Team Smithereen on IMDB

Visit the Team Smithereen page on IMDB and learn all about the cast and crew of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from The Dan Clark Company/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe.

Editorial in Full Swing

With principal photography of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe wrapped the focus turns to editorial. Smithereen Editors Cyrus Navarro and Erik Klassen work around the clock to cut the remaining episodes and get the last of the footage into the animation pipeline.

Download Smithereen Article from Anamation Magazine

The Animation Magazine article about Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe, is available to download as a PDF from W!ildbrain's website.

Puppet Pyramid

In this photo from the second to last day of principal photography for Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe, puppet captains/puppeteers, Sean and Patrick Johnson; puppeteer, Russ Walko; and script supervisor/editor Erik Klassen keep Brave Little Francis, Whoop and Thrill Kat balanced precariously atop Stunt Pig.

Team Smithereen in Animation Magazine

Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from The Dan Clark Company/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe got a two page write up in March edition of Animation Magazine. The article, which features behind the scenes photos, character shots, and more is available through Animation Magazine's website or at newsstands everywhere.

Wacky Rig

Before principal photography of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe could wrap, the small production crew had two ambitions shows to complete - Skater and Pig Pinata. To accomplish the bazaar stunt finally in the skater episode, puppet captain/puppeteer, Sean pushes home made play dough through a pvc tube. This wacky rig was created by Sean and puppeteer Russ Walko.

Team Smithereen on W!ldbrain Site

Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe is featured on W!ldbrain's main site along with W!ldbrain's other popular shows, Yo Gabba Gabba, The Aqua Bats, and Higglytown Heros. Check out the stars of Team Smithereen at wildbrain.com.

That's a Wrap

After months of tireless work and long hours, principal photograpy of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe has wrapped. These photos are from the last day of shooting.

Smithereen on Ad Age

Advertising Age did a short video segment about W!ldbrain, and the exciting projects they have in the works for 2009. They interviewed W!ldbrain Chief Marketing Officer Michael Polis, and he talked about Yo Gabba Gabba, Kidrobot, and Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from The Dan Clark Company/W!ldbrain/Jetx Europe. Visit adage.com to watch the clip.

All in a Days Work

In the race to finish principal photography on Team Smithereen, the new Stunt Puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe, the small production team was tasked with completing a bunch of pick ups. This shot of the monitor shows a small sampling of the footage shot during a marathon shooting day.

Smithereen Gets Mention on Toon Zone

On February 8, Toon Zone did a write up about the W!ldbrain panel at Comic Con New York. Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe got a mention in the write up:

"(Bob) Higgins showed the audience a few shorts from "Team Smithereen," a new series of Internet shorts that will be attempting to use the same business model as Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Comedy project. "Team Smithereen" was created by Dan Clark, and Higgins described the teen/tween series as "Mr. Bill Meets Jackass." The audience quickly found out what he meant with three separate shorts of little hand puppets daring each other to do really stupid stunts. The series will be hitting computer screens this Spring."

Visit Toon Zone to read the whole article.

Messy (Smelly) Work

Puppeteering on Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe can be messy and smelly work. In this puppet captain/puppeteer Patrick Johnson performs Thrill Kat as he is hit in the head with a can of soup. Because the show is shot green screen prop masters and production designers, Brandon Minton and Lisa Coto chose to use nacho cheese soup for it's color. The soup also had a very strong odor, and very quickly the small production stage filled with the smell of nacho cheese.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from the cast and crew of Team Smithereen.

Team Smithereen at NY Comic Con

On February 6, 2009 W!ldbrain Head of Creative Bob Higgins, CMO Mike Polis, and a handful of artists showed a couple of episodes of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from The Dan Clark Company/W!ldbrain/Jetix Europe. The show was very well received by everyone in attendance.

Sound Design

All of the voices and sound effects for Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe are added during post production. In this photo Smithereen sound designer/sound editor Jacqui Siler mixes together puppet voices, sound effects and music to create the show's distinct signature sound.

Moo Little Francis

In this screen grab from Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe Brave Little Frances is dressed in his cow costume. The puppet was shot against a green screen, the background was shot at a Southern California dairy farm, and the eyes were animated in India.

Alien!

Puppeteer Russ Walko made a handful of specialty puppets for Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe. This little green alien was made for an episode that takes place in outer space.

Don Asher - Producer

Dan Clark Company producer Don Asher is responsible for running the day to day operations of Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe. Although Team Smithereen is a small operation, it spans countries and continents, and Don must coordinate with the Hollywood Hills production team, the San Francisco and London based production companies, and the India based animation company.

Team Smithereen Post

Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe is a very post heavy operation. Lots of different layers and elements are merged together to make each 30 - 90 second mini episode. Editors Cyrus Navarro and Erik Klassen not only cut the shows, they also assemble all of the different elements. The assembleges are used by the Indian digital team to create the final shots.

Thrill Kat

This screen grab from Team Smithereen, the new stunt puppet show from Dan Clark/Wildbrain/Jetix Europe shows how the puppets look when all of the different elements are married together. The Thrill Kat puppet was shot against a green screen, the background plate was shot on location, and his eyes are digitally animated. Each shot of Team Smithereen is a special effects shot, comprised of many separate layers.