Tree Fu Tom is a British live-action/CGI television series shown on BBC channels in the UK and Universal Kids and NBC in the USA. It is set in a miniature magical countryside and village area (Treetopolis) on the top a big tree in a British-type woodland. Many of its characters are anthropomorphised arthropods, and it features species of insect which are raised and controlled like cattle on a ranch: aphids, ladybirds, and a rhinoceros beetle. The programme is aimed at two- to six-year-olds.
72 episodes were produced across five series, premiering in 2012 and ending in 2016. Tree Fu Tom is also available on BBC iPlayer for over a year.
The series features a number of voice actors who have appeared in Doctor Who. Sophie Aldred (who voices the animated Tom) played Seventh Doctor companion Ace and David Tennant (who voices Twigs in Series 1 and 2) was the Tenth Doctor. The actor who plays Tom in the live-action opening and closing sections of the show, Adam Henderson, is Sophie Aldred's son.
The character of Twigs was recast from Series 3 and played by Mark Bonnar, who has also been in Doctor Who, playing Jimmy and his "ganger" duplicate in the two-parter The Rebel Flesh and The Almost People.
Premise
In each episode, Tom comes out of his house, puts on a power belt, and runs across his lawn towards a crooked tree in the woods protected by a magic shield. Using the power belt, he performs some Tree Fu moves, jumps up, shrinks to insect size as he flies into the tree, and enters the world of Treetopolis. He is skilled in that world's magic, and often gets characters out of scrapes. Some of the characters are four of Tom's friends, Twigs, Squirmtum, Ariela, and Zigzoo. The tree's sap is shown as a glowing orange magic liquid.
At least twice in each episode, Tom has to call on "the big world" for magical help: breaking the fourth wall. As a host, he asks his viewers to make magical moves and say magical words to assist him. The magical power is shown as an orange glow that appears offscreen and flies towards Tom, who uses it to complete the spell.
The movements which the audience are called on to make are particularly beneficial for the development of children with developmental coordination disorder.
The scenario includes magical hoverboards (called "leaf boards"), a sport called Squizzle and many sorts of cakes and snacks that the inhabitants of Treetopolis like to eat.
At the end of each episode, Tom says goodbye to his friends and flies out of the tree's magic field. Back in the normal world, Tom flies up and says to his viewers before he gets back to the surface: "Thanks for helping me in Treetopolis. See you soon for another adventure! Bye for now!" Tom runs out of the woods, across his back lawn, and in through his back door before the credits play.
Purpose
The series was developed in conjunction with the Dyspraxia Foundation with the aim of promoting movement. Foundation specialists Sally Payne and Dr Lynda Foulder-Hughes worked with the series creators to develop the movements Tree Fu Tom uses to create magic. Five percent of children have developmental coordination disorder, and these movements are similar to those used by occupational therapists to help child development. It is also hoped that the spells will help get exercise into the lives of young children.
Characters
Tom (voiced by Sophie Aldred in the UK and Lucien Dodge in the US, live actor Adam Henderson) is the main character, and a host. He uses a magical belt to transport into Treetopolis and cast spells with help from the 'big world'. Though he is usually the best at spells, he is a kind, optimistic and modest character and often has to turn to his friends for advice when things go wrong. His popular catchphrases are "Tree Fu Go!", "Oh My Trees!" and "Thanks for your help!" where he shows his viewers how to do the 'big world' magic spell segment.
Twigs (voiced by David Tennant in series 1-2, and Mark Bonnar in series 3-5) is a silly and energetic Scottish acorn sprite who is Tom's sidekick and best friend, and frenemy of Chezz, who he usually encounters conflict. His catchphrases are "I am a Genius", "We're Doomed!" and "Wowzers!". He even turns into an acorn when he's hiding.
Zigzoo (voiced by Tim Whitnall in series 1-4, and David Holt in series 5) is an eccentric tree frog who is the local inventor at Treetopolis, though not all of his inventions work out quite as well as he (or others) hope. Though it has never officially been confessed, certain episodes seem to suggest he may have a crush on Ariela. One of his catchphrases is "Oh Ribbety Roo".