Edutainment Show: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
{{Examples Need Sorting}}
{{quote|''"Well, Itchy & Scratchy are gone, but here's a cartoon that tries to make learning ''fun''! ...Sorry about this kids, but stay tuned; we've got some real good toy commercials coming right up, I ''swear''".''|'''Krusty the Clown''', ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''}}
{{quote|''"Well, Itchy & Scratchy are gone, but here's a cartoon that tries to make learning ''fun''! ...Sorry about this kids, but stay tuned; we've got some real good toy commercials coming right up, I ''swear''".''|'''Krusty the Clown'''|''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''}}


As the trope's title implies, the '''Edutainment Show''' combines educational content with entertainment. As such, most shows in this genre are aimed at children; of course, some more mature fare may fit this definition, such as ''[[MythBusters]]''. [[Cooking Show]]s, [[Science Show]]s, [[Nature Show]]s, and other [[TV Documentary]] formats (especially [[Docu Drama]] programs) may also count, if they are entertaining enough. Additionally, the definition has become somewhat blurred - these days networks often pass children's programs in particular as "edutainment," when their only actual educational content is pro-social themes, such as "work together as a team", "[["Reading Is Cool" Aesop]]" or "be a good friend to others."
As the trope's title implies, the '''Edutainment Show''' combines educational content with entertainment. As such, most shows in this genre are aimed at children; of course, some more mature fare may fit this definition, such as ''[[MythBusters]]''. [[Cooking Show]]s, [[Science Show]]s, [[Nature Show]]s, and other [[TV Documentary]] formats (especially [[Docu Drama]] programs) may also count, if they are entertaining enough. Additionally, the definition has become somewhat blurred - these days networks often pass children's programs in particular as "edutainment," when their only actual educational content is pro-social themes, such as "work together as a team", "[["Reading Is Cool" Aesop]]" or "be a good friend to others."
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Many '''Edutainment Shows''' appear on PBS, the most famous example being ''[[Sesame Street]]''. Nickelodeon also has had quite a few in their "[[Nick Jr.]]" block, such as ''[[Blue's Clues|Blues Clues]]'' and ''[[Dora the Explorer]]'', as do specialized fact-oriented cable networks as The Learning Channel, Noggin, the many Discovery channels, the History Channel, and Animal Planet.
Many '''Edutainment Shows''' appear on PBS, the most famous example being ''[[Sesame Street]]''. Nickelodeon also has had quite a few in their "[[Nick Jr.]]" block, such as ''[[Blue's Clues|Blues Clues]]'' and ''[[Dora the Explorer]]'', as do specialized fact-oriented cable networks as The Learning Channel, Noggin, the many Discovery channels, the History Channel, and Animal Planet.


In the United States, since 1990, networks are required to have 3 hours of educational material a week; the tag "E/I" (for "Educational/Informative") was created to denote such shows (though in the case of stations carrying [[Saved by the Bell]], the rules are susceptible to [[Loophole Abuse]] if [[An Aesop]] is fit into the show in just the right way, and they can count as E/I). Now you know what the [[And Knowing Is Half the Battle]] is referring to.
In the United States, since 1990, networks are required to have three hours of educational material a week; the tag "E/I" (for "Educational/Informative") was created to denote such shows (though in the case of stations carrying ''[[Saved by the Bell]]'', the rules are susceptible to [[Loophole Abuse]] if [[An Aesop]] is fit into the show in just the right way, and they can count as E/I). Now you know what the [[And Knowing Is Half the Battle]] is referring to.


For the [[Video Game]] counterpart see [[Edutainment Game]].
For the [[Video Game]] counterpart see [[Edutainment Game]].


{{examples}}
{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* As you might expect from the title, ''[[Cells at Work!]]'' teaches viewers/readers which cells the human body has and what the jobs of these cells are.
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* ''[[GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class]]'' has definite elements of this; there are whole episodes spent on explaining various graphic techniques.
⚫
* ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' teaches history and a little bit about culture between (often with) all the [[Ho Yay]] and gags. (Although the manga's depiction of Korea has sparked controversy in [[South Korea]].)

== Comic Books ==
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* [[Anselme Lanturlu]] (French edutainment ''comic'')

== Live-Action TV ==
* [[3-2-1 Contact]]
* [[3-2-1 Contact]]

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* [[3-2-1 Penguins!|321 Penguins]]
== Puppet Shows ==
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* Baby Einstein

== Radio ==
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* [[The Archers]] was originally conceived as a way to make British farms more productive by teaching good practice; it's long since [[Genre Shift|outgrown this]] and become a straight [[Soap Opera]], but still [[Shown Their Work|takes pride in the accuracy of its farming-related storylines]], retaining an "Agricultural Story Editor" for this purpose.

== Western Animation ==
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* [[3-2-1 Penguins!]]
* [[Adventures from the Book of Virtues]]
* [[Adventures from the Book of Virtues]]
* [[Amazing Animals]]
* [[Amazing Animals]]
* [[Angelina Ballerina]]
* [[Angelina Ballerina]]
⚫
* [[Animal Armageddon]]
* Arguably, [[Animaniacs]], which featured many educational songs and skits as well as famous historical figures and cultural icons of past eras, all for the Warners to gleefully abuse.
* Arguably, [[Animaniacs]], which featured many educational songs and skits as well as famous historical figures and cultural icons of past eras, all for the Warners to gleefully abuse.
* [[Anne of Green Gables]]: The Animated Series.
⚫
* [[Anselme Lanturlu]] (French edutainment ''comic'')
⚫
* [[The Archers]] was originally conceived as a way to make British farms more productive by teaching good practice; it's long since [[Genre Shift|outgrown this]] and become a straight [[Soap Opera]], but still [[Shown Their Work|takes pride in the accuracy of its farming-related storylines]], retaining an "Agricultural Story Editor" for this purpose.
* [[Arthur (animation)|Arthur]] - This program also [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshades]] this trope with an in-universe example. Buster claims that a program that he's making is going to be "edutainment." The characters respond to this with an "ew." The chapter-book adaptation of that episode goes even further, with Brain stating that edutainment is supposed to be a blend of education and entertainment, but often ends up being the worst of both.
* [[Arthur (animation)|Arthur]] - This program also [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshades]] this trope with an in-universe example. Buster claims that a program that he's making is going to be "edutainment." The characters respond to this with an "ew." The chapter-book adaptation of that episode goes even further, with Brain stating that edutainment is supposed to be a blend of education and entertainment, but often ends up being the worst of both.

⚫
* ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' teaches history and a little bit about culture between (often with) all the [[Ho Yay]] and gags. (Although the manga's depiction of Korea has sparked controversy in [[South Korea]].)
== '''UNSORTED''' ==
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* Baby Einstein
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* [[Animal Armageddon]]
* [[Anne of Green Gables]]: The Animated Series.{{context|reason=Which 'Anne' animated series? The Canadian one or the Japanese one?}}
* [[The Backyardigans]]
* [[The Backyardigans]]
* [[Barney and Friends]]
* [[Barney and Friends]]
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* [[Bob the Builder]]
* [[Bob the Builder]]
* [[Brain Games]]: HBO's take on the learning program, and it was even marketed on VHS tapes in a period when television programs on home video was an exception, not a rule.
* [[Brain Games]]: HBO's take on the learning program, and it was even marketed on VHS tapes in a period when television programs on home video was an exception, not a rule.
* [[Brainiac: Science Abuse]]...sometimes.
* [[Brainiac: Science Abuse]]... sometimes.{{context}}
* [[Brain POP]]
* [[Brain POP]]
* [[Bubble Guppies]]
* [[Bubble Guppies]]
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* [[Cosmic Quantum Ray]]
* [[Cosmic Quantum Ray]]
* [[Cyberchase]]
* [[Cyberchase]]
* [[Deadliest Warrior]] gets into the nitty gritty of history: wars, different warriors, how they fought, and their weapons. Controversy or no, they dig up the most brutal aspects of humanity and pit them together in all their bloody glory.
* [[Deadliest Warrior]] gets into the nitty-gritty of history: wars, different warriors, how they fought, and their weapons. Controversy or no, they dig up the most brutal aspects of humanity and pit them together in all their bloody glory.
* [[Destinos]]: An Introduction To Spanish
* [[Destinos]]: An Introduction To Spanish
* [[Didou]]: Step-by-step instructions on drawing various items.
* [[Didou]]: Step-by-step instructions on drawing various items.
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* [[Food Detectives]]: An attempt to do for foodstuffs what [[MythBusters]] does for high explosives.
* [[Food Detectives]]: An attempt to do for foodstuffs what [[MythBusters]] does for high explosives.
* [[Franklin]]
* [[Franklin]]
* [[Franny's Feet|Frannys Feet]]
* [[Franny's Feet]]
* ''[[The Fresh Beat Band]]''
* ''[[The Fresh Beat Band]]''
* [[The Funny Company]]
* [[The Funny Company]]
⚫
* ''[[GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class]]'' has definite elements of this; there are whole episodes spent on explaining various graphic techniques.
* [[Good Eats]]: Half [[Cooking Show]], half straight-up Edutainment Show. Alton prefers to educate the viewer on food science and cooking theory, rather than simply giving out recipes as most TV chefs do.
* [[Good Eats]]: Half [[Cooking Show]], half straight-up Edutainment Show. Alton prefers to educate the viewer on food science and cooking theory, rather than simply giving out recipes as most TV chefs do.
* [[Gordon The Garden Gnome]]
* [[Gordon The Garden Gnome]]
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* [[Histeria!]]
* [[Histeria!]]
* ''[[Horrible Histories (TV series)|Horrible Histories]]''
* ''[[Horrible Histories (TV series)|Horrible Histories]]''
* [[How It's Made|How Its Made]]
* [[How It's Made]]
* [[Humf]]
* [[Humf]]
* [[Infinity Limited]]
* [[Infinity Limited]]
* [[It's a Big Big World]]
* [[It's a Big Big World]]
* [[Jake and the Never Land Pirates|Jake and The Neverland Pirates]]
* [[Jake and the Never Land Pirates]]
* [[Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks|Jakers the Adventures of Piggley Winks]]
* [[Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks]]
* [[James May's Man Lab|James Mays Man Lab]]
* [[James May's Man Lab]]
* [[Jay Jay the Jet Plane]]
* [[Jay Jay the Jet Plane]]
* [[Jelly Jamm]]
* [[Jelly Jamm]]
* [[Jurassic Fight Club]]: Because [[Everything's Better with Dinosaurs]]
* [[Jurassic Fight Club]]: Because [[Everything's Better with Dinosaurs]]
* [[Kratts' Creatures]]
* [[Kratts' Creatures]]
* [[Lamb Chop's Play Along|Lamb Chops Play Along]]
* [[Lamb Chop's Play Along]]
* [[LeapFrog (animation)|Leap Frog]] Learning DVDs.
* [[LeapFrog (animation)|Leap Frog]] Learning DVDs.
* [[The Lebrons (web animation)|The Lebrons]]: A modern day Fat Albert.
* [[The Lebrons (web animation)|The Lebrons]]: A new-millennium ''Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids''.
* [[The Letter People]]: A puppet show that teaches phonics with surprisingly developed characters.
* [[The Letter People]]: A puppet show that teaches phonics with surprisingly developed characters.
* [[Liberty's Kids]]: A surprisingly sophisticated show that teaches about [[The American Revolution]].
* [[Liberty's Kids]]: A surprisingly sophisticated show that teaches about [[The American Revolution]].
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* [[Madeline]] (on the moral side only, show contains lots of factual mistakes)
* [[Madeline]] (on the moral side only, show contains lots of factual mistakes)
* [[The Magic School Bus]]
* [[The Magic School Bus]]
* [[Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies|Mama Mirabelles Home Movies]]
* [[Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies]]
* [[Martha Speaks]]
* [[Martha Speaks]]
* [[Maya and Miguel]]
* [[Maya and Miguel]]
* [[Mentors (TV series)|Mentors]]
* [[Mentors (TV series)|Mentors]]
* [[Mickey Mouse Clubhouse]]
* [[Mickey Mouse Clubhouse]]
* [[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood|Mister Rogers Neighborhood]]
* [[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]
* Mr. Wizard's World
* Mr. Wizard's World
* [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]] is of the pro-social type - although occasionally larger words or terms that the younger audience probably won't understand, such as "tardy" or "hibernation", are defined (in-context). Interesitngly, the first season carried an E/I rating, but the second season has dropped it.
* [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]] is of the pro-social type - although occasionally larger words or terms that the younger audience probably won't understand, such as "tardy" or "hibernation", are defined (in-context). Interestingly, the first season carried an E/I rating, but the second season has dropped it.
* [[MythBusters]] spells out how the myths are tested, so you can learn quite a bit from that show, in the middle of [[Stuff Blowing Up]].
* [[MythBusters]] spells out how the myths are tested, so you can learn quite a bit from that show, in the middle of [[Stuff Blowing Up]].
* [[New Zoo Revue]]: 1970s children's show.
* [[New Zoo Revue]]: 1970s children's show.
* [[Newtons Apple]]
* [[Newtons Apple]]
* [[Ni Hao, Kai-Lan|Ni Hao Kai Lan]]
* [[Ni Hao, Kai-Lan]]
* [[Numb3rs]]
* [[Numb3rs]]
* [[Oz and James]]'s ''Big Wine Adventure'' and ''Drink to Britain'' aim to give the curious adult the basic tools for appreciating wine and other drink while following an [[Odd Couple]] of middle-aged blokes around on thinly-veiled drinking holidays.
* [[Oz and James]]'s ''Big Wine Adventure'' and ''Drink to Britain'' aim to give the curious adult the basic tools for appreciating wine and other drink while following an [[Odd Couple]] of middle-aged blokes around on thinly-veiled drinking holidays.
* [[The Pajanimals]]
* [[The Pajanimals]]
* [[PB&J Otter|PB and J Otter]]
* [[PB&J Otter]]
* [[Penn and Teller Bullshit]]
* [[Penn & Teller: Bullshit!]]
* [[Penn and Teller Tell a Lie]]
* [[Penn and Teller Tell a Lie]]
* [[PJ Katie's Farm|PJ Katies Farm]]
* [[PJ Katie's Farm]]
* [[Pororo the Little Penguin]]
* [[Pororo the Little Penguin]]
* [[Postman Pat]]
* [[Postman Pat]]
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* [[Reading Rainbow]]
* [[Reading Rainbow]]
* [[Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat]]
* [[Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat]]
* [[Schoolhouse Rock]]: Animated shorts, set to music, that would play between [[Saturday Morning Cartoon|Saturday morning cartoons]] on [[ABC]].
* [[Schoolhouse Rock]]: Animated shorts, set to music, that would play between [[Saturday Morning Cartoon|Saturday morning cartoons]] on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].
* [[Science Court]]
* [[Science Court]]
* The newly started [[Sci Show]], hosted by [[Vlog Brothers|Hank Green]].
* The newly started [[Sci Show]], hosted by [[Vlog Brothers|Hank Green]].
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* [[Storm Chasers]]
* [[Storm Chasers]]
* [[Storylords]]
* [[Storylords]]
* [[Super Why!|Super Why]]
* [[Super Why!]]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312022/ Time Warp]
* [[Time Warp]]
* [[Today's Special|Todays Special]]
* [[Today's Special]]
* [[Team Umizoomi]]
* [[Team Umizoomi]]
* [[Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales]] is an early example of this trope, being created in response to the "TV is a vast wasteland" speech.
* [[Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales]] is an early example of this trope, being created in response to the "TV is a vast wasteland" speech.
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* [[Unnatural History]] occasionally bases its episodes on history like Sputnik, the Pony Express, and the history of vikings in America. Unfortunately, the line between fact and fiction gets a bit murky (most likely to encourage kids and teens to do some research themselves).
* [[Unnatural History]] occasionally bases its episodes on history like Sputnik, the Pony Express, and the history of vikings in America. Unfortunately, the line between fact and fiction gets a bit murky (most likely to encourage kids and teens to do some research themselves).
* [[Veggie Tales]]
* [[Veggie Tales]]
* [[Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?|Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego]] (based on the series of [[Edutainment Game]]s)
* [[Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?]] (based on the series of [[Edutainment Game]]s)
* [[Wilbur]]
* [[Wilbur]]
* [[Wild Kratts]]
* [[Wild Kratts]]
* [[Wimzie's House|Wimzies House]]
* [[Wimzie's House]]
* [[Wishbone]]
* [[Wishbone]]
* [[Word Girl]]
* [[Word Girl]]
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
⚫
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Show Genres]]
[[Category:Show Genres]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Index]]
⚫
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Latest revision as of 18:08, 11 April 2024
"Well, Itchy & Scratchy are gone, but here's a cartoon that tries to make learning fun! ...Sorry about this kids, but stay tuned; we've got some real good toy commercials coming right up, I swear".
—Krusty the Clown, The Simpsons

As the trope's title implies, the Edutainment Show combines educational content with entertainment. As such, most shows in this genre are aimed at children; of course, some more mature fare may fit this definition, such as MythBusters. Cooking Shows, Science Shows, Nature Shows, and other TV Documentary formats (especially Docu Drama programs) may also count, if they are entertaining enough. Additionally, the definition has become somewhat blurred - these days networks often pass children's programs in particular as "edutainment," when their only actual educational content is pro-social themes, such as "work together as a team", ""Reading Is Cool" Aesop" or "be a good friend to others."

Many Edutainment Shows appear on PBS, the most famous example being Sesame Street. Nickelodeon also has had quite a few in their "Nick Jr." block, such as Blues Clues and Dora the Explorer, as do specialized fact-oriented cable networks as The Learning Channel, Noggin, the many Discovery channels, the History Channel, and Animal Planet.

In the United States, since 1990, networks are required to have three hours of educational material a week; the tag "E/I" (for "Educational/Informative") was created to denote such shows (though in the case of stations carrying Saved by the Bell, the rules are susceptible to Loophole Abuse if An Aesop is fit into the show in just the right way, and they can count as E/I). Now you know what the And Knowing Is Half the Battle is referring to.

For the Video Game counterpart see Edutainment Game.

Examples of Edutainment Show include:

Anime and Manga

  • As you might expect from the title, Cells at Work! teaches viewers/readers which cells the human body has and what the jobs of these cells are.
  • GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class has definite elements of this; there are whole episodes spent on explaining various graphic techniques.
  • Axis Powers Hetalia teaches history and a little bit about culture between (often with) all the Ho Yay and gags. (Although the manga's depiction of Korea has sparked controversy in South Korea.)

Comic Books

Live-Action TV

Puppet Shows

  • Baby Einstein

Radio

Western Animation

  • 3-2-1 Penguins!
  • Adventures from the Book of Virtues
  • Amazing Animals
  • Angelina Ballerina
  • Arguably, Animaniacs, which featured many educational songs and skits as well as famous historical figures and cultural icons of past eras, all for the Warners to gleefully abuse.
  • Arthur - This program also Lampshades this trope with an in-universe example. Buster claims that a program that he's making is going to be "edutainment." The characters respond to this with an "ew." The chapter-book adaptation of that episode goes even further, with Brain stating that edutainment is supposed to be a blend of education and entertainment, but often ends up being the worst of both.

UNSORTED

Statler: Say, Waldorf, do you think this show counts as edutainment?
Waldorf: Don't see why not. After all, it encourages people to quit watching and read books!
Together: Doh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!

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