LazyTown

LazyTown (Icelandic: Latibær) is an Icelandic children's television series. It was created by Magnús Scheving, an aerobics champion who also plays the character Sportacus, and it is based upon his stage plays Áfram Latibær! (itself based on a children's book from 1995[3]) and Glanni Glæpur í Latabæ.

The series was commissioned by Nickelodeon in 2003, following the production of two stage plays and a test pilot. Originally performed in English, the show has been dubbed into more than thirty languages (including Icelandic) and aired in over 180 countries. The show combines live action, puppetry, and computer-generated imagery, making it one of the most expensive children's shows ever made.[4]

The first two seasons (fifty-two episodes) were produced from 2004 to 2007. LazyTown originally aired on Viacom's Nickelodeon channel in the United States and CBeebies in the United Kingdom. Turner Broadcasting System Europe acquired LazyTown Entertainment in 2011[5] and commissioned the third and fourth seasons[6][7] for a total of 26 new episodes, which premiered in 2013 on Turner's Cartoonito and later on Viacom's Channel 5.

Multiple spin-offs were created, including stage productions and a short-format television program for younger children titled LazyTown Extra.

Characters

 * Stephanie (Icelandic: Solla Stirða, lit. 'Solla inflexible') (played by Julianna Rose Mauriello (Seasons 1–2) and Chloe Lang (Seasons 3–4)) is the enthusiastic and sweet newcomer to town. She lives in a yellow house with Mayor Meanswell, her uncle. Recognizable by her all-pink outfit, Stephanie is initially disappointed by Ziggy, Stingy, Trixie and Pixel, her friends' laziness and coaxes them to partake in healthier activities. Her attempts are often nearly thwarted by Robbie Rotten, but Stephanie is eternally optimistic and always manages to triumph over any challenges in the end.


 * Sportacus (Icelandic: Íþróttaálfurinn, lit. 'the athletic elf') (played by Magnús Scheving) is Lazytown's own action-hero. He lives in a futuristic blue airship above LazyTown (renamed the "Sports Ship" in Series 3-4) and is alerted to people who need help by a beeping crystal that glows on the chest of his costume. Understanding, humble, courageous, and helpful, he is devoted to exercise and has a rivalry with Robbie Rotten (though he always helps Robbie when the latter gets into trouble). Sportacus lives on a diet of fruit and vegetables, which he refers to as "sports candy". Eating junk food makes him immediately lose all his strength and abilities, which can only be restored by eating healthier options. In series 3 he gains minimal updates which includes; a new backpack which is integrated into his outfit. The backpack contains sports candy & various sports equipment, and his crystal now flashes red when he is low on energy.


 * Robbie Rotten (Icelandic: Glanni Glæpur, lit. 'reckless crime') (played by Stefán Karl Stefánsson) is the main villain who continuously formulates feckless schemes in which he masquerades in a disguise to trick the kids, or create inventions to ruin their fun and discourage their newly-active lifestyles. He passionately abhors the influence of Stephanie and Sportacus on the townspeople and a number of his plans involve attempting to do away with them. Ironically, Robbie places so much effort into his schemes that he becomes one of LazyTown's most active citizens.


 * Ziggy (Icelandic: Siggi Sæti, lit. 'Siggi sweet') (played by Guðmundur Þór Kárason in the US and Lorraine Parsloe in the UK) usually wears a superhero suit with a cape. He loves to eat candy and sweets—particularly lollipops and taffy. After Stephanie came along, he discovered that there is more to childhood than sugary foods. He is now active and participates in any sport the gang plays, but still enjoys candy in moderation. Ziggy is an unsophisticated character who possesses naivety and gullibility. He is also obsessed with Sportacus and idolizes him.


 * Pixel (Icelandic: Goggi Mega) (played by Ronald Binion/Julie Westwood and voiced by Noel MacNeal/Kobie Powell/Chris Knowings/Ronald Binion in the US and Joanna Ruiz in the UK) is an inventor who is passionate about computers and technology. He fixes up all sorts of gadgets to avoid doing physical activities himself. Pixel is not very sociable due to the large amount of time he spends alone, usually playing video games on his computers. He has a crush on Stephanie and finds it difficult to talk to her in early episodes. He represents intelligence and common sense. His house often serves as a meeting spot for the rest of the kids, since it is spacious and contains a television.


 * Trixie (Icelandic: Halla Hrekkjusvín, lit. 'Halla trickster') (played by Sarah Burgess/Heather Asch/Amanda Maddock/Aymee Garcia in the US and Joanna Ruiz in the UK) likes jokes and playing pranks. She tends to make sarcastic remarks about her friends. She refers to Stephanie as "Pinky" (due to her outfit and hair colour) when trying to get her attention. In the theme song, Trixie loves to draw moustaches over the Meanswell's posters. Trixie represents impatience and a lack of respect for rules.


 * Stingy (Icelandic: Nenni Níski, lit. 'Nenni cheapskate') (played by Jodi Eichelberger in the US and Sarah Burgess/Julie Westwood in the UK) is a selfish, covetous, and upper-class boy who wears a yellow sweater vest and a polka-dotted bow tie. In seasons 2-4, he wears rectangular glasses that he needs for reading. He owns a yellow car and frequently mentions his unseen father, who is supposedly the wealthiest man in town. Stingy tends to be snide and churlish. He represents possessiveness and a self-centered attitude.


 * Mayor Milford Meanswell (Icelandic: Bæjarstjórinn, lit. 'the mayor') (played by David Matthew Feldman) is the mayor who has a crush on Miss Busybody. He loves his niece Stephanie very much and calls Sportacus to help if she feels sad or is in trouble. He is known for saying "Oh my!" whenever anything is wrong. The mayor is old-fashioned and often perplexed by modern technological terms.


 * Bessie Busybody (Icelandic: Stína Símalína, lit. 'Stína phoneline') (played by Julie Westwood) is an adult resident and Mayor Milford's secretary/girlfriend. Although patronizing, she tries her best to be motherly with the children. She is aware of every new trend and is pompous but fashionable. She likes to talk on her cellphone and is sometimes so engaged in a phone call that she is oblivious to the events occurring around her.

Recurring

 * Piggy is Stingy's piggy bank pet, which he treats as if it were a person and often pretends is alive. He considers Piggy his best friend.


 * Jives (Icelandic: Maggi Mjói) is a skinny and tall teenage boy who lives alone in his personal house, matching his physical appearance being tall and thin with a green roof and yellow body, that appears to be bending over. He wears a green cap and a yellow sweatshirt. Jives is only physically seen in the Icelandic plays, but his home remains in the TV series. He also makes several cameos on cards and books.


 * The rooster (Icelandic: Haninn) is a symbol of LazyTown, appearing on the town seal and on the papers in Mayor Meanswell's filing cabinets. His crowing can be heard during scenes set in the early morning. In the second play, the rooster was an anthropomorphic character who acted as a narrator.


 * The cat is a small black and white kitten who appears three times in Season 1. The kitten has a propensity for climbing trees and often needs Sportacus to rescue him.