Ed, Edd n Eddy
Encyclopedia
Ed, Edd n Eddy is an original animated television series created by Danny Antonucci
and produced by Canadian-based a.k.a. Cartoon. It premiered on Cartoon Network
on January 4, 1999. Ed, Edd n Eddy was one of Cartoon Network's longest running and most successful franchises and the longest-running of the channel's original Cartoon Cartoons
. The series revolved around three adolescent boys collectively known as "the Eds," who hang around in a suburban cul-de-sac
. Unofficially led by Eddy, the Eds constantly scheme to make money off their peers, in order to purchase their favorite confectionery
: jawbreakers. However, their plans usually fail, leaving them in various predicaments. The series' finale movie, Ed, Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show aired on November 8, 2009, officially ending the series, however reruns continued to air on the network until July 1, 2011.
children, and the Kanker sisters. The series takes place within the fictional town of Peach Creek and new locations are rarely introduced. The number of characters in Ed, Edd n Eddy is fixed at twelve. Until the debut of the movie "Ed, Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show"—where Eddy's adult brother was shown for the first time—no other characters besides the main cast were ever seen; however the show started to hint at the presence of other people in its fifth season, occasionally showing the silhouettes of people and in one episode the arms of Eddy's father and Ed's mother. Beyond these partial exceptions, Eddy's brother is the only adult to appear on the show. Creator Danny Antonucci stated that the absence of adults was intentional explaining, "throughout the long days of summer you simply didn't see anyone else's parents about and sometimes you didn't even see your own. Take the 'Edd's parents' factor, their means of communicating with him via sticky note, my parents worked long hours and they left me written messages in much the same way." There is no given timeline for the show. For the first four seasons the show took place during a perpetual summer. Starting with its fifth season, the characters were shown going to school.
The show frequently makes meta-reference
s and breaks the fourth wall
. In addition, the letters AKA, the abbreviation for the name of the company that produces the show (a.k.a. Cartoon), frequently appear in the show on license plates. The kids have multi-colored tongues, because, as Danny Antonucci stated, kids are almost always eating something that turn their tongues different colors. Most of the episodes begin with something completely unrelated to the storyline of the episode; this is to emphasize the spontaneity of childhood.
Ed, Edd n Eddy was animated using cel animation until its fifth season, with the cels colored digitally. The cels are shipped to Korea for creating the initial animation, and then later edited back at a.k.a. To give the impression of movement, Ed, Edd n Eddy uses shimmering character outlines similar to Squigglevision
. The crawling lines are not nearly as active as those in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
, but are still visible. Danny Antonucci calls it a "wobble", and likens it to cartoons of the 1930s where the film tended to be unstable and cause a similar effect.
episode using Foster's styled animation, and made a short cameo
in The Grim Adventures of the Kids Next Door. Also, they appeared in a small crossover poster during the credits of "The Grim Adventures of the Kids Next Door" entitled Ed, Edd n Mandy.
to shrink the Eds to a size capable of playing in her dollhouse
, with predictable results. Plank starred in a similar video called "My Best Friend Plank", which aired in 2002.
called "The Best Day Edder" aired from April 27 to April 28, 2007, in which every episode was shown in chronological order, ending with the previously unaired last episode of Season 5.
A special episode of Ed, Edd n Eddy aired on May 11, 2007 in the Cartoon Network event, Invaded, in which aliens invade Rolf's house. This alien invasion is in adjunct with the other Cartoon Network series Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, My Gym Partner's a Monkey
, Camp Lazlo
, and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. The episode is part a mini-series that aired all 5 specials on May 28, 2007.
argued that every second of the show is "filler" and that the main characters are drawn as "products from the school of acid-trip caricature." After the review was published, support letters of the show started to pile up at Animation World Magazine's website. This caused the magazine to write a more positive review of Ed, Edd n Eddy, calling it a "fresh show with very different approaches."
Film critic Maryann Johanson found the show a successful experiment in style but surprisingly infantile in content, opining: "Visually, Cartoon Network's kiddie entry Ed, Edd n Eddy is delightfully gonzo, its inventive animation style and garish colors reflecting the adolescent confusion of its identically named boy heroes. But their goofy misadventures hold little appeal for grownup cartoon fans -- this one is pretty much strictly for the kiddies." David Cornelius considered the Eds adolescent equivalents of the Three Stooges
, believing: "The series revels in the sort of frantic, often gross humor kids love so much, and there's just enough oddball insanity at play to make adults giggle just as easily." Cornelius also concurred that the "animation is colorful and intentionally bizarre; bold lines forming the characters and backgrounds wiggle and morph in a delirious haze. This is animation that's, well, really animated."
in 2007. All five seasons in addition to the Big Picture Show movie are also available for download on iTunes
.
Select episodes from the series were also featured on several Cartoon Network compilation DVDs:
. Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures
was released on October 31, 2005 for the Nintendo GameCube
, PlayStation 2
, Xbox
, Game Boy Advance, and the PC
to mixed reviews and moderate success. Most recently Ed, Edd n Eddy: Scam of the Century
was released for the Nintendo DS
on October 26, 2007. Additionally, characters and locations from the show make appearances in Cartoon Network based video games. The cul-de-sac is featured in the game Cartoon Network: Block Party, where Eddy and Sarah are playable characters. The Eds and Jonny appeared in Cartoon Network Speedway
as playable characters.
All three Eds have been confirmed as NPCs in the MMOG
Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall
. Their artwork for the game is viewable on the game's main website. They also appear as Nanos (items that help the user or his/her party)
Danny Antonucci
Daniel Edward "Danny" Antonucci is an animator,director producer and screenwriter best known for his 1999 animated series Ed, Edd n Eddy, which has ended its run, but airs on Cartoon Network every weekday at 2:30 and 3:00pm EST...
and produced by Canadian-based a.k.a. Cartoon. It premiered on Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
on January 4, 1999. Ed, Edd n Eddy was one of Cartoon Network's longest running and most successful franchises and the longest-running of the channel's original Cartoon Cartoons
Cartoon Cartoons
Cartoon Cartoons is a collective name for Cartoon Network original series. These cartoons were originally produced by Hanna-Barbera and Cartoon Network Studios, but over the years, studios like a.k.a. Cartoon, Kino Films, Stretch Films, Blanky Blook and Curious Pictures produced these series for...
. The series revolved around three adolescent boys collectively known as "the Eds," who hang around in a suburban cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
. Unofficially led by Eddy, the Eds constantly scheme to make money off their peers, in order to purchase their favorite confectionery
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
: jawbreakers. However, their plans usually fail, leaving them in various predicaments. The series' finale movie, Ed, Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show aired on November 8, 2009, officially ending the series, however reruns continued to air on the network until July 1, 2011.
Overview
Ed, Edd n Eddy revolves solely around the Eds, the other cul-de-sacCul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
children, and the Kanker sisters. The series takes place within the fictional town of Peach Creek and new locations are rarely introduced. The number of characters in Ed, Edd n Eddy is fixed at twelve. Until the debut of the movie "Ed, Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show"—where Eddy's adult brother was shown for the first time—no other characters besides the main cast were ever seen; however the show started to hint at the presence of other people in its fifth season, occasionally showing the silhouettes of people and in one episode the arms of Eddy's father and Ed's mother. Beyond these partial exceptions, Eddy's brother is the only adult to appear on the show. Creator Danny Antonucci stated that the absence of adults was intentional explaining, "throughout the long days of summer you simply didn't see anyone else's parents about and sometimes you didn't even see your own. Take the 'Edd's parents' factor, their means of communicating with him via sticky note, my parents worked long hours and they left me written messages in much the same way." There is no given timeline for the show. For the first four seasons the show took place during a perpetual summer. Starting with its fifth season, the characters were shown going to school.
The show frequently makes meta-reference
Meta-reference
Metareference, a metafiction technique, is a situation in a work of fiction whereby characters display an awareness that they are in such a work, such as a film, television show or book. Sometimes it may even just be a form of editing or film-making technique that comments on the...
s and breaks the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
. In addition, the letters AKA, the abbreviation for the name of the company that produces the show (a.k.a. Cartoon), frequently appear in the show on license plates. The kids have multi-colored tongues, because, as Danny Antonucci stated, kids are almost always eating something that turn their tongues different colors. Most of the episodes begin with something completely unrelated to the storyline of the episode; this is to emphasize the spontaneity of childhood.
Ed, Edd n Eddy was animated using cel animation until its fifth season, with the cels colored digitally. The cels are shipped to Korea for creating the initial animation, and then later edited back at a.k.a. To give the impression of movement, Ed, Edd n Eddy uses shimmering character outlines similar to Squigglevision
Squigglevision
Squigglevision is a patented method of computer animation in which the outlines of shapes are made to wiggle and undulate. Tom Snyder of Tom Snyder Productions invented the technique, which his animation studio Soup2Nuts subsequently popularized in several successful animated series.Compared with...
. The crawling lines are not nearly as active as those in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist is an American animated series that originally ran on Comedy Central from May 28, 1995 to December 24, 1999,–with a final set of three shelved episodes airing in 2002–starring Jonathan Katz, Jon Benjamin, and Laura Silverman...
, but are still visible. Danny Antonucci calls it a "wobble", and likens it to cartoons of the 1930s where the film tended to be unstable and cause a similar effect.
Characters
According to an interview with Danny Antonucci (a special feature on the Season 1 DVD set), the characters were based on real people in his life. The personalities of Ed, Edd, and Eddy are based on personal traits of himself, and the activities of his two sons. The Eds also held personality traits of The Three Stooges, who were a comedy trio whose various characters they portrayed in each short subject film often try to create money-making schemes, but their plans end up backfiring near the end of their films. The cul-de-sac kids were based on kids he grew up with. Antonucci also stated that he believed it was important to add Plank to the show, stating that he "thought it would be really cool to do the show with Plank taking on a character of his own" and to cause Jonny to do things he would usually never do. He also stated that Rolf is strongly based on himself and his cousins, since he was part of an immigrant family, and grew up in a first generation foreign household with different customs and ways of living, compared to those born in Canada. In a Cartoon Network podcast interview, Antonucci hinted at the Kanker sisters being based on someone from his personal life, as well.Additional works
There have been other produced works in which the Eds would appear apart from their regular series airings. They have appeared in a Foster's Home for Imaginary FriendsFoster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends is an American animated television series created and produced at Cartoon Network Studios by animator Craig McCracken, creator of The Powerpuff Girls. It first premiered on Cartoon Network on August 13, 2004, as a 90-minute television movie, which led to a series...
episode using Foster's styled animation, and made a short cameo
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in The Grim Adventures of the Kids Next Door. Also, they appeared in a small crossover poster during the credits of "The Grim Adventures of the Kids Next Door" entitled Ed, Edd n Mandy.
Shorts
Cartoon Network has also produced shorts, some involving the Eds during commercial breaks. There was also a short music video with stylized versions of Ed, Edd, Eddy and Sarah, entitled "The Incredible Shrinking Day" (listed on the Season 2 DVD as "I'm Not Coming in Anymore"), which aired on Cartoon Network in 2002 and 2003. In the video Sarah uses a potionPotion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
to shrink the Eds to a size capable of playing in her dollhouse
Dollhouse
A dollhouse is a toy home, made in miniature. For the last century, dollhouses have primarily been the domain of children but their collection and crafting is also a hobby for many adults. The term dollhouse is common in the United States and Canada...
, with predictable results. Plank starred in a similar video called "My Best Friend Plank", which aired in 2002.
Special events
There have been many specials in which Cartoon Network would run all day marathons for either a promotion or just a special airing for one of their shows. A marathonMarathon (television)
In television, a marathon is typically the sequential broadcast of a single or a number of related television programs, most notably reflecting a theme....
called "The Best Day Edder" aired from April 27 to April 28, 2007, in which every episode was shown in chronological order, ending with the previously unaired last episode of Season 5.
A special episode of Ed, Edd n Eddy aired on May 11, 2007 in the Cartoon Network event, Invaded, in which aliens invade Rolf's house. This alien invasion is in adjunct with the other Cartoon Network series Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, My Gym Partner's a Monkey
My Gym Partner's a Monkey
My Gym Partner's a Monkey is an American animated television series created by Timothy and Julie McNally Cahill and produced by Cartoon Network Studios. It premiered on December 26, 2005 and ended in November 27, 2008 following a marathon of its final regular-run episodes...
, Camp Lazlo
Camp Lazlo
Camp Lazlo is an American animated television series created by Joe Murray, produced by Rough Draft Studios, Joe Murray Productions and Cartoon Network Studios. It aired on Cartoon Network...
, and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. The episode is part a mini-series that aired all 5 specials on May 28, 2007.
Reception
Critical reaction to Ed, Edd n Eddy is often varied, but mainly positive. Terrence Briggs of Animation World MagazineAnimation World Network
Animation World Network is an organization for animators, with an extensive website with news, articles and links for professional animators and animation fans. AWN also publishes a printed journal, "Animation World"....
argued that every second of the show is "filler" and that the main characters are drawn as "products from the school of acid-trip caricature." After the review was published, support letters of the show started to pile up at Animation World Magazine's website. This caused the magazine to write a more positive review of Ed, Edd n Eddy, calling it a "fresh show with very different approaches."
Film critic Maryann Johanson found the show a successful experiment in style but surprisingly infantile in content, opining: "Visually, Cartoon Network's kiddie entry Ed, Edd n Eddy is delightfully gonzo, its inventive animation style and garish colors reflecting the adolescent confusion of its identically named boy heroes. But their goofy misadventures hold little appeal for grownup cartoon fans -- this one is pretty much strictly for the kiddies." David Cornelius considered the Eds adolescent equivalents of the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
, believing: "The series revels in the sort of frantic, often gross humor kids love so much, and there's just enough oddball insanity at play to make adults giggle just as easily." Cornelius also concurred that the "animation is colorful and intentionally bizarre; bold lines forming the characters and backgrounds wiggle and morph in a delirious haze. This is animation that's, well, really animated."
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production | James Wootton for "Wish You Were Ed" |
|
| 2001 | Leo Awards Leo Awards The Leo Awards are the awards program for the British Columbia film and television industry, celebrating excellence in artistic achievement. Held each May in Vancouver, Canada, the Leo Awards honour nominees and winners in 13 program categories and up to 19 craft categories... |
Best Musical Score of an Animation Program or Series | Patric Caird for "Ed in a Halfshell" |
|
| 2004 | Leo Awards | Animation Program or Series: Best Musical Score | Patric Caird for "Postcards from the Ed" |
|
| 2005 | Leo Awards | Animation Program or Series: Best Musical Score | Patric Caird | |
| 2005 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Cartoon | Ed, Edd n Eddy | |
| 2006 | Leo Awards | Best Musical Score in an Animation Program | Patric Caird for "Boo Haw Haw" |
|
| 2008 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Cartoon | Ed, Edd n Eddy | |
Home video releases
Two season sets were released by Warner Home VideoWarner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
in 2007. All five seasons in addition to the Big Picture Show movie are also available for download on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
.
| Title | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy often shortened as Billy and Mandy is an American animated television series that aired on Cartoon Network. It is also the spin-off of Grim & Evil. Having originally aired as part of Grim & Evil The show began in 2001, And went on to become one of Cartoon... episode "Nursery Crimes". | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fools' Par-Ed-Ise | March 21, 2006 | 6 | Contains the episodes "If It Smells Like an Ed", "Take This Ed and Shove It", "One Size Fits Ed", "A Case of Ed", "Here's Mud in Your Ed", and "Fool on the Ed". Bonus features include a studio tour, "The Plank Family Players", and a behind-the-scenes look at Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures is a 3D platforming video game based on the animated television series Ed, Edd n Eddy. It was originally developed by A2M and Cartoon Network Interactive, published by Midway Home Entertainment and released on October 31, for the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2,... . |
| The Complete First Season | October 10, 2006 | 13 | Contains all 13 episodes from the first season. Bonus features include an interview with the creator, how to make an Ed, Edd n Eddy cartoon, how to draw Eddy, and a Cartoon Network commercial bumper Commercial bumper In broadcasting, a commercial bumper, ident bumper or break-bumper is a brief announcement, usually two to 15 seconds that can contain a voice over, placed between a pause in the program and its commercial break, and vice versa... featuring Jimmy and Plank. |
| The Complete Second Season | April 24, 2007 | 13 | Contains all 13 episodes from the second season. Bonus features include "Behind the Eds", "The Incredible Shrinking Day" music video, and "How to Draw Ed". |
Select episodes from the series were also featured on several Cartoon Network compilation DVDs:
- Cartoon Network Halloween Volume 1: 9 Creepy Capers (August 10, 2004)—"Dawn of the Eds"
- Cartoon Network Christmas Volume 1: Yuletide Follies (October 5, 2004)—"Fa La-La-La-La Ed"
- Cartoon Network Halloween Volume 2: Grossest Halloween Ever (August 9, 2005)—"Honor Thy Ed"
- Cartoon Network Christmas Volume 2: Christmas Rocks (October 4, 2005)—"Jingle Jingle Jangle"
- Cartoon Network Halloween Volume 3: Sweet Sweet Fear (September 12, 2006)—"Don't Rain On My Ed"
- Cartoon Network Christmas Volume 3 (October 3, 2006)—"In Like Ed"
Video games
There are three video games based on the series. Ed, Edd n Eddy: Jawbreakers! was released on September 15, 2002 for the Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
. Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures
Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures
Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures is a 3D platforming video game based on the animated television series Ed, Edd n Eddy. It was originally developed by A2M and Cartoon Network Interactive, published by Midway Home Entertainment and released on October 31, for the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2,...
was released on October 31, 2005 for the Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, Game Boy Advance, and the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
to mixed reviews and moderate success. Most recently Ed, Edd n Eddy: Scam of the Century
Ed, Edd n Eddy: Scam of the Century
Ed, Edd n Eddy: Scam of the Century is an action game developed and published by D3 Publisher America for the Nintendo DS handheld console. The game is based on the popular, long-running Cartoon Network series, Ed, Edd n Eddy. The game was released on October 23, 2007 in the United States...
was released for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
on October 26, 2007. Additionally, characters and locations from the show make appearances in Cartoon Network based video games. The cul-de-sac is featured in the game Cartoon Network: Block Party, where Eddy and Sarah are playable characters. The Eds and Jonny appeared in Cartoon Network Speedway
Cartoon Network Speedway
Cartoon Network Speedway is a kart racing video game released for the Game Boy Advance in 2003.-Characters:The following are characters in the game:*Ed, Edd, and Eddy *Courage*Sheep*Johnny Bravo*Cow*Chicken*Jonny 2X4...
as playable characters.
All three Eds have been confirmed as NPCs in the MMOG
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall
Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall
Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall is a massively multiplayer online game developed by Cartoon Network and Grigon Entertainment. FusionFall uses the Unity engine as its client technology basis....
. Their artwork for the game is viewable on the game's main website. They also appear as Nanos (items that help the user or his/her party)