kids") (1994) The World Wildlife Fund Presents "Going, Going, Almost Gone! Animals in Danger" (1995) Peter and the Wolf (1995) How Do You Spell God? (1997) Muppets Tonight / Nick News Special Edition: What Are You Staring At? (1998) The Truth About Drinking: The Teen Files (1999) The Color of Friendship / Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepytime Tales (2000) The Teen Files: Surviving High School (2001) Nick News Special Edition — Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan (2002) Through a Child's Eyes: September 11, 2001 (2003) Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me (2004) Classical Baby / Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Never Again? From the Holocaust to the Sudan (2005) 2006–2020 High School Musical / I Have Tourette's but Tourette's Doesn't Have Me (2006) Nick News with Linda Ellerbee — Private Worlds: Kids and Autism (2007) Classical Baby (I'm Grown Up Now): The Poetry Show / Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: The Untouchable Kids of India (2008) Wizards of Waverly Place / Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? with Maria Shriver / Nick News with Linda Ellerbee — Coming Home: When Parents Return from War (2009) Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie / Nick News with Linda Ellerbee — The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer (2010) A Child's Garden of Poetry / Nick News with Linda Ellerbee — Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics (2011) Wizards of Waverly Place / Sesame Street: Growing Hope Against Hunger (2012) Nick News with Linda Ellerbee — Forgotten But Not Gone: Kids, HIV & AIDS (2013) One Last Hug: Three Days at Grief Camp (2014) Alan Alda and the Actor Within You: A YoungArts Masterclass (2015) It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown! (2016) Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas (2016) The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special (2017) When You Wish Upon a Pickle: A Sesame Street Special (2018) Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2019) The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance / We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest (2020) The Monster at the End of This Story (2020) v t e TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming Youth Programming 1985–2022 Faerie Tale Theatre (1985) WonderWorks (1986) Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987) Degrassi Junior High (1988) The Jim Henson Hour (1989) Jim Henson (1990) War in the Gulf: Questions & Answers with Peter Jennings (1991) Peggy Charren – Action for Children's Television (1992) Nick News (1993) Nick News (1994) Nick News (1995) Wishbone (1996) Bill Nye the Science Guy / Wishbone (1997) Blue’s Clues (1998) Blue’s Clues (1999) Between the Lions (2000) Between the Lions / Sesame Street (2001) SpongeBob SquarePants (2002) Reading Rainbow (2003) Nick News (2004) Degrassi: The Next Generation (2005) High School Musical (2006) Kyle XY (2007) WordGirl (2008) Yo Gabba Gabba! (2009) Yo Gabba Gabba! (2010) Sesame Street (2011) Switched at Birth (2012) Bunheads (2013) The Fosters (2014) The Fosters (2015) Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (2016) Speechless (2017) Sesame Street (2018) Arthur (2019) Molly of Denali (2020) The Baby-Sitters Club (2021) The Baby-Sitters Club (2022) Family Programming 2023–present Ms. Marvel (2023) Doctor Who (2024) Doctor Who (2025) Children's Programming 2023–present Bluey (2023) Bluey (2024) Sesame Street (2025)

v t e Former PBS Kids original programming 1960s–1980s debuts PBS Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001) The Electric Company (1971–1977) Zoom (1972–1978) Rebop (1976–1979) Once Upon a Classic (1976–1980) The Clyde Frog Show (1976–1977) Studio See (1977–1979) 3-2-1 Contact (1980–1988) Reading Rainbow (1983–2006) Don't Look Now (1983) Newton's Apple (1983–1999) WonderWorks (1984–1992) OWL/TV (1985–1990) The Secret City (1985) Square One Television (1987–1992) Shalom Sesame (1988–1992; 2010–2011) Zoobilee Zoo (1988) Ramona (1988–1989) Shining Time Station (1989–1996) Long Ago and Far Away (1989–1993) Syndicated1 Hodgepodge Lodge (1970–1984) Carrascolendas (1970–1977) Inside/Out (1972–1973) The Adventures of Coslo (1972–1977) Villa Alegre (1973–1980) Big Blue Marble (1974–1983) Vegetable Soup (1975–1978) Readalong (1976–1979) Powerhouse (1982–1983) Size Small (1982–1990) The Adventures of the Lollipop Dragon (1983) Today's Special (1984–1994) Storylords (1984) The Voyage of the Mimi (1984) Captain Kangaroo (1986–1992) Learn to Read (1987–1988)2 Writer's Realm (1987) Saludos (1987) The Second Voyage of the Mimi (1988) 1990s debuts PBS Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991–1995) Barney & Friends (1992–2010) Lamb Chop's Play-Along (1992–1995) Ghostwriter (1992–1995) Behind the Scenes (1992) Kino's Storytime (1992–1997) In the Mix (1993–2012)2 Bill Nye the Science Guy (1994–1999) The Magic School Bus (1994–1997) The Puzzle Place (1995–1998) Plaza Sésamo (1995–2010) Wishbone (1995–1997) Katie and Orbie (1995–1998) Kratts' Creatures (1996) Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (1996–1997) Adventures from the Book of Virtues (1996–2000) Tots TV (1996–2002) Arthur (1996–2022) Theodore Tugboat (1996–2002) Wimzie's House (1997–2001) The Charlie Horse Music Pizza (1998–1999) Teletubbies (1998–2004) Noddy (1998–2000) Zoom (1999–2005) Zoboomafoo (1999–2001) Dragon Tales (1999–2005) Syndicated1 The Wind in the Willows (1990–1993) Mark Kistler's Imagination Station (1993–1998) The Cartoon Factory (1993) You Can Choose! (1993) Gerbert (1993–1997) Math Vantage (1993) Whirligig! (1993) Beyond the Front Page (1993) The Story of Read-Alee Deed-Alee (1993) Shamu TV (1993) Jack Houston's ImagineLand (1994–2000) Pappyland (1994–1997) Kidsongs (1994–1998) The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon (1994–1999) The Huggabug Club (1995–2000) The Big Comfy Couch (1995–2009) Preschool Power (1995) The Shelley T. Turtle Show (1995–1997) The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon (1995–1997) Get Real! (1995–1997) Bloopy's Buddies (1996–1998) The Reppies (1996) Animal Tales (1996–1998) Crossroads Cafe (1996) Groundling Marsh (1997–2000) Skinnamarink TV (1997–1999) The Slow Norris (1997–1999) Salty's Lighthouse (1997–1998) Backyard Safari (1997–1998) Mikhail Baryshnikov's Stories from My Childhood (1998–2001) Someday School (1998–2001) Salsa (1998–2002) Once Upon a Tree (1998–2000) A Place of Our Own (1998–2011) Reading Allowed (1998–2001) NASA Connect (1998–2005) Standard Deviants (1999–2000) Grandfather Reads (1999–2003) Adventures with Kanga Roddy (1999–2001) Wish*A*Roo Park (1999–2001) Hello Mrs. Cherrywinkle (1999–2001) Ricky's Room (1999–2000) 2000s debuts PBS Between the Lions (2000–2010) Caillou (2000–2013) Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000–2003) Corduroy (2000–2001) Elliot Moose (2000–2001) Timothy Goes to School (2000–2002) Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (2000–2002) Seven Little Monsters (2000–2003) George Shrinks (2000–2003) Jay Jay the Jet Plane (2001–2005) Anne of Green Gables (2001–2002) Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat (2001–2002) DragonflyTV (2002–2008)2 Angelina Ballerina (2002–2006) Liberty's Kids (2002–2003) The Berenstain Bears (2003–2004) Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks (2003–2007) Clifford's Puppy Days (2003–2006) Boohbah (2004–2006) Thomas & Friends (2004–2017) Postcards from Buster (2004–2012) Maya & Miguel (2004–2007) Bob the Builder (2005–2011) Make Way for Noddy (2005–2007) It's a Big Big World (2006–2010) Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman (2006–2010) Franny's Feet (2006–2010) Curious George (2006–2024) Design Squad (2007–2012) Peep and the Big Wide World (2007–2011) Super Why! (2007–2016) WordGirl (2007–2015) WordWorld (2007–2011) Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies (2007–2008) Animalia (2008) Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures (2008) Martha Speaks (2008–2014) Sid the Science Kid (2008–2013) Lomax, the Hound of Music (2008) The Electric Company (2009–2011) Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps (2009–2010) Dinosaur Train (2009–2021) Syndicated1 The Dooley and Pals Show (2000–2003) Lil' Iguana (2000–2001) Redwall (2001–2002) Reading Rockets (2001–2009) MythQuest (2002) Mary Lou's Flip Flop Shop (2002) The Toy Castle (2003–2004) Real Wheels (2003–2004) My Bedbugs (2004–2005) Curiosity Quest (2004–2015) The Biscuit Brothers (2004–2012) Auto-B-Good (2005–2006) Ribert and Robert's Wonderworld (2005–2008) The Shapies (2005–2007) Mustard Pancakes (2005–2007) Danger Rangers (2005–2006) The Zula Patrol (2005–2008) Signing Time! (2006–2008) Nanalan' (2006) The Saddle Club (2006–2009) Sheira & Loli's Dittydoodle Works (2006–2007) SeeMore's Playhouse (2006–2008) Miffy and Friends (2007) Biz Kid$ (2008–2017) Raggs (2008–2009) Jonathan Bird's Blue World (2008) Wunderkind Little Amadeus (2008–2009) 2010s–2020s debuts PBS Pocoyo (2010–2011) SciGirls (2010–2023) The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! (2010–2018) Peg + Cat (2013–2018) Bob the Builder (2015–2018) Nature Cat (2015–2025) Ready Jet Go! (2016–2023) Splash and Bubbles (2016–2018) Pinkalicious & Peterrific (2018–2025) Let's Go Luna! (2018–2022) Esme & Roy (2019–2021) Clifford the Big Red Dog (2019–2022) Hero Elementary (2020–2022) Jelly, Ben & Pogo (2021–2022) The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo (2023) Mecha Builders (2024–2025) Skillsville (2025–2026) Syndicated1 Scientastic! (2010)2 Wild Animal Baby Explorers (2010–2014) Mixed Nutz (2014) Space Racers (2014–2016) Roey's Paintbox (2015) Thomas Edison's Secret Lab (2015–2016) Bug Bites (2016) Ruby's Studio (2016) Mack & Moxy (2016) Young Voices for the Planet (2016–2019) Kids for Positive Change (2021–2024) Current original series template All programs were distributed by PBS unless noted. 1 Aired on select public television stations via American Public Television (APT) or another program distributor. 2 Instructional program.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [WonderWorks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WonderWorks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WonderWorks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.