Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps
Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps is an animated preschool children's television series co-produced by HIT Entertainment and WNET in association with Nickelodeon UK, with animation production by SD Entertainment. The series is based on the Angelina Ballerina series of children's books by author Katharine Holabird and illustrator Helen Craig; and functions as a revival and sequel to the 2001 series of the same name.
The series first aired in the United States on 5 September 2009 on PBS Kids, and would premiere on Nick Jr. a little while later, with Five later airing the show on it's Milkshake! block. Two direct-to-video specials followed the series after its conclusion.
Premise
The series celebrates music and songs and brings to life many forms of dance for Angelina including ballet, tap dancing, jazz, classical, and ethnic. As a ballerina, Angelina's life revolves around dancing, singing and performance, family, friends, friendship, and following her dreams. This series sees 8-year-old Angelina and her family move to the other side of Chipping Cheddar to attend a performing arts school called Camembert Academy. It features the debut of Ms. Mimi, Angelina's new teacher and new friends like Viki, Marco, Gracie, and A.J., as well as her best friend Alice who joins Camembert Academy.Characters
Main
- Angelina Mouseling is the protagonist of the series. She is a feisty, cheerful and happy-go-lucky mouseling who still dreams to become a prima ballerina. She is now 8 years old and a student at Camembert Academy. Her catchphrases are "Absolutely, positively!", "Really truly!", "Stupendous!", "Follow your dreams!", "Let's dance!", "Get up and dance!", "I'm Angelina Ballerina!", "Hoop-dee-doo!", and "Hooray!"
- Polly Mouseling is Angelina's 4-year-old little sister. Polly is an eager Mouseling whenever Angelina takes the time to show her some of the basics of ballet. When there are steps she cannot copy them, Polly is very happy to make up her own, much to Angelina's dismay. Her catchphrase is "I love you, Angelina!"
- Mr. Maurice Mouseling is Angelina and Polly's father. He works as a reporter for the Mouseland Herald and keeps his finger on the pulse of the happenings in Chipping Cheddar. In the episode "Angelina and the Marcel Mouseau Mime Challenge", it is revealed that Mr. Mouseling was a drummer in a rock band.
- Mrs. Matilda Mouseling is Angelina and Polly's mother. Supportive yet firm, she provides the voice of reason the young starlet Angelina needs. In the episode "Angelina's Fancy Tutu", it is revealed that she was once a ballerina.
- Mrs. Thimble is the owner of the sweets store next door to Mr. Mouseling's music store. She is an elderly mouseling with grey fur and wears a lavender dress with black dots and a bead collar, a white apron, a gold watch, green shoes, and glasses.
- Ms. Mimi is the head teacher at Camembert Academy and is everyone's role model. She is modern, young, fun, warm, loving and caring. She adores little mouselings as much as they adore her, and loves to inspire them with her own vivid imagination. Her catchphrase is "Bravo, students! Marvelous music and dancing!"
- Alice Nimbletoes is Angelina's best friend and an aspiring gymnast. She is optimistic, enthusiastic, feisty, cheerful, energetic, happy-go-lucky, and always up for a new adventure. Kind, innocent, and with a heart of gold, Alice is a bit forgetful, but she will try harder than everybody else. Her catchphrases are "Ooooh...it's the best fun ever!", "Knock, knock, who's there?", "Follow your dreams!", "Let's dance!", "Get up and dance!", "Hoop-dee-doo!", and "Hooray!"
- Gracie is often Angelina's French rival and friend who is meticulous and a tad self-absorbed, and has shown to be a teacher's pet in order to get Ms. Mimi's attentions. Like Angelina, Gracie loves being the star of the show, but often uses those occasions to brag about herself. Nonetheless, Angelina knows Gracie is a very kind-hearted friend, and the competition keeps Angelina on her toes. Her catchphrase is "I can do it perfectly!"
- Viki is an exciting friend for Angelina at Camembert Academy. She loves ethnic and unusual forms of dance, and she will be the first to try anything new. She is an Irish music lover and a great bass player. She likes standing out from the crowd and doing things her own way. Her catchphrase is "So amazing!"
- Marco is a Hispanic student from the exotic tropical country of Costa Mousa. Marco likes to play and hear music. Besides loving music, he is also wildly enthusiastic about sports, especially soccer. Marco has taught himself to play multiple instruments, and his favorite musical instrument is the conga drums. A helpful mouseling, Marco sometimes gets into jams due to Angelina's big ideas. He is also a great drummer. His catchphrase is "I just thought of a great rhythm!"
- A.J. is an American hip-hop student. He knows a lot about the latest culture phenomenon, such as the latest handshake, line dance, and cheese du jour. His catchphrase is "A.J. Mouse is in the house!"