Super Why!

Super Why!
The series' logo. It features the words "Super WHY" written in a green font, with the exclamation point being larger. A blue book with three yellow rings surrounding it is behind the words.
GenrePreschool
Superhero
Educational
Created byAngela Santomero
Voices of
Theme music composerSteve D'Angelo
Terry Tompkins
Opening theme"Who's Got the Power?"
Ending theme"Hip Hip Hooray" (Instrumental, S1–2)
"Super Readers to the Rescue" (Instrumental, S3)
Composers
  • Lorenzo Castelli (seasons 2–3)
  • Jeff Morrow (seasons 2–3)
  • Steve D'Angelo (entire run)
  • Terry Tompkins (entire run)
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes103 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Angela C. Santomero
  • Samantha Freeman Alpert
  • Steven DeNure
  • Anne Loi (S2–3)
Running time26 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseSeptember 3, 2007 (2007-09-03) –
May 12, 2016 (2016-05-12)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Super Why! is an animated superhero preschool educational television series created by Angela Santomero and developed by Santomero and Samantha Freeman Alpert for PBS Kids. Santomero and Alpert additionally serve as executive producers alongside Steven DeNure and Anne Loi. The series was produced by Santomero and Alpert's New York City-based production company Out of the Blue Enterprises in co-production with Decode Entertainment for the first season and DHX Studios Halifax for the second and third seasons. Animation was by Toronto-based C.O.R.E. Toons (season 1), Gallus Entertainment (season 2) and DHX Media (originally through its Decode Entertainment division). The opening and closing theme songs were written by composers and lyricists Steve D'Angelo and Terry Tompkins, with D'Angelo also providing lead vocals for both. The background score for seasons 2 and 3 was composed by Lorenzo Castelli and Jeff Morrow.

The show was originally created as a stop motion pilot episode in 1999 by Cuppa Coffee Animation that was pitched to Nickelodeon/Nick Jr.[1] It was later featured at the 2000 Annecy Film Festival.[2] Nickelodeon ultimately opted not to pick up the show. Instead, Curious Pictures pitched another pilot to PBS Kids sometime in 2006, and PBS Kids further developed the series with funds from the United States Department of Education's Ready to Learn grant[3][4] and aired the premiere episode on September 3, 2007.[5] The original run ended on May 12, 2016 with a total of 103 episodes across three seasons.[6]

  1. ^ "Portfolio". www.cuppacoffee.com:80. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "Film Index". www.annecy.org. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "Illustration, Concept Design, Visual Developement [sic] Curious Pictures LLC - Current client since 01/2002". EEW Books. Archived from the original on March 24, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  4. ^ "Research Proves Super Why! Helps Children Learn to Read". About PBS - Main. May 6, 2009. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. ^ "Literacy Takes the Lead on PBS Kids and PBS Kids Go!". About PBS - Main. November 14, 2007. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Will Super Why! Return For a Season 4 on PBS // Renewed or Canceled?". tvnextseason.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.