The Busy World of Richard Scarry

Overview

The series takes place in the fictional city of Busytown and mainly stars Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm and many of the other residents of Busytown. Every character in the series is an anthropomorphic animal, most commonly pigs, foxes, breeds of dogs, mice, rabbits, goats, and cats.

Each episode always features a conflict (which is eventually resolved in the end). However, episodes featuring other anthropomorphic animals, like Couscous catching Pépé le Gangstaire and his dirty rats, Sam and Dudley, Sneef and Sniff, Cucumber and Pickles, etc. have taken place outside of Busytown in other places around the world. There were also outside of Busytown episodes that detail that show's history of certain things like the different prehistoric inventions done by cave pigs, the witnessing of the first printing press, the discovery of America, the formation of the Olympic Games, the invention of macaroni, the invention of the first hot air balloon, the painting of the Sistine Chapel, the invention of the first horseless carriage, the first Halloween, and the creation of the first Easter egg.

Episodes

The writers credit are as they appear on screen credits. At least 12 episodes credited to Thomas LaPierre on-screen were actually written by American writer David Ehrman.

Season 2 (1995)

Every episode this season was directed by Greg Bailey.

Season 3 (1995)

Every episode this season was directed by Marcos Da Silva.

Season 4 (1995)

Every episode this season was directed by Marcos Da Silva.

Season 5 (1996)

Every episode this season was directed by Nadja Cozic.

Cast

Sonja Ball as Huckle Cat, additional voices

Keith Knight as Lowly Worm, Harry Hyena, Snozzle, Able Baker Charlie, Soybean Goat, additional voices

Additional voices

The rest of the cast were listed under this in the end credits:

Michael Caloz as Kenny Bear (late season 3), Vanderbuilt Gronkle, Robby Lion, Pig Will (season 5)

Len Carlson as Mr. Frumble, Mr. Gronkle, Mayor Fox, additional voices

Tara Charendoff as Lynnie Raccoon (season 5), Abe, additional voices

William Colgate as additional voices

Don Dickinson as additional voices

Cathy Gallant as Hilda Hippo, P.S. Pig, Thump, Deputy Flo, additional voices

Paulina Gillis as Pip Pip, additional voices (uncredited)

Paul Haddad as additional voices

Keith Hampshire as additional voices

Julie Lemieux as Russ, additional voices

Judy Marshak as Fiona Cat, additional voices

Tara Meyer as Sally Cat, additional voices

Jeremy Ratchford as Bananas Gorilla, additional voices

Susan Roman as Cucumber, Professor Dog, April Rhino, Squirty Humperdink, additional voices (uncredited)

Stuart Stone as Kenny Bear (seasons 1–3), Pig Will (seasons 1–3), Pig Won't, Manuel (uncredited)

Home releases

On July 27, 2010, Mill Creek Entertainment released The Busy World of Richard Scarry: Every Day There's Something New on DVD in Region 1 (US only). This 3-disc set features the first 30 episodes of the series which includes bonus episodes of Busytown Mysteries, Wimzie's House and Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings. On July 19, 2011, Mill Creek released The Busy World of Richard Scarry: Fun in Busytown!, a 4-disc set that features the remaining 35 episodes of the series which includes bonus episodes of Busytown Mysteries, Paddington, A Bunch of Munsch, Old MacDonald's Sing-a-Long Farm and The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures.

On August 4, 2015, Mill Creek Entertainment released The Busy World of Richard Scarry - The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 which includes bonus episodes of Busytown Mysteries, Wimzie's House and Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings.

Music

Most of the music was written by two composers. The theme song was written by Sara Zahn and composed by Milan Kymlicka, while the underscore was composed and conducted by Laurent Petitgirard and Steve Wener. Several other composers contributed to several educational shorts in the series.