TREEHOUSE FRIENDS is a show that conveys the joy and wonder of the natural world with quirky comedy, heartfelt emotion, and a core message about the value of working together.
Every afternoon, Yoko (6), her sister Siloé (4) and their friend Vikram (7) go to their Tree House within the city’s open green space. This urban oasis of untouched forest, stream and meadow provides local animals and birds with a place to live and the children with an idyllic location for their adventures.
Accompanied by the exuberant and super-confident (maybe over-confident!) squirrel Sami, the children might be tracking down the owner of an abandoned egg, making a new den for Walter the hedgehog or creating an insect hotel for the ladybirds and beetles. The series is populated with a dynamic cast of characters who help – and sometimes hinder – the kids’ quests.
The mischievous twin rats, Herbie and Norbie, live in an abandoned broken-down bus and are always up for a fun task. Their comedic bickering is underpinned by sibling affection and their antics help pepper the series with slapstick comedy.
The cheerful hedgehog Walter brings news from his nocturnal travels; the spider Alma is often on hand to offer a witty comment; and the agile and fast-talking Eddie the slowworm can help retrieve things from the smallest spaces. Every episode uncovers a new natural marvel – how seeds can be flying ‘helicopters’ or be hidden inside a prickly husk or how natural materials make the best racing boats in a shallow stream.
Written with a light touch and designed with outstanding attention, this is a series which makes learning to love the natural world the most natural thing in the world.
Commissioned by Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG. Animation for several episodes by Asako Film.
