Toony + Tuesday * 2016: Peg + Cat

Hello there, everyone.
The last time I reviewed a show for little kids, it seemed like a one-time-only thing.
Nope. I'm going at it again.

This series is probably the most fun you'll ever have learning Math.
I'm an adult, and I'm proud to relearn Math from this.

It's Peg + Cat.



Created by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson, the series features Peg--a sweet, optimistic little girl with a feast for solving Math; and Cat, her talking feline friend with a love for circles. Together, they trek on amazing Arithmetic adventures to help their friends solve their problems--along with themselves solving their own--by using and solving Math problems and equations, and at the same time, help the viewers learn simple math as well.

But I'm not talking a bit about this series because of its use of Math. But because of how inventive and creative it gets with it's use of Math.
-Starting with the intro and ending with the episode ending chat with the title characters, the animation changes with each episode. See episodes where Cat does something while Peg sings or a different thing appears behind them or a variation of the theme song. It's something that'll just blow your mind every time with how things change while others stay the same.

-The animation is fuzzy (thanks to Flash), but actually works very well. The characters, locations, buildings and colors look simple, but are still likable to the eyes. And the changing elements work towards its favor.

-Also, the songs and score are super catchy and will stay in your head for days. "Problem Solved" and "Splashing Some More" from The Bathroom segment are the major examples.

-Now to the episodes. Each episode has a fun story and even fun(ner) execution.
Peg and Cat are going about their day, when a problem arises. A character tells them about that problem, and it's up to our young heroes (yes, Cat too) to save the day by using Math to solve their friends' problems. Sometimes, they also get into Simple, right? Wrong. Take a look at one of my favorite episodes, "The Highlight Zone Problem", where Peg & Cat get into a funk when their world isn't as colorful as usual.
(starts at 12:58)


Besides the brilliant nods to The Twilight Zone (including the black and white setting, the strangeness of the predicament, and Ramone being a great stand-in of the late, great Rod Serling), this episode features elements of that series to create a new

The characters are just awesome. Peg and Cat especially. But the other main characters, despite known from what little traits, they're just as memorable.
-Ramone, smart as a whip and cool as a cucumber
-Pig, a happy-go-lucky but shy-voiced pig with a singing voice big enough for opera
-Richard, a little alien from the Purple Planet who gets pretty glum when things go wrong, but is also very willing to help save the day when it happens.
-100 Chickens (your guess is as good s mine as to what they are)
-The Teens, three teenagers who are on good terms with Peg and Cat, and are there to help out in any way they can. That is if they are a part of the story. Plus, they're not mean or unlikable in the slightest, a plus for me.
-Big Mouth – A furry blue space monster who indulges in eating things that are little and yellow. (Like a walking Pyramid category)
-Beethoven, who is...Beethoven, of course. (Yes, even Ludwig himself is a character in this series...with clear hearing for some reason [I find no problem with this].)
All these characters, despite seeming like the producers are just picking them out their asses on the surface, really do bring the show its own flavor (along with its writing) and makes it stand out among the other PBS Kids shows.
And there are A LOT of great standouts here.


What also makes this series stand out is its unconventional formula. Despite the recognizable traits in a typical episode--Peg & Cat singing the theme song (itself super catchy), Peg & Cat in some random place, a problem occurring, Peg totally freaking out, Cat calming her, them (almost) solving the problem, the problem not being solved yet, they and their episode-picked friends doing much more to solve it, and problem is solved (AND EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!), there are some creative elements that take place within that episode. The characters joining along in "Problem Solved" (a song that is catchy is heck even if I've heard it 100 or so times) and every song that is a part of each episode will be stuck in your hear as soon as you hear it.

Plus (heh heh), the characters are written and created really well. Peg is a bright-eyed girl with a big imagination and a bigger heart. Her charm and sweet wit grabs your attention and you just love her from second one. Cat is goofy but hilariously witty and his snark is balls-out funny. Their chemistry is as strong as Arnold Schwarzenegger and their friendship is a reason this show is awesome and a reason I watch with grin from ear to ear. Their voice actors, Hayley Faith Negrin and Dwayne Hill, bring so many layers of fun, humor, wit and timing to this show and (partially, but primarily) because of them and their characters, I am a fan of Peg + Cat for life. And you should be too.

Episodes are available on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, YT and the PBS Kids video app.

I know it's a kids show. ...But I. don't. care. I darn well love this series, and if you give it a try (whether with your kids or by yourself), I think you'll love it too.

Thanks for checking in, and I'll see you guys later.