Ni Hao, Kai-Lan

*Ni Hao, Kai-Lan*
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan
	File:Ni-hao-kai-lan-tv-show-mainImage.jpg
Genre	Preschool; Fantasy; Comedy
Created by	Karen Chau
Developed by	Mary Harrington; Karen Chau; Judy Rothman; Sascha Paladino
Written by	Sascha Paladino (Head Writer); Bradley Zweig (Staff Writer)
Directed by	David Marshall
Starring	Jade-Lianna Peters; Clem Cheung; Ben Wang; Jack Samson; Khamani Griffin; Angie Wu; Beverly Duan; Terence Hardy; Hsiang Lo
Theme music composer	Matt Mahaffey
Opening theme	Theme song composed by Matt Mahaffey, lyrics by Sascha Paladino
Country of origin	United States; Canada; China (animation services)
Original languages	English; Mandarin
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	40 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer	Mary Harrington
Producers	Sascha Paladino; Supervising Producers:; David Marshall; Jeff DeGrandis
Running time	24 minutes
Production companies	Harringtoons Productions; Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Original release
Network	Nickelodeon; Treehouse TV; Télé-Québec; CCTV-1
Release	November 5, 2007 (February 7, 2008 in the United States) –; November 4, 2011

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan is a 2D-animated Davis, Michael (15 April 2007). "Ni Hao, Kai-lan! – China – Animation – TV". The New York Times.</ref>) children's television series produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio. It began as a series of three interstitial shorts on Nick Jr. called Downward Doghouse.^[2] The first full episode was initially set to premiere in fall 2007^[3] on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block in the United States, but it was delayed to February 7, 2008, coinciding with the first day of the Chinese New Year.^[3]

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan is based on childhood memories of the show's creator, Karen Chau, who grew up in a bicultural (Chinese-American) household. "Ni hao" (你好 nǐ hǎo) means "Hello" in Mandarin, and Kai-Lan (凯兰 Kǎilán) is the Chinese name Chau was given at birth, which was later anglicized to Karen.

40 episodes over two seasons were produced. Sascha Paladino was the head writer and developer for the show.

Premise

The series follows the adventures of Kai-Lan and her group of talking anthropomorphic animal companions. The group consists of Kai-Lan, a four-year-old Chinese-American girl; Rintoo, which is a yellow tiger; Tolee, which is a gray koala; Lulu, which is a light pink rhino; and Hoho, the small, but jumpy white monkey. Each episode is based around a series of events that occur during Kai-Lan's day, along with obstacles that she and her friends are forced to overcome (with "assistance" from the viewing audience) relating to riddles, playing games, and working together. Common rituals may involve Kai-Lan resolving temper tantrums from her friends Rintoo, Lulu, Tolee, or Hoho when they misbehave. To help Rintoo, Tolee, Hoho, and Lulu, Kai-Lan shows them and the audience why they are having difficult situations. Usually, once Rintoo, Tolee, Hoho, and Lulu discover that their actions are wrong, they apologize and promise to work together better. The audience is usually presented with two musical sing-alongs where Kai-Lan sings about what must be done to overcome her and her friends' challenges. The episode always ends with Kai-Lan successfully helping her friends and everyone getting along. In the Season 1 finale, it is stated that they all live in California.

Other aspects generally featured in episodes are breaking the fourth wall, 11 minutes of interactivity,^[4] a target word that is repeated multiple times,^[5] a few words of Mandarin Chinese vocabulary, and before saying goodbye (at the end of each episode), Kai-lan says, "You make my heart feel super happy!" Later installments added Kai-lan saying this phrase in Mandarin after she said it in English: "Ni rang wo hao kai xin!" Ni Hao, Kai-lan introduces its viewers to the Mandarin Chinese language, along with elements of Chinese culture and values, and intergenerational families (e.g., Kai-lan and her relationship with Ye Ye).

Episodes

Season	Episodes	Originally aired
Season	Episodes	First aired	Last aired
1	20	February 7, 2008 (2008-02-07)	August 14, 2009 (2009-08-14)
2	20	February 2, 2009 (2009-02-02)	October 8, 2010 (2010-10-08)
3	2	August 21, 2011 (2011-08-21)

Major characters

Kai-Lan

Kai-Lan (voiced by Jade Lianna Peters) is a playful, adventurous young girl with a big heart. She has black hair that she wears in two space buns with red flowers. Kai-Lan speaks both English and Mandarin Chinese. Also, she can translate the languages.

Rintoo

Rintoo (voiced by Jack Samson) is a rambunctious and energetic bengal tiger with a frontal lisp.

Tolee

Tolee (voiced by Khamani Griffin) is a gray koala who has a stuffed panda that he affectionately named Pandy.

Lulu

Lulu (voiced by Beverly Duan) is a sweet and intelligent pink rhinoceros. She has a red balloon tied around her horn that helps her fly.

Hoho

Hoho (voiced by Angie Wu) is an energetic white monkey and is the youngest of Kai-Lan's friends. At 2 he is still very strong.

Ye-Ye

Ye-Ye (voiced by Clem Cheung and Ben Wang) is Kai-lan's playful, thoughtful, and caring grandfather. He was born in Hong Kong and passes on his traditions to his granddaughter.

Mr. Sun

At the start of almost every episode, Kai-Lan wakes up Mr. Sun so she can start her day.

The Ants

In one corner of Kai-Lan's backyard is a teeming mini-metropolis of ants called Ant City who deliver mail and build things. San San is their leader along with his two right-hand ants, Bubu and Fufu.

San San is voiced by Zachary Gordon, Bubu is voiced by Luke Manriquez, and Fufu is voiced by Kyla Rae Kowalewski.

Other, grown-up, and minor characters

Howard (voiced by Khamani Griffin) is an owl who first appears in "The Dragonboat Festival." He delivers letters and only speaks in hoots.
Mr. Fluffy (voiced by Elan Garfias) is a hamster and baker who first appears in "Everybody's Hat Parade."
Mei Mei (voiced by Laura Marano) is a shy blue polar bear.
Stompy the Elephant (voiced by Hsiang Lo) is a big, playful blue elephant who made his first appearance in "Safari Pals."
GuNaiNai (voiced by Ming-Na Wen) is Kai-Lan's great-aunt and Ye-Ye's sister. She appears in "Kai-Lan's Trip to China."
Xiao Xi Gua (meaning "little watermelon") is a baby panda. He appears in "Kai-Lan's Trip to China."
The Peeking Mice are little, black mice who are often seen playing music. They are voiced by assorted members of the cast.
Mr. Hoppy is a green frog who speaks in ribbits.
The Monkey King (voiced by Jack Cygan) is a monkey superhero.
The Fox King (voiced by James Siang'a) is a fox in The Fox Kingdom.
The Foxes are red foxes that live in The Fox Kingdom.
The Bear Queen (voiced by Lucy Liu) is a bear in The Bear Kingdom.
The Bears are brown bears that live in The Bear Kingdom.

Cast

Jade-Lianna Peters as Kai Lan
Clem Cheung as Yeye
Khamani Griffin as Tolee, Howard
Beverly Duan as Lulu
Angie Wu as Hoho
Jack Samson as Rintoo

DVD releases

*Ni Hao, Kai-Lan* home video releases
Season			Episodes	DVD release dates
Season			Episodes	Region 1
	1	2007–08	20	Volume 1: Super Special Days: August 12, 2008^[6] Episodes: "Dragonboat Festival" • "Everybody's Hat Parade" • "Twirly Whirly Flyers" • "Beach Day" Volume 2: Celebrate with Kai-Lan: January 6, 2009^[7] Episodes: "Safari Pals" • "Tolee's Rhyme Time" • "Kai-Lan's Campout" • "Happy Chinese New Year!" Volume 3: Kai-Lan's Great Trip to China: July 14, 2009^[8] Episodes: "The Ant Playground" • "Rain or Shine" • "Kai-Lan's Trip to China" Volume 4: Kai-Lan's Carnival: October 6, 2009^[9] Episodes: "Wait, Hoho, Wait!" • "Roller Rintoo" • "Kai-Lan's Carnival" • "Lulu Day"
	2	2009–10	20	Volume 5: Princess Kai-Lan: October 5, 2010^[10] Episodes: "The Moon Festival" • "Lulu's Cloud" • "Princess Kai-lan"

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipients and nominees	Outcome
2008	Artios Award	Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Animation TV Programming	Sarah Noonan and Meredith Layne	Nominated
2009	Annie Award	Best Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production	Notes^[11]	Nominated
2010	Daytime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Special Class Animated Program	Sascha Paladino, Mary Harrington, Jeff DeGrandis and Andrew Huebner	Nominated

Related media

Video games

The success of Ni Hao, Kai-Lan spawned its own video game series, supported by various gaming consoles and platforms:

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Game Day (Wii) – released, October 26, 2009^[12]
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Game Day (PS2) – released, October 26, 2009^[12]
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's Celebration (DS) – released, November 5, 2009^[13]

References

^ https://www.cynopsis.com/monday-january-14th-2008-3/
^ https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ni-hao-kai-lan-tigers-and-dragons-and-mandarin-lessons
^ ^a ^b https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/arts/television/07hale.html
^ Strike, Joe (2007-12-04). "Ni Hao, Kai-lan: Tigers and Dragons and Mandarin Lessons". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27.
^ Liu, Ed (2008-01-21). "Toon Zone Interviews Nick SVP Teri Weiss About "Ni Hao, Kai-lan"". Toon Zone. Archived from the original on 2008-04-20.
^ "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Super Special Days". Amazon.com. August 12, 2008.
^ "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Celebrate with Kai-Lan". Amazon.com. January 6, 2009.
^ "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Kai-Lan's Great Trip to China". Amazon.com. July 14, 2009.
^ "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Kai-Lan's Carnival". Amazon.com. October 6, 2009.
^ "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Princess Kai-Lan". Amazon.com. October 5, 2010.
^ Crump, William D. (April 4, 2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. ISBN 9781476672939. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Liu, Jonathan (February 6, 2010). "Have a Super Game Day with Kai-Lan". WIRED. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
^ Healy, Christopher (June 19, 2019). "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's Celebration". Common Sense Media. Retrieved April 5, 2020.

External links

Template:Tv.com show
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan at IMDb
Official Website on nickjr.com (archived on April 30, 2015)

[1] ttps://www.cynopsis.com/monday-january-14th-2008-3/

[2] ttps://www.awn.com/animationworld/ni-hao-kai-lan-tigers-and-dragons-and-mandarin-lessons

[nytimes-3] ttps://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/arts/television/07hale.html

[interview-4] Strike, Joe (2007-12-04). "Ni Hao, Kai-lan: Tigers and Dragons and Mandarin Lessons". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27.

[weiss_interview-5] Liu, Ed (2008-01-21). "Toon Zone Interviews Nick SVP Teri Weiss About "Ni Hao, Kai-lan"". Toon Zone. Archived from the original on 2008-04-20.

[6] "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Super Special Days". Amazon.com. August 12, 2008.

[7] "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Celebrate with Kai-Lan". Amazon.com. January 6, 2009.

[8] "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Kai-Lan's Great Trip to China". Amazon.com. July 14, 2009.

[9] "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Kai-Lan's Carnival". Amazon.com. October 6, 2009.

[10] "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan – Princess Kai-Lan". Amazon.com. October 5, 2010.

[11] Crump, William D. (April 4, 2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. ISBN 9781476672939. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.

[:0-12] Liu, Jonathan (February 6, 2010). "Have a Super Game Day with Kai-Lan". WIRED. Retrieved April 6, 2020.

[13] Healy, Christopher (June 19, 2019). "Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's Celebration". Common Sense Media. Retrieved April 5, 2020.

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