The Adventures of Figaro Pho
Australian animated series about a boy with every phobia.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Figaro Pho, a nine-year-old prodigy, is terrified of practically everything in the town of Cogsville. His only companion is Rivet, a cheerful four-year-old robotic dog who protects him from danger. The Australian children's animated series, produced by Chocolate Liberation Front, tells its stories with almost no spoken words or on-screen text, relying instead on physical comedy, music, and sound effects. A sequel series, *The New Adventures of Figaro Pho*, followed in 2015.
The show’s main character has a slim body, a large bald head with a single curl, and a long neck. Recurring townspeople include Juliet, Figaro’s nine-year-old neighbor and crush; Rudy, an extreme skateboarder; Prudence, an eight-year-old obsessed with Figaro; Ronald, a chubby boy with a runny nose; and Penny, a sweet girl scout. Others are Cornelius the mailman, who is often injured delivering to Figaro; Dotty, an elderly woman working various jobs; Boris, Figaro’s smelly gardener; Uncle Ernesto, a grimy explorer; and Leon, Figaro’s athletic adult cousin.
The original series, subtitled *Fun, Fears and Foul Odours*, ran for twenty episodes, with titles like "Fear of Fish," "Fear of Clowns," and "Fear of Everything." The sequel series includes episodes such as "Figaro on Ice," "Zombie Pho," and "Camp Fear." An earlier 2009 version featured twenty-six short episodes, each covering a phobia starting with a different letter of the alphabet.
Creator and director Luke Jurevicius, who also voices Figaro and composed much of the music, drew on his own fears and phobias. The original shorts were commissioned by the South Australian Film Corporation and the ABC’s New Media and Digital Services division. After their success, ABC Kids ordered thirty-nine episodes for ABC3. For the second series, Chocolate Liberation Front partnered with Luma Toons, a branch of the visual effects studio Luma Pictures, to produce another thirty-nine episodes entirely in Australia. The sequel began airing in August 2015.
The series has been praised for its humor, music, and animation, drawing comparisons to Tim Burton’s work. It won several international awards, including Best Children’s Program at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards, the Asian Television Awards, and Kidscreen New York in 2013, as well as awards for writing, digital effects, animation, and post-production. In 2014, ABC Commercial r
- field
- Children's animated television
- nationality
- Australian
- known_for
- Animated series about a boy with every known phobia, featuring no dialogue
- creator
- Luke Jurevicius
- production_company
- Chocolate Liberation Front
- first_series_release
- 2012
- sequel_release
- 2015
Lore & Background
The Adventures of Figaro Pho is an Australian children's animated television series produced by Chocolate Liberation Front. It was followed in 2015 by The New Adventures of Figaro Pho. Both series are about Figaro Pho, a character with every known phobia. One unique attribute also shared among franchises of the series is that there is almost no dialogue and no text. Instead the shows require strong animated physical-performance-based drama, music score and sound effects to carry the story. The character Pho has a slim body and neck with a large smooth head, bald apart from a curl of hair on top, reminiscent of Paul Livingston's character Flacco. His only companion is a mechanical dog with a penchant for whimsical invention and hatred of the postman, one of the few recurring characters. Figaro Pho has been the star of his own two-season television series as well as an anthology series of 26 90-second shorts and three touchscreen games.
Reader's Guide
The Adventures of Figaro Pho is significant as an innovative Australian children's series that eschews dialogue entirely, relying on visual storytelling, music, and sound effects. Created by Luke Jurevicius, who drew on his own fears and phobias, the series won several international awards, including 2013's Best Children's Program on three continents (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards; The Asian Television Awards and Kidscreen New York). The program also picked up awards for writing, digital effects, animation and post production. The series has been reviewed favorably, comparing it to animation from Tim Burton. It has been recognized for its humour, music and its animation and special effects. The first series is available in over 100 countries on Hulu, Netflix, Cartoon Network Latin America, Pakapaka, BBC Canada and iTunes. In Canada, it airs on both Family Channel and CHRGD. The series' legacy includes a sequel series, The New Adventures of Figaro Pho, produced in partnership with Luma Toons, and three touchscreen games published by ABC Commercial.
Did You Know?
- The series has almost no dialogue and no text, relying on physical-performance-based drama, music, and sound effects.
- Figaro Pho's only companion is a mechanical dog named Rivet who hates the postman.
- The original 26 short episodes each started with a different letter of the alphabet from A to Z.
- Creator Luke Jurevicius performs many key roles, including doing the voice of Figaro Pho and composing much of the music.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Adventures of Figaro Pho?
It is an Australian children's animated series that follows a nine-year-old boy in the town of Cogsville who is afraid of nearly everything. The show conveys its stories through physical comedy, music, and sound effects rather than spoken dialogue.
Who are the main characters in The Adventures of Figaro Pho?
Figaro Pho is a slim, bald-headed boy with a single curl and a long neck who suffers from virtually every known phobia. His loyal companion is Rivet, a cheerful four-year-old robotic dog who shields him from danger.
How does The Adventures of Figaro Pho tell stories without any dialogue?
The series relies entirely on visual gags, expressive sound effects, and a musical score to convey plot and emotion. There is almost no spoken language or on-screen text throughout the episodes.
Who created The Adventures of Figaro Pho and when did it first air?
Luke Jurevicius created the series, which was produced by Chocolate Liberation Front. The first season was released in 2012.
Did The Adventures of Figaro Pho get a sequel?
Yes, a follow-up series titled The New Adventures of Figaro Pho was released in 2015. It continued the adventures of Figaro and Rivet in Cogsville.
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