Sportacus
Encyclopedia
Sportacus is a fictional character from the children's television show LazyTown
. He is the main protagonist
of the show. His name is a portmanteau of the ancient figure Spartacus
and the word sport
which represents his athleticism. Sportacus humbly describes himself as a "slightly-above-average hero", though his friends have a higher opinion of him, calling him "superhero".
He speaks English
and Icelandic
and is from "an island in the North Sea." In the past, LazyTown was protected by a similar hero from that area with a #9 on his chest (Sportacus wears a number 10). In the first episode when Stephanie
was trying to think of how to encourage LazyTown's kids to get active, she sent a message through a tube that was used to communicate with #9, and Sportacus received her message and came to Lazytown. Exactly what #9 and Sportacus' connection is to each other hasn't been explained by the show yet.
Sportacus encourages the LazyTown kids to eat fruit (which he calls "sports candy") and play outside instead of sitting around indoors. He wants to make sure LazyTown is happy, and knows that they have to be healthy and fit if they want to be happy. He is opposed by the sinister (yet perhaps equally energetic) Robbie Rotten, who seeks to return LazyTown to its former state: a lazy town. Sportacus is so engaged in his life of physical activity that he does gymnastics just to get from place to place—even doing acrobatic flips just to get from one side of his kitchen table to the other—and the children have to instruct him on how to relax.
that floats above LazyTown is Sportacus's home. It has Sportacus's bed, food and other equipment. It is inflated via a foot pump.
beard.
In the second play, Glanni Glæpur í Latabæ (Robbie Rotten in LazyTown), his character became a lot closer to the current version. He traveled around in a hot air balloon
(as opposed to his current airship) and wore a brown-and-yellow version of his current outfit, albeit with a larger, looser hat and sculpted chest piece.
LazyTown
LazyTown is a children's television program that was produced in Iceland with a cast and crew from Iceland, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was created by Magnús Scheving, a gymnastics champion and CEO of LazyTown Entertainment, who also stars in the show...
. He is the main protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of the show. His name is a portmanteau of the ancient figure Spartacus
Spartacus
Spartacus was a famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable...
and the word sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
which represents his athleticism. Sportacus humbly describes himself as a "slightly-above-average hero", though his friends have a higher opinion of him, calling him "superhero".
He speaks English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Icelandic
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
and is from "an island in the North Sea." In the past, LazyTown was protected by a similar hero from that area with a #9 on his chest (Sportacus wears a number 10). In the first episode when Stephanie
Stephanie (LazyTown)
Stephanie is a fictional main character from the children's television show LazyTown. She inspires the citizens of LazyTown to stay active. She has pink hair and is often referred to as 'Pinky' by Trixie. She came to town to visit her uncle, Milford Meanswell, the mayor of LazyTown...
was trying to think of how to encourage LazyTown's kids to get active, she sent a message through a tube that was used to communicate with #9, and Sportacus received her message and came to Lazytown. Exactly what #9 and Sportacus' connection is to each other hasn't been explained by the show yet.
Sportacus encourages the LazyTown kids to eat fruit (which he calls "sports candy") and play outside instead of sitting around indoors. He wants to make sure LazyTown is happy, and knows that they have to be healthy and fit if they want to be happy. He is opposed by the sinister (yet perhaps equally energetic) Robbie Rotten, who seeks to return LazyTown to its former state: a lazy town. Sportacus is so engaged in his life of physical activity that he does gymnastics just to get from place to place—even doing acrobatic flips just to get from one side of his kitchen table to the other—and the children have to instruct him on how to relax.
Airship
The large airshipAirship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
that floats above LazyTown is Sportacus's home. It has Sportacus's bed, food and other equipment. It is inflated via a foot pump.
Character development
In the original Icelandic play that the TV series is based on, Áfram Latibær (Go on LazyTown!) in 1996, Sportacus was an elf called Íþróttaálfurinn (The Athletic Elf), who possessed magical powers. His costume consisted of a navy-blue tunic, baggy scarlet trousers and a large brown hat. He also had a large, thick, blonde moustache and matching goateeGoatee
Goatee refers to a style of facial hair incorporating hair on a man’s chin. The exact nature of the style has varied according to time and culture.Traditionally, goatee refers solely to a beard formed by a tuft of hair on the chin...
beard.
In the second play, Glanni Glæpur í Latabæ (Robbie Rotten in LazyTown), his character became a lot closer to the current version. He traveled around in a hot air balloon
Hot air balloon
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...
(as opposed to his current airship) and wore a brown-and-yellow version of his current outfit, albeit with a larger, looser hat and sculpted chest piece.