Angela Anaconda is a comedy animated children's television series created by Joanna Ferrone and Sue Rose that originally aired from October 4, 1999 until December 10, 2001. The series was produced by Canadian production company Decode Entertainment with animation production by C.O.R.E. Toons. 65 episodes were produced.
Premise
The show focuses on the adventures of an eight-year-old girl named Angela Anaconda in the fictional American town of Tapwater Springs. Other characters include Angela's three best friends and several antagonists. The primary antagonist is Nanette Manoir.
Episodes
Characters
Main
- Angela Anaconda (voiced by Sue Rose) is a pleasant but dim Italian-American boy. His parents are never seen in the show and he appears to be under the care of his grandmother Carmella and uncle Nicky. Nanette Manoir has a crush on him and tries to flirt with him frequently, referring to him as "John" and inviting him to Manoir's exclusive events. Despite this preferential treatment, Johnny remains utterly ignorant about Nanette's affections.
- Gina Lash (voiced by Bryn McAuley)
Animation
The show features cutout animation, in which characters are made using grayscale photographs. C.O.R.E. Toons used Elastic Reality software to superimpose models' faces onto computer-generated bodies and backgrounds.
A immersive interactive online companion project for Angela Anaconda was developed by producer Dan Fill and the team at Decode Entertainment. Angela Anaconda Online went on to be nominated for a BAFTA.
Telecast and home release
The show formerly aired on Fox Family (now as Freeform) until 2001, along Nickelodeon and Starz Kids and Family in the United States. Teletoon aired it in Canada. Internationally, the series was broadcast on Nickelodeon. In the UK, Angela Anaconda aired on Cartoon Network, Channel 4 and Pop.
Although the series has not had a complete DVD release, the first 20 episodes were distributed across four volumes in Australia, where the program is broadcast on Nickelodeon and ABC Kids.
In France, an Angela Anaconda channel is available on Pluto TV.
As of 2025, the show is now streamed for free on The Roku Channel.
Reception
Critical response
Angela Anaconda received high ratings and mixed reviews from critics. Barb Stuewe of The Ledger noted that while "the humor doesn't always come off," the show "is sometimes quite funny." Evan Levine of the Rome News-Tribune was critical of the show's look and feel, stating that "the series' unique, cut-out style of animation seems trendy for its own sake." Scott Moore of The Washington Post called Angela Anaconda "more imaginative than anything ever seen in art class." Co-creator Sue Rose noted in an interview with The New York Times that despite having a primarily female cast, the show had become popular with both sexes. She writes, "the most frequent feedback we get is from parents of boys ... they say: 'My boys watch it and they love it. I never thought they would.' These are not just girls' shows, they're kids shows."
The Sydney Morning Herald gave it the award for best children's show of 2001, calling it a "cute and sassy animation".
Ratings
During the series' time on Fox Family, it received consistently high ratings and was commonly marathoned by the channel.
Awards and nominations
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! Year
! Presenter
! Category
! Status
! Ref.
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| rowspan="3" | 2000
| Annecy Awards
| Best TV Animation Program
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| 27th Daytime Emmy Awards
| Outstanding Special Class Animated Program
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| Gemini Awards
| Best Animated Program or Series
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| rowspan="2"| 2001
| British Academy Children's Awards
| International
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| 28th Daytime Emmy Awards
| Outstanding Special Class Animated Program
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| 2002
| British Academy Children's Awards
| International
|
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|-
|}