Staines Down Drains


Staines Down Drains is a co-produced children's television series created by Jim Mora and Brent Chambers. The series was premiered on the Seven Network in October 2006 and broadcast in New Zealand on TV2 beginning on 28 February 2007. A second series of 13 episodes was announced in 2009, but was never produced.

Synopsis

The series follows siblings Stanley and Mary-Jane Staines as they travel through a portal down their sink in the basement to Drainland. There they assist Vegety Bill, Blobert and Herk in defeating Dr. Drain. Stanley is germaphobic while Mary-Jane is brave. Their mother Betty is always getting a new job which usually causes the complication in the episodes. Their arch enemy Gretel is always trying to embarrass the Staines.

Production

The series was created by Jim Mora at Hothouse Production and Brent Chambers at Flux Animation for Traction Inc., and produced in traditional animation by Flying Bark Productions and Flux, with assistance from distributor Studio 100. Voices were provided by Sarah Aubrey, Keith Scott, Drew Forsythe, Jane U'Brien, and Rachel King. The music was composed by Michael Lira; the theme song won an APRA-AGSC Screen Music Award for Best Television Theme, while Lira's score for the episode "Pipe Dreams" was nominated for the award for Best Music for Children's Television.
The first season was broadcast in November 2006, with each episode running for 24 minutes. The series was bought by foreign markets and sold internationally. A New Zealand dub was also produced, with the Staines family's voices redubbed with Tara Maher, Michèle A'Court and Jackie Clarke. A second season was announced in late 2009, with each episode running for 11 minutes. This season was to be animated in Adobe Flash. The voice cast for this season included Maher, A'Court, Clarke, Richard Simpson, David Weatherley, and Frank Whitten. The second season was slated for completion at the end of 2010, but was later cancelled for unknown reasons. Only one episode from the season, "Fool's Gold", survives online.

Main characters

  • Stanley Staines is a germaphobic 11-year-old boy who tries to avoid doing anything out of the ordinary, as his phobia may stop him from going to Drainland. However, he is encouraged by his sister, Mary-Jane, along with Herk and Blobert. Voiced by Sarah Aubrey ; Tara Maher.
  • Mary-Jane Staines is a brave 9-year-old girl who is very adventurous and smart. She usually helps her brother, Stanley in solving Drainland's problems. She is worst enemies with Gretel and the two usually argue with each other. Voiced by Rachel King ; Michèle A'Court.
  • Betty Staines is Stanley and Mary-Jane's somewhat dipsy mother. She is always starting a new career and usually messes up doing it. Voiced by Jane U'Brien ; Jackie Clarke.
  • Vegety Bill is an heroic mutant carrot who is dedicated to protecting the Drainworld plants. He is best friends with Herk and Blobert, and together they fight Dr. Drain and the Gobblers. Voiced by Keith Scott ; David Weatherley.
  • Blobert is a small one-eyed purple blob who moves around like a slug. He is not very smart and usually helps Herk and Vegety. Voiced by Keith Scott ; Richard Simpson.
  • Herk is a small brown hairball who helps Vegety in protecting the plants. He is best friends with Blobert. Voiced by Jane U'Brien ; Michèle A'Court.
  • Dr. Drain is an evil dictator, bent on destroying Drainland and building an empire on its ruins. With his companions the Goblers, he tries to rid Drainland of its purifying plants. Voiced by Drew Forsythe ; David Weatherley.
  • Gretel is the arch-enemy of Mary-Jane. She is a spoilt girl who usually bullies the Staines, and is the leader of the local gang called the Lupin Lupes, also consisting of her friends, Jack Lupe and Twinky Lupe. Voiced by Sarah Aubrey.
  • The Gobblers are the henchmen of Dr. Drain. Voiced by Drew Forsythe, Rachel King and Keith Scott ; Richard Simpson, Michèle A'Court and David Weatherley.
  • Jack Lupe and Twinky Lupe are brothers and friends of Gretel. Voiced by Drew Forsythe and Keith Scott.