Special Agent Oso

Special Agent Oso (/oʊˈsoʊ/) is an American computer-animated children's television series. The series was created by Ford Riley.[1] It premiered on April 4, 2009 with 2 episodes airing that day as part of Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney block,[2] and aired two seasons of 60 episodes through May 17, 2012.[3]

Special Agent Oso
A CGI image of a Disney logo with the word "Special Agent" in yellow and green lettering with the word "Oso" in red lettering with a multi-colored stuffed bear on the 2nd O.
Special Agent Oso title card
Created byFord Riley
Directed byJamie Mitchell
Voices of
Theme music composerFord Riley and Mike Himelstein
ComposersMike Himelstein and Michael Turner
Country of originUnited States
Original languagesEnglish and Spanish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes60 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerFord Riley
AnimatorSunwoo Entertainment
EditorPieter Kaufman
Running time24 minutes (2 12-minute segments per episode, except for episodes 35, 56, and 60)
Production companyDisney Television Animation
Release
Original network
Original releaseApril 4, 2009 (2009-04-04) –
May 17, 2012 (2012-05-17)

Premise

Each episode begins with Special Agent Oso in the midst of a training exercise, which he usually fails on his first try, causing him to say "It's all part of the plan more or less." Paw Pilot, his computerized assistant, alerts him by saying "Special Alert, Special Alert." Invariably, during the exercise, at least one child is confronted with a simple task which they have trouble completing, an event which a Shutterbug drone notices. Oso is always assigned to the case, and Paw Pilot, along with the seen unseen Mr. Dos, illustrates his client's plight and assigns him a mission to help the child complete the task. To do so, Paw Pilot provides Oso with "three special steps," a simplified step-by-step guide to completing the task. Oso is transported to the child's location and attempts to follow the steps as the steps, in and of themselves, are usually too vague to complete the task properly. Paw Pilot also gives further elaborations, including at least one helpful trick. On the third and final step, Paw Pilot senses the time limit on the task between 3 and 19 seconds and begins counting down when the time limit is near. Oso and the child usually complete the task, just as the time runs out.

Returning from the assignment, the helpful trick given during the assignment always turns out to be the same trick Oso needed to complete the interrupted training exercise, which he likewise completes and passes, getting a "digi-medal," a digital award, for both the training exercise and the special assignment.

Episodes
Main article: List of Special Agent Oso episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
124April 4, 2009 (2009-04-04)April 17, 2010 (2010-04-17)
236July 10, 2010 (2010-07-10)May 17, 2012 (2012-05-17)

The show has 60 episodes; 24 in the first season and 36 in the second. The episode names are usually references to the names of the James Bond films from Eon Productions, such as The World Is Not Enough and The Man with the Golden Gun but not a parody of them. Across its run, Special Agent Oso had at least one episode title that referenced each of the then-22 Bond films (Skyfall was still in development at the time the show concluded). Some episode titles also reference the Carly Simon song Nobody Does It Better, theme song to The Spy Who Loved Me. One episode references the non-Eon film Never Say Never Again. One episode also spoofs Another Way to Die, which is the theme song to Quantum of Solace.

Components

Each episode is composed of four components:

  • The Three Special Steps are the steps that Paw Pilot gives Oso to follow when he is on his special assignments. Oso has a matter of time to finish the three special steps. The third step is usually timed between 3 and 19 seconds.
  • The training exercises are Oso's training task assigned by Wolfie, Dotty or Buffo. Oso usually fails on his first try, but in the course of doing the special assignments, he refers to the mistake he made in his training exercise, thanks to the person he is helping. He then returns to his training exercise and does it right on his second try, then earns a "Digi-Medal".
  • The special assignments are missions that Oso is requested to complete by the mysterious Mr. Dos, in order to help a child in need. Sometimes, Oso asks the audience to help him on his special assignments if it gets tricky and he needs some help. Oso tries to complete the Three Special Steps that Paw Pilot gives him. Then he earns a "Digi-Medal".
  • Audience participation or interaction with Oso. Sometimes, Oso will ask the audience to help him find something hidden or missing on the screen. Other times, Oso will ask the audience to try something physically demanding that he is doing.

Three Healthy Steps

Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps is a short series that airs in the United States during the Disney Junior programming block. It encourages children to use "three healthy steps" regarding eating, being healthy and exercising.

This series combined both animated characters and real life actors. The animated characters that are featured in the short series are Special Agent Oso, Paw Pilot, Special Agent Wolfie, Special Agent Dotty, and Professor Buffo.

Handy Manny crossover

In episode 32 of season 2, Oso meets Handy Manny and they work together to help a kid named David fix his bicycle.

Characters

Main
Character's name Voiced by in the English version Character description
Special Agent Oso Sean Astin The colorful special agent stuffed panda who predominantly works on helping children perform tasks such as blowing bubbles, making a card, or cleaning their rooms; is the main character of the series. His name, Oso, is Spanish for bear. He and his friends work for UNIQUE, which stands for The United Network for the Investigation of Quite Unusual Events.[4]

The show was designed for encouraging and educational purposes.

Paw Pilot Meghan Strange Oso's computerized assistant who guides Oso through the three special steps he needs to accomplish his current mission. When she sings the song that features the codename for his assignment, the backgrounds she appears in are similar to the elaborate title sequences to James Bond films. Her name is a reference to the Palm Pilot series of handheld computers.
Mr. Dos Gary Anthony Williams Oso's Siri-like boss. He is a talking smartwatch that assigns Oso's missions.
Special Agent Wolfie Phill Lewis A blue stuffed wolf; one of the special agent animals that regularly oversee Oso's training.
Special Agent Dotty Amber Hood A spotted orange stuffed cat with a Southern accent; the other special agent animal that regularly oversees Oso's training. It's hinted that she may have feelings for Oso.
Professor Buffo Brad Garrett, later voiced by Jess Harnell A slightly clumsy and excitable Italian-speaking bison who is the inventor of Oso's gadgets. Introduced in the Season 2 episode, From China with Love.
Whirly Bird Cam Clarke Oso's talking bird-shaped autogyro, who takes Oso to wherever someone needs help. He doesn't hear very well and often misunderstands what Oso tells him, which usually leads to Oso's ejection at inopportune moments and places. In "Live and Be Polite", it's revealed that he's ophidiophobic.
R.R. Rapide Oso's French-speaking train. Though his French accent would suggest a TGV, he is likely a reference to the Fastech 360, based on his shape and retractable speedbrake ears.
Special Agent Musa N/A A silent, dark brown squirrel ninja, the master of stealth and speed. Introduced in the Season 2 episode, Table Manners are Forever.
Shutterbug A ladybug-shaped robotic camera, who keeps an eye out for children who need help. She doesn't speak. Appears only in the English and Russian versions.

Guest voices

Additional voices

Broadcast

The first season of Special Agent Oso premiered in the United States and United Kingdom on April 4, 2009, and aired through April 17, 2010; the second and final season premiered on July 10, 2010 and the series finale aired May 17, 2012. In season 2, new characters were introduced, Professor Buffo and Special Agent Musa. The show has a crossover with Handy Manny called "The Manny with the Golden Bear".

References
  1. "TV: Talking with 'Special Agent Oso' creator Ford Riley". Archived from the original on October 9, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  2. ""Special Agent Oso Episode Guide". Big Cartoon DataBase. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  3. Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-1-4766-7293-9.
  4. "Special Agent Oso. Disney Junior Canada. won two". Disney Junior. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
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