Learning Curve
- Studio
- Funbag Animation Studios, Helix Animation Inc., IMX Production, Lynn Johnston Productions
Synopsis
Life lessons. Lynn discusses the growth of the characters in "For Better or For Worse," and how events or sets of circumstances act as catalysts which force the characters to gain an insight or understanding that takes them another step closer to maturity.
"The Early Years" sequence: "Movie Magic": Michael learns a hard lesson about the reality of movie magic while keeping the magic of imagination alive for Elizabeth.
"The Growing Years" sequence: "Buddies": Michael avoids spending time with his grandfather in order to hang with his friends and find Gordon a date. However, the new girl, Hannah, leads him to a new respect for his grandfather's life.
"The Later Years" sequence: "Learning Curve": Elizabeth's friend Candace temporarily moves in, and learns that family love includes limits and rules.
"The Early Years" sequence: "Movie Magic": Michael learns a hard lesson about the reality of movie magic while keeping the magic of imagination alive for Elizabeth.
"The Growing Years" sequence: "Buddies": Michael avoids spending time with his grandfather in order to hang with his friends and find Gordon a date. However, the new girl, Hannah, leads him to a new respect for his grandfather's life.
"The Later Years" sequence: "Learning Curve": Elizabeth's friend Candace temporarily moves in, and learns that family love includes limits and rules.
Characters
John Patterson, Elly Patterson, Michael Patterson, Elizabeth Patterson, April Patterson, Gordon, Hannah, Grandpa Jim (Richards), Candace
Credits
Voices
- Voice
- Lynn Johnston (Elly Patterson), Jayne Eastwood (Mrs. Dingle)
Crew
- Character Design Supervisor
- Lynn Johnston
Production notes
Based on the comic strip "For Better or For Worse" by Lynn Johnston.
Characters are thinly based on the family of cartoonist Lynn Johnston. (John is the middle name of Johnston's husband; Michael and Elizabeth are the middle names of her children; Elly was a close friend who had died.)
The comic strip on which this series is based is one of very few in which characters age in real time. "Birthdates" of the Pattersons: 1949 (John), 1951 (Elly), April 28, 1976 (Michael), June 26, 1981 (Elizabeth), April 1, 1991 (April). Edgar the dog was "born" to Farley and Sera in 1994. Farley "died" in April 1995.
Live-action segments are combined with six-minute animated shorts and 30-second themed bumpers. Johnston appears (in live action) at her drawing board at the beginning of each episode.
Each episode has a unifying theme. However, the show is divided into three different stages of the Pattersons' lives: "The Early Years," when the kids were very young, "The Growing Years," when they were not so young, and "The Later Years," when the kids headed off to college.
Behind-the-scenes shots of the making of the animated series (shown as a backdrop to the credits) round out the program.
Characters are thinly based on the family of cartoonist Lynn Johnston. (John is the middle name of Johnston's husband; Michael and Elizabeth are the middle names of her children; Elly was a close friend who had died.)
The comic strip on which this series is based is one of very few in which characters age in real time. "Birthdates" of the Pattersons: 1949 (John), 1951 (Elly), April 28, 1976 (Michael), June 26, 1981 (Elizabeth), April 1, 1991 (April). Edgar the dog was "born" to Farley and Sera in 1994. Farley "died" in April 1995.
Live-action segments are combined with six-minute animated shorts and 30-second themed bumpers. Johnston appears (in live action) at her drawing board at the beginning of each episode.
Each episode has a unifying theme. However, the show is divided into three different stages of the Pattersons' lives: "The Early Years," when the kids were very young, "The Growing Years," when they were not so young, and "The Later Years," when the kids headed off to college.
Behind-the-scenes shots of the making of the animated series (shown as a backdrop to the credits) round out the program.