Do frogs have ears? Why do birds sing? Do animals have nursery rhymes? How do dead leaves vanish in the winters? Such questions have been amusing children for generations. Adults sometimes have the answers to such questions, but these innocent questions asked by kids surely stop us in our tracks from time to time and make us ponder.
“Elinor Wonders Why” answers some of these questions and introduces kids to the many other ingenuities of nature.
This animated series with anthropomorphic characters is the perfect companion for your kids as they try to make sense of the world. The series is broadcast on PBS KIDS, the network known for featuring educational cartoons such as, ”Sesame Street,” ”Donkey Hodie,” ”Pinkalicious & Peterrific,” “Molly of Denali,” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”
Its creators, Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson have done a great job developing a show that educates and entertains young minds. The show is popular with kids and their parents — and has amassed a rating of 8.2/10 on IMDb. Shoe Ink, LLC is the producer of the show.
This article will introduce you to the characters of “Elinor Knows Why,” who will soon make friends with your children. Read on to learn more about where you can watch the show, its theme, and which age group will most like the show.
Main Characters of “Elinor Wonders Why”
The characters of “Elinor Wonders Why” live in Animal Town. The main character, Elinor, and her friends are school-age children who explore their town and learn from adults.
Elinor
Elinor is a kind, caring, and a curious bunny rabbit who likes to make observations about why things are the way they are. Elinor is voiced by the young actor Markeda McKay, who appeared in the 2018 TV series “Titans.” Elinor is curious and teachable, similar to George from the popular PBS animated show “Curious George.”
Ari
Ari is a sweet and silly bat. He is best friends with Elinor and Olive. Ari always has something goofy to say to make his friends laugh. Ari is voiced by Wyatt White, who has given voice in other shows such as, “PAW Patrol,” “The Snoopy Show,” “PJ Masks,” and many more
Olive
Olive, the elephant calf, completes the trio of friends. She is warm, helpful, and the smartest of the group. Her character is voiced by child actor Maria Nash, best known for her role in the movie “Polar.”
Mr. Rabbit
Mr. Rabbit is Elinor’s dad. He is very supportive of Elinor’s scientific pursuits and loves story-telling. His character is voiced by the actor and writer Colin Doyle, best known for his role in the movie “Fangbone!”
Ranger Rabbit
Ms. Rabbit, a.k.a. Ranger Rabbit, is Elinor’s mom and a forest ranger. She loves to prepare tasty food for Elinor and her friends. Lisette St. Louis voices this character. She has given her voice to the famous animated shows “Beyblade; Metal Fusion” and “Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Gundalian Invaders.”
Ms. Mole
Ms. Mole is the teacher of Elinor and her friends. She encourages her class to learn and investigate. She carries books with stories and facts, and her students eagerly wait for her to read from them during story time. Her character is voiced by actress, comedian, singer, and writer Shoshana Sperling.
Recurring Characters of “Elinor Wonders Why”
These friendly residents of Animal Town make recurring appearances in the show.
Señor Tapir
Señor Tapir is a jolly traveling musician who sings about famous explorers and investors in the episodes’ interstitial segments. In some episodes, we see Elinor and her friends singing along with Señor Tapir’s jolly tunes. The actor, Joan Chioran, is the voice behind this character
Koa
Koa is a cute laid-back brown Quokka. He is Elinor’s classmate. Koa likes to play sports with his friends and spends time on the playground. His character is voiced by the child actor Ian Ho. Ian has also given voice to characters in Blues Clues, Rusty Rivets, etc.
Mary and Lizzie Goat
Mary and Lizzie are twin goat calves who are classmates with Elinor. They like to do everything together. The voice actresses and sisters Abigail and Denise Oliver portray the twin goats in “Elinor Wonders Why.”
Tito Mouse
Tito is an energetic little mouse. He is classmates with Elinor and ready to go on adventures with her. Leo Orgil is Tito’s voice actor, who is also known for playing characters in “Blue’s Clues & You” and “Abby Hatcher.”
Mr. Bat
Ari and Mr. Bat
Mr. Bat is Ari’s father. He enjoys watching Ari and his friends make discoveries and drops in little nuggets of facts and wisdom. He is voiced by the actor Raoul Bhaneja, who has played the main character in the TV shows “Grand Army,” “Titans,” “Blindspot,” and many more.
Mr. Lion
Ari, Olive, Elinor, and Mr. Lion
Mr. Lion is Elinor’s art teacher. He is always enthusiastic about introducing his students to the joys of painting. The actor Kevin Dennis portrays Mr. Lion. Kevin has appeared in many TV shows including, “Murdoch Mysteries,” “The Strain,” and “Boycatt.”
Farmer Bear
Olive, Ari, Elinor, and Farmer Bear
Farmer Bear is a female grizzly bear who teaches children about farm produce and shares some of it with them. Actress Ellen Dubin is the voice behind Farmer Bear. Ellen Dubin is a versatile voice actress who has also voice acted in many video games, including “Elders Scroll,” “Fallout 4,” and “Battle for Atlas.”
Ms. Llama
Ranger Rabbit, Elinor, Ms. Llama, Olive, and Ari
Ms. Llama is a chef. Her recipes always delight kids at picnics. The director, writer, actor, and host Nicole Stamp portrays her. Nicole is very active in the media industry and worked on over 50 projects related to directing, acting, voice acting, and screenplay writing.
Mr. Dog
Elinor and Mr. Dog
Mr. Dog is a friendly neighbor in Animal Town. Elinor and her friends bump into Mr. Dog while making discoveries, and Mr. Dog helps them with their observations. Paul Bates voices Mr. Dog. Paul is best known for his roles in “The Tuxedo,” “Never Ever Do This at Home,” and “Long Story Short: CBC Turns 75,” among other movies.
Mr. Raccoon
Mr. Raccoon runs a bakery in Animal Town. He makes the tastiest cakes in town and gives samples of his bakery products to children for free. His character is voiced by Dan Darin-Zanco, who is known for playing roles in the TV series “Titans,” and “The Boys.”
Where Can You Watch “Elinor Wonders Why?”
“Elinor Wonders Why” is available to watch on the following streaming platforms:
You can buy individual episodes on YouTube if you do not want to subscribe to a streaming service. Four full episodes are available for free on the PBS KIDS YouTube channel.
What Topics Are Taught in “Elinor Wonders Why?”
Each episode of “Elinor Wonders Why” has two stories. Each story in the episode tackles a science or engineering topic selected with young kids in mind. It answers questions such as, how do such tiny ants build such massive anthills? Why do some vegetables grow only in the deserts? Why do lizards sunbathe? How can you drop a tomato without crushing it?
All episodes explain topics directly related to the real world your children are still exploring. Nothing text-bookish here. The show encourages kids to explore the world like it’s their own personal clubhouse using science inquiry skills.
Besides increasing the worldly knowledge of kids, the show also teaches them about sharing, making friends, respecting others, caring for the environment, and other good values.
What Ages is “Elinor Wonders Why” Intended For?
PBS KIDS officially says the children ages three to five will most enjoy the show. But in our opinion, the episodes can be equally enjoyed by children up to eight years old. The animation is picturesque, the humor is silly and fun, and the topics can even capture the intrigue of adults.
Watching “Elinor Wonder Why” along with your kids may likely become a guilty pleasure of yours.
When Did “Elinor Wonders Why” Come Out?
PBS released the first episode of “Elinor Wonders Why” on September 7, 2020. A total of 18 episodes were released that year.
In the first part of the first episode, Elinor and her friends are playing hide and seek. Despite trying hard, the players can’t hide long enough from the twin girl goat calves that play seeker. That is until Elinor, Ari, and Olive discover how animals use camouflage to blend into the environment.
The episode is a great starting point to talk about other camouflage applications with your children.
The last episode, titled “A Wonderful Journey,” brings the series to an end with a beautiful message. In this episode, we meet Beatrice, a coati who is an inventor by profession and also a friend of Elinor’s mom. In this hour-long episode, Beatrice, Elinor, Ari, and Olive save a lake of frogs demonstrating our responsibility to nature.
Learn More About Your Favorite Shows and Movies on BuddyTV
Tons of TV shows and movies await to introduce your children to new wonders. Check out other BuddyTV articles to discover more kid-friendly shows that can feed your children’s curiosity.
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
