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New Zealand adult animated series and sitcom From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
bro'Town is a New Zealand adult animated comedy television series and sitcom that ran from 2004 to 2009. It starred David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Shimpal Lelisi and Oscar Kightley.
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bro'Town | |
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Genre | Sitcom |
Created by | Elizabeth Mitchell Naked Samoans |
Based on | The performance of the local four-man group The Naked Samoans |
Developed by | Naked Samoans |
Written by | Elizabeth Mitchell Naked Samoans Mario Gaoa David Fane Shimpal Lelisi Oscar Kightley |
Screenplay by | Elizabeth Mitchell Naked Samoans Mario Gaoa David Fane Shimpal Lelisi Oscar Kightley |
Directed by | Elizabeth Mitchell Ali Ekeroma Cowley Maka Makatoa |
Creative directors | Ali Ekeroma Cowley Maka Makatoa |
Presented by | Firehorse Films |
Starring | Mario Gaoa David Fane Shimpal Lelisi Oscar Kightley |
Voices of | Mario Gaoa David Fane Shimpal Lelisi Oscar Kightley |
Theme music composer | Kyan Laslett O'Brien |
Opening theme | Various music |
Ending theme | Various music |
Composers | Nesian Mystik, Matthew Wilson, Christopher James. |
Country of origin | New Zealand |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 5 |
No. of episodes | 32 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer | Trevor Haysom |
Producers | Elizabeth Mitchell James Griffin |
Production location | Morningside, Auckland, New Zealand |
Cinematography | Naked Samoans |
Editors | Dave Armstrong Anthony Farac Steven Sinkovich Emma Papaconstantinou |
Camera setup | Animated rendition of single-camera |
Running time | 22 minutes |
Production companies | Firehorse Films NZ on Air DQ Entertainment Toon City Animation |
Original release | |
Network | TV3 |
Release | 22 September 2004 – 24 May 2009 |
The main characters in the series are five 14 year old Polynesian New Zealand boys who live in Morningside, Auckland, New Zealand.[1] They attend the local college, St Sylvester's. It was New Zealand's first primetime animated television show and was very popular when it started in 2004 with 33 per cent of the viewing audience during its 8-8.30pm time slot for the first season.[1][2] bro'Town is heavy with popular culture references, and is based on the comedy theatre group The Naked Samoans.[3] The series has faced criticism often for being racist, for example every episode of the first season received complaints.[1] The writers often describe the humour as being 'not PC' (politically correct) and is satire with characters being sent-up. One of the series writers Oscar Kightley says of the humour, "The only reason we get away with that irreverence and edgy stuff is because on the flipside is heart."[4][5]
bro'Town has left a lasting legacy on popular culture in New Zealand driven by its urban Pacific Island culture.[1][2][4][6] It has been critically acclaimed "as hilarious and alarmingly true to life",[7] studied at universities,[8][5] and used for health messages in a cartoon booklet with information about rheumatic fever.[9]
Produced by New Zealand company Firehorse Films which was created by Elizabeth Mitchell for bro'Town and funded by New Zealand On Air.[1] The lead designer was Ant Sang who was responsible for character, location and prop designs.[10] bro'Town was made using three animation studios – two in New Zealand and one in India – and involved over 100 staff. The series was done in traditional ink and paint animation.[citation needed] The show satirises the boys' culture, with dialogue in the local vernacular. The series includes references to New Zealand literature, particularly the novels and short stories of Witi Ihimaera. The series has strong religious references, with most episodes starting with events between God, Jesus Christ and other historical figures, which leads to the theme of the episode and the subsequent events between the boys.[citation needed]
There are also two female angels Angelina and Angelita.
Occasionally, deceased relatives such as Pepelo's wife (Vale and Valea's mother), or Jeff da Maori's Auntie Queenie are featured, appearing in dreams to communicate with the living.
bro'Town frequently features special guests – notable celebrities from politics, art, culture, music, the media, business and sport. The most regular cameos are John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld, newsreaders from TV3 at the time. Former All Blacks and Manu Samoa player Michael Jones plays the P.E. teacher at St Sylvester's. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has appeared in all seasons except the last and rapper Scribe has been a guest on five seasons of bro'Town. A feature of the series are cameos of people playing themselves. This includes Russell Crowe, Rove McManus, Robyn Malcolm, Neil and Tim Finn, Lucy Lawless, Flight of the Conchords, H.R.H. Charles, Prince of Wales, Sir Howard Morrison, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Cliff Curtis and Madeline Sami.[14][15]
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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1 | 1 | "The Weakest Link" | N/A | The Naked Samoans, David Fane, & Mario Gaoa | September 22, 2004 | |
After being run over by a bus, Valea suddenly becomes the brainiest boy in Morningside, and the boys stun the school by making it through to the televised finals of the national quiz show. | ||||||
2 | 2 | "Sionerella" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | September 29, 2004 | |
Sione finally gets the chance to impress the girl of his dreams at the school ball, but his mother Mrs Tapili and his rival Rex Ruka do all they can to ruin his chances. | ||||||
3 | 3 | "The Wong One" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 6, 2004 | |
Wong from Hong Kong arrives in Morningside and Dad takes him in as a homestay visitor, but a case of mistaken identity sees Vale kidnapped in Wong's place by the legendary Grasshopper...a hot Asian chick with incredible martial arts skills! | ||||||
4 | 4 | "Get Rucked" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 13, 2004 | |
It's the annual rugby match against the St Sylvester's Old Boys, but when the school 1st XV comes down with food poisoning the boys have to play against a crack multi-code team featuring Joe Rokocoko, Tana Umaga and Stacey Jones! | ||||||
5 | 5 | "A Maori at My Table" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 20, 2004 | |
The boys go on a trip to Jeff's marae, which turns out to be a tangi, and the mantle of leadership is suddenly thrust upon an unsuspecting Jeff. | ||||||
6 | 6 | "Go Home Stay Home" | Maka Makatoa | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 27, 2004 | |
When Constable Bababiba discovers that Vale and Valea have been left home alone, he sends Vale to a bad boys home and Valea to a rich, white family in Parnell. But when Dad realises he is no longer eligible for his benefit he launches a bid to bring his boys back home! |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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7 | 1 | "Zeelander" | N/A | The Naked Samoans, Elizabeth Mitchell, & David Fane | September 15, 2005 | |
It's Morningside Fashion Week, and one of the world's top fashion designers discovers Jeff da Maori and catapults him to international catwalk fame. | ||||||
8 | 2 | "Survival Of The Fattest" | Maka Makatoa | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | September 21, 2005 | |
The class sets out on their annual day trip, but when the boys are taken out of their environment, strange things start to happen! | ||||||
9 | 3 | "Honky the Wonderhorse" | Maka Makatoa | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | September 28, 2005 | |
The boys feel sorry for a racehorse who is about to get killed. They rescue him and arrive home just in time to stop Dad killing him for dinner. A Sea Biscuitesque journey follows... Dad becomes the horse whisperer and keeps whispering threats into Honky's ear. | ||||||
10 | 4 | "Touched By A Teacher" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 5, 2005 | |
When Mack tries to impress his mates by inventing a story about being abused, Brother Ken gets thrown into jail and a witch-hunt ensues. | ||||||
11 | 5 | "Half-Cast Away" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 12, 2005 | |
The boys find a half caste baby and try to bring it up, but find it very difficult catering to its mixed cultural needs and soon decide the baby's better off without them. | ||||||
12 | 6 | "A Chicken Roll At My Table" | N/A | The Naked Samoans, Elizabeth Mitchell, & David Fane | October 19, 2005 | |
Joost's conservation-loving zoo-keeping Dad invites the boys to the van Der Van Van's African-themed Morningside Shore home for a weekend cultural exchange... but an incident with a chicken roll turns the weekend into a weird kind of whodunit. | ||||||
13 | 7 | "Morningside Story" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 26, 2005 | |
An incident of racial abuse inspires St Sylvester's to produce a multi-racial musical love story called MorningSide Story... Vale is director, Jeff's in charge of music, Sione, Sina, Mack and Rex are the stars. But when Mrs Tapili finds out one of her children will be kissing a Maori in the play, she goes all out to stop the show! |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | 1 | "In My Mother's Den" | N/A | N/A | September 27, 2006 | |
The boys wake up to a Canadian at their table, and it turns out to be dad's new girlfriend who has moved in and seems set on being their new Mum! | ||||||
15 | 2 | "Know Me Before You Haunt Me" | Ali Cowley | Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, & Shimpal Lelisi | October 4, 2006 | |
It's Halloween and the boys go trick or treating and end up at a haunted house on the outskirts of Morningside. There they meet the ghost of a young Maori boy who died in the 1800s, but is still stuck between the dead and the living. | ||||||
16 | 3 | "Upstairs Brownstairs" | Ali Cowley | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 11, 2006 | |
Dad becomes a member of the prestigious Morningside Club and becomes the club's most regular visitor. But when Valea starts dating the Club President's daughter, the president tries to kick Dad out. | ||||||
17 | 4 | "Go Ask Agnes" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 18, 2006 | |
When the Minister convinces Mrs. Tapili to give more money to the church, she gets hooked on gambling and ends up almost losing everything. | ||||||
18 | 5 | "Mack is from Mars, Sione's a Psycho" | Ali Cowley | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 25, 2006 | |
When Mack sees how bad the St Cardinal's netball team is, he decides they need help from an expert. He disguises himself as a Muslim and impresses the girls with his excellent skills! | ||||||
19 | 6 | "I Still Call Australia Home... Oh" | Ali Ekeroma Cowley | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | November 1, 2006 | |
With special guests Russell Crowe and Rove McManus, as well as Scribe, Neil Finn and 3's own John Campbell and Carol Hirschfield, the boys are at the annual Polyfest – the secondary schools cultural competition – and are desperate to get into the glamorous Samoan group. However, when that doesn't work out (because Sione almost burnt down the stage the previous year), they decide to try something that no one has ever done – they form New Zealand's first Australian group! | ||||||
20 | 7 | "The Summer the Brazilian Came" | Ali Ekeroma Cowley | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | November 8, 2006 | |
The boys head out to Te Hiha surf beach, where Mack 'breaks in' to a very flash beach-house. Vale falls for Victoria, a volleyball player from Brazil, and must overcome his fear of water. The classic Kiwi summer story, full of barbecues, beach scenes and bonfires. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 | 1 | "Sons for the Return Homo" | N/A | N/A | October 11, 2007 | |
Morningside's wimpiest criminal, Motorcycle Boy, returns home from 'boarding school' and starts training the boys to be staunch gang members. Until Sione's cajone's get the boys into trouble again. | ||||||
22 | 2 | "The Artful Dadger" | N/A | N/A | October 18, 2007 | |
Valea becomes immersed in the art world, unleashing the tortured artist within! But, bitter rivalry quickly ensues when a jealous Dad busts out his best art skills, impressing the glitterati and stealing his son's limelight and stealing his son's limelight. | ||||||
23 | 3 | "A Miracle in Morningside" | Ali Ekeroma Cowley | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | October 25, 2007 | |
When Mack gives up food and water for Lent, he becomes convinced he is a descendant of Jesus Christ and Maria Von Trapp from The Sound of Music. Mack creates the 'Church of the Awesome Show Tunes', and convinces his followers that he is the Chosen One. | ||||||
24 | 4 | "Yes Prime Minister!" | Ali Ekeroma Cowley | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | November 1, 2007 | |
The boys travel to the capital city where they are surrounded by fierce opponents and dirty tricks as they become embroiled in the dog eat dog world of politics at Youth Parliament. | ||||||
25 | 5 | "An Alien at My Table" | Ali Ekeroma Cowley | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | November 8, 2007 | |
The boys head to Kia Ora Bay for a star studded Matariki concert to celebrate the Maori New Year, but one by one New Zealand's finest musicians disappear and Jeff gets the blame! Can the boys save New Zealand music? Or will this be the day the music died? | ||||||
26 | 6 | "I'm Going to Limbo... I May Be Some Time" | Ali Ekeroma Cowley | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | November 15, 2007 | |
Pepelo Pepelo's hard living lifestyle finally catches up with him, and while the boys maintain a bedside vigil, Dad embarks on a journey of the soul, where he must face the demons of his past. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27 | 1 | "The Summer of Samson" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | April 19, 2009 | |
When Sione catches Agnes and the Minister in a compromising position, he discovers that his brother Samson is the spawn of adulterers and, fueled by his new fundamentalist friend, tries to exorcise Samson's demon. | ||||||
28 | 2 | "A Vegetarian at My Table" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | April 26, 2009 | |
The boys embark on a documentary project about their favourite food -but Vale is horrified when he discovers a dead mouse inside his meat pie's pastry. The boys take a vow of vegetarianism and are passionately determined to expose the dodgy innards of the meat industry, but when the powers that be catch wind of their plan, Vale becomes the meat in the sandwich! | ||||||
29 | 3 | "To Sam with Love" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | May 3, 2009 | |
When world famous actor Sam Neill turns up to teach Drama at St Sylvester's, the boys become his biggest fans! Mack is particularly enamored of Sam's charm and charisma, but becomes confused by his overwhelming feelings, and stuns everyone by letting one too many skeletons out of the closet! | ||||||
30 | 4 | "Apocalypse Ow" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | May 10, 2009 | |
Jeff's unhinged Uncle Murray returns from Afghanistan and takes the boys to a 'fun' camp, but before long everyone except Jeff realises that things are not what they seem. Will Jeff turn on his friends once and for all? | ||||||
31 | 5 | "Lost in Cyber Space" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | May 17, 2009 | |
Rakeesh converts his Dairy into a Cyber Café and Valea soon becomes a 'War is Fun' Master. However his obsession with the game starts to take over his life. When the boys also discover that he has been having a secret relationship, they realize it is crisis time. | ||||||
32 | 6 | "So You Think You Can Dance Near the Stars?" | N/A | David Fane, Mario Gaoa, & Oscar Kightley | May 24, 2009 | |
When Pepelo is slipped an Ecstasy tablet he gets all loved up and convinces Agnes to show the world her fancy footwork in a televised Dance competition. Will the pair become more than just dance partners, and will two families become one in this sizzling series final? |
While it was running the series bro-Town was often nominated at New Zealand film and television awards in a range of categories. It won the following awards:[16]
DVD Name | Release Date | Ep # | Additional Content |
---|---|---|---|
Series 1 | 7 December 2005 | 6 | |
Series 2 | 24 October 2006 | 7 | |
Series 3 | 12 September 2007 | 7 | |
Series 4 | 1 December 2010 | 6 | |
Series 5 | 7 December 2010[15] | 7 |