Beat Bugs (2016)
Jay, Kumi, Crick, Buzz, and Walter are best friends who band together to explore and learn in an overgrown suburban backyard, which to them is their entire universe. Each episode of this animated series features songs by The Beatles performed by artists including Daniel Johns, Robbie Williams and Pink to tell uplifting and life-affirming stories filled with hope and melody.
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Episode 1 - Yellow Submarine
Release Date: 2016-11-18When the garden floods, the Beat Bugs turn an old bottle into a submarine. Jay and Walter butt heads over a game of Bug ball.
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Episode 2 - I Call Your Name
Release Date: 2016-11-18After a game of bugball, Walter and Jay have an argument about their gameplay, and refuse to talk to each other. The others stage an elaborate ruse to help them make amends. The pair resolve their differences and learn to play as a team.
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Episode 3 - With a Little Help From My Friends
Release Date: 2016-11-18Buzz is inspired by Walter to create a stage spectacular of her own, designed for all of the Beat Bugs to enjoy. However, when she won't accept help from anyone, the show doesn't go as planned. Buzz learns the importance of getting help from friends when they help her stage an even better performance.
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Episode 4 - Get Back
Release Date: 2016-11-18After Jay accidentally ruins his friends' work at the village art show, he runs away to a farm, feeling embarrassed and ashamed. The bugs go after Jay to let him know they forgive his mistake. He apologizes and returns home.
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Episode 5 - Mr Moonlight
Release Date: 2016-11-18Crick recalls the time that Mr. Moonlight disappeared after believing that the Beat Bugs liked Mr. Sun more than him. With the night left in total darkness, the bugs banded together to let the moon know that he was appreciated. Mr. Moonlight returned to the village, and hasn't gone away since.
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Episode 6 - There's a Place
Release Date: 2016-11-18When Crick doesn't win any medals at the annual Bug Games, he feels disappointed and untalented. But when the backyard cat threatens to ruin the award ceremony, Crick saves the day using his own special talents and wins the Bug of the Games award.
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Episode 7 - We Can Work it Out
Release Date: 2016-11-18During a mountain climbing competition, Jay and Walter have a disagreement when Walter believes Jay is pushing him too hard and Jay thinks Walter isn't trying hard enough. Jay then tries to climb the mountain without his partner, but when he has an accidental fall, he and Walter learn how to use each other's talents to work as a team.
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Episode 8 - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Release Date: 2016-11-18Walter longs for a performer for a friend, and feels at home when the circus, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, comes to town. Walter is invited to assist in the ringmaster duties, and, impressed with his talent, Sgt. Pepper asks him to take over the role permanently. Walter decides to leave with the circus, but is in turn convinced by the Beat Bugs to stay.
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Episode 9 - Christmas Time is Here Again
Release Date: 2016-11-18It's Christmas time and Buzz has her heart set on meeting Christmas Beetle, after she sends him a letter requesting a visit. The Beat Bugs try to keep Buzz awake on Christmas eve to help her fulfill her wish. They all fall asleep and miss seeing Christmas Beetle, however in the morning, Buzz tracks down her hero and her wish comes true.
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Episode 10 - Drive My Car
Release Date: 2016-11-18The bugs meet a remote-controlled car named Dee-structor, who has no idea who controls him, and is saddened by this lack of power and choice. Crick breaks off the car's antenna and allows Dee-structor to finally take control of himself.
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Episode 11 - Tomorrow Never Knows
Release Date: 2016-11-18Julia loses her rainbow brooch in the backyard and the bugs set off to find it. Once Kumi spots it, the friends use the ornament as a boat to sail back to the Big House across puddles of rain. They then leave the brooch in the garden for Julia to find.
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Episode 12 - Nowhere Man
Release Date: 2016-11-18On their way to go camping, the Beat Bugs lose their map and become lost. While searching for the map, the friends meet the elusive Nowhere Man, who turns out to be a worm named Warren, who is not as scary as he once seemed. Warren helps the bugs find their way home.
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Episode 13 - Strawberry Fields Forever
Release Date: 2016-11-18While in the strawberry fields, the bugs warn a trio of hungry mynah birds not to eat too much, as they fear there might not be enough strawberries to last forever. The friends think of a plan, involving a scarecrow, to send the birds away and save the fields.
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Episode 14 - The Fool on the Hill
Release Date: 2016-11-18The friends find a garden gnome on the hill which they believe is alive. Cockroach secretly pretends to be the gnome by giving the ornament a voice, in an attempt to scam the Beat Bugs into finding food for him. Sceptical, Kumi discovers Cockroach and tricks him into revealing his deceit.
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Episode 15 - And Your Bird Can Sing
Release Date: 2016-11-18Jay decides to visit the Big House for his holiday while the other bugs explore the Wonders of the Village. However, when neither of the expeditions go as planned, Blackbird helps Jay finally see the house up close.
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Episode 16 - I'll Follow the Sun
Release Date: 2016-11-18Kumi is upset when she finds out that Blackbird's wing has healed and she will be leaving the garden to rejoin her flock. Kumi tries to get her friend to stay, but later realises that Blackbird belongs with her flock and she must say goodbye.
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Episode 17 - Hello Goodbye
Release Date: 2016-11-18A human drops his mobile phone in the backyard, leaving the bugs fascinated by the device. They try to work out what it is, before Kumi inadvertently answers a call, helping the friends to learn what the phone can do. The human finds his phone and the bugs decide to make their own communication device.
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Episode 18 - Got to Get You Into My Life
Release Date: 2016-11-18Feeling like he doesn't share any interests with his friends, Walter he finds comfort in "befriending" an inanimate ball. The other bugs discover that the ball is a lost toy of Bulldog's which has been missing. Walter returns the ball to the dog and reunites with his real friends.
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Episode 19 - Eleanor Rigby
Release Date: 2016-11-18A duo of filmmaking flies arrive to capture footage of an elusive creature, rumoured to be named Eleanor Rigby, who has been roaming the village. In a moment of truth, the figure turns out to be Kumi, but the filmmakers are disheartened that they have not found the "real" Eleanor Rigby. The flies vow to continue their search.
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Episode 20 - I'm So Tired
Release Date: 2016-11-18The Mudwasps are renovating their home and the noise is keeping the Beat Bugs awake at night, so the friends volunteer to lend a hand in the constructions. The bugs make a mess of the house, but the Mudwasps love it anyway, leaving them all free to get some sleep.
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Episode 21 - Hey Bulldog
Release Date: 2016-11-18Crick uses a speech decoding machine to find out more about his new friend Bulldog. The bugs discover he is a stray and has dreams of becoming a sheepdog. The humans of the Big House decide to keep Bulldog as a pet, who is beyond pleased to become a guard dog for the family.
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Episode 22 - I'm Happy Just to Dance with You
Release Date: 2016-11-18The bugs find an old chess table top in the garbage and decide to use it as the dance floor for a dress-up dance party. Milli Pede and Morgs are hesitant to attend, but Jay helps them find the confidence to step outside of their comfort zones.
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Episode 23 - It Won't Be Long
Release Date: 2016-11-18A human has been gardening in the backyard, and Buzz and Morgs fall into a deep hole in the ground. The other bugs plan to use Doris's rope ladder to get them out, but before they can come to the rescue, Buzz discovers a tunnel which leads the pair out of the hole.
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Episode 24 - Any Time at All
Release Date: 2016-11-18Buzz has an encounter with Meow the cat which leaves her too scared to go outside. The bugs give her a device allowing her to call for their help at any time. However, when Buzz calls upon the bugs' help too much, her friends fail to come to her rescue when a real emergency strikes, leaving Buzz to face the cat alone.
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Episode 25 - Please Mr Postman
Release Date: 2016-11-18Buzz hurts her ankle on the way to the beach and is ordered to bed rest. With Postman Bee's help, the bugs send a letter to Blackbird asking her to help cheer up Buzz with a visit, as she once had a broken wing herself. Blackbird arrives and spends some time with the bugs at the beach.
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Episode 26 - Across the Universe
Release Date: 2016-11-18The bugs' home is at stake when the humans of the house decide to pave the backyard with concrete. The friends float in bubbles up to the Big House to ask Julia to save the garden. As a result, the young girl hears the bugs and convinces her mother to leave the backyard as it is.