Cybergirl
{{Short description|Australian-French children's television series}}
{{hatnote|"Cybergirl" redirects here. For a model who has posed in Playboy's Cyber Club, see Playboy#Online.}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox television
| image = cybergirl.jpg
| caption = DVD cover
| genre = {{Plainlist|
}}
| creator = Jonathan M. Shiff
| director = {{Plainlist|
- Mark Defriest
- Michael Carson
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Ania Stepien
- Craig Horner
- Mark Owen-Taylor
- Jennifer Congram
- Ric Anderson
- Septimus Caton
- Winston Cooper
- Peter Mochrie
- Jovita Shaw
}}
| composer = {{Plainlist|
- Garry McDonald
- Lawrence Stone
}}
| country = {{Plainlist|
- Australia
- France
}}
| language = English
| num_series = 1
| num_episodes = 26
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Jonathan M. Shiff
- Kay Ben M'Rad
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Daniel Scharf
- Jonathan M. Shiff
}}
| location = Brisbane, Australia
| cinematography = Ian 'Thistle' Thorburn
| editor = {{Plainlist|
- Angie Higgins
- Andrew Macneil
}}
| camera =
| runtime = 25 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Pacific Film and Television Commission
- Melbourne Film Office
- Network Ten
- France Animation
- Australian Film Finance Corporation
- New South Wales Film and Television Office (uncredited)
- Australian Children's Television Foundation (uncredited)
- Jonathan M. Shiff Productions
}}
| network = Network Ten
| first_aired = {{Start date|2001|7|21|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2002|1|11|df=y}}
}}
Cybergirl is an Australian-French children's television series that was first broadcast on Network Ten in Australia. The 26-episode series was created by Jonathan M. Shiff, whose previous series include Ocean Girl.{{cite news |date=2000-06-18 |title=Keen teens chase Cybergirl fame |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0FD81B04DC7CCA1A&f=basic |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |accessdate=2024-02-20 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240220074828/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0FD81B04DC7CCA1A&f=basic |archivedate=2024-02-20 }}{{cite news |last=Carbone |first=Suzanne |date=2001-07-19 |title=New teen hero takes on megabytes of action |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1054611683863FDF&f=basic |newspaper=The Age |accessdate=2024-02-20 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240220075124/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1054611683863FDF&f=basic |archivedate=2024-02-20 }}{{cite web |url= https://aso.gov.au/titles/tv/cybergirl-series-1-episode-1/notes/ |url-access= |title= Cybergirl – Series 1 Episode 1 (2000) |last= Burnstock |first= Tammy |author-link= |date= |year= |orig-date= |department= |website= Australian Screen |series= |publisher= National Film and Sound Archive of Australia |agency= |access-date= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= }} It stars Ania Stepien in the title role.{{Citation | last= Hood | first= Danielle | title= Girl power saves day | url= | periodical= Herald Sun | date= 12 August 2001}}{{Citation | last= Nankervis | first= David | title= Cybergirl powers in | url= | periodical= Sunday Mail | date= 22 July 2001}}{{Citation | last= Brygel | first= Jackie | title= My mate the alien | url= | periodical= Herald Sun | date= 25 July 2001}}
Plot
Cybergirl is a Blue superheroine Human Prototype 6000 living under the secret identity of ordinary teenage girl Ashley Campbell. In reality, she is a "Human Prototype 6000" from a distant planet.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
Her powers include super-human strength, super-human speed, and the ability to interface directly with electronic devices and computers; she is also able to physically change her appearance between that of the blue-haired, ethereal-looking Cybergirl and the less conspicuous, mousy-haired Ashley, and can alter her clothing at will.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
She was originally known as the Cyber Replicant Human Prototype 6000, the only one of her model to be built. Not only are her powers far and above that of earlier models, she has a much wider emotional scope than her predecessors. She ran away from her planet of origin in order to explore the beings she was modeled after, namely humans.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
Two other Evil Red Replicants called Isaac and Xanda are sent after her and their sole mission is to destroy her. She lands on Earth in the fictional city of River City, Australia which is modeled on and filmed in Brisbane; nevertheless, "River City" is another popular nickname for Brisbane. She meets Jackson and Hugh Campbell, who take her in, and she adopts the name Cybergirl as her superheroine identity. Jackson calls her "Cy" and she later uses her powers to make herself look more human; this identity is called Ashley, in which she poses as Jackson's cousin and Hugh's niece. The only other person besides Hugh and Jackson to know her identity is Kat, her friend and neighbour.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
She is pursued not only by Xanda and Isaac but also by a powerful software mogul named Rhyss. She is well loved by the populace of River City, however, and she enjoys the approval of Mayor Buxton, whose twin daughters Emerald and Sapphire are big fans of the superheroine. Ironically they snub her, as Ashley, at school.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
Cast
=Main=
- Ania Stepien as Ashley Campbell / Cybergirl
- Craig Horner as Jackson Campbell
- Mark Owen-Taylor as Hugh Campbell
- Jennifer Congram as Xanda
- Ric Anderson as Isaac
- Septimus Caton as Rhyss
- Winston Cooper as Giorgio
- Peter Mochrie as Rick Fontaine
- Jovita Shaw as Kat Fontaine
=Recurring=
- Christine Amor as Mayor Burdette Buxton
- David Vallon as Romirez
- Michelle Atkinson as Anthea
- Jessica Origliasso as Emerald Buxton
- Lisa Origliasso as Sapphire Buxton
- Tony Hawkins as McMurtrie
=Guest=
- John Dommett as Mr. Southerly
- Jason Klarwein as Sales Assistant
- Daniel Amalm as Marco
- Julie Eckersley as Julia
- Damien Garvey as Paramedic
- Remi Broadway as Zak Furnace
Episodes
{{Episode table|background=#000000 |overall=5 |title=17 |director=11 |writer=37 |airdate=10 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = Episode 1
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = David Phillips
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|7|31|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = Episode 2
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = David Phillips
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|8|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = Episode 3
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Barbara Bishop
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|8|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = Episode 4
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Barbara Bishop
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|8|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title = Episode 5
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Helen MacWhirter
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|8|28|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| Title = Episode 6
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Helen MacWhirter
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|4|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| Title = Episode 7
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Everett Deroche
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| Title = Episode 8
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Everett Deroche
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|18|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| Title = Episode 9
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Annie Fox
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|25|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| Title = Episode 10
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Annie Fox
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|2|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| Title = Episode 11
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Peter Kinloch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| Title = Episode 12
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Peter Kinloch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 13
| Title = Episode 13
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Barbara Bishop
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|23|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 14
| Title = Episode 14
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Barbara Bishop
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|30|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 15
| Title = Episode 15
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Annie Fox
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|11|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 16
| Title = Episode 16
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Helen MacWhirter
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|11|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 17
| Title = Episode 17
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Charlie Strachan
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|11|20|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 18
| Title = Episode 18
| DirectedBy = Michael Carson
| WrittenBy = Everett Deroche
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|11|27|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 19
| Title = Episode 19
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Everett Deroche
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|12|4|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 20
| Title = Episode 20
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Annie Fox
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|12|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 21
| Title = Episode 21
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Peter Kinloch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|12|18|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 22
| Title = Episode 22
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Peter Kinloch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|12|25|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 23
| Title = Episode 23
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Barbara Bishop
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|1|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 24
| Title = Episode 24
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = Barbara Bishop
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|1|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 25
| Title = Episode 25
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = David Phillips
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|1|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 26
| Title = Episode 26
| DirectedBy = Mark Defriest
| WrittenBy = David Phillips
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|1|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor =
}}
}}
Home media
Cybergirl was released on DVD on 4 December 2006 as CyberGirl: The Superhero for a New Generation – The Complete Series. The set includes all 26 episodes on 4 DVDs and is Region 0. The release includes making of/behind-the-scenes featurettes created from a period Electronic Press Kit and the packaging makes frequent references to the fact that the series features "before they were famous" appearances by The Veronicas.
Reception
The first episode won the 2001 AFI Award for Best Children's Television Series{{Citation | last= | first= | title= AFI winners | url= | periodical= Herald Sun | date= 17 November 2001}} and was nominated for the 2002 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children's Program.{{Citation | last= Juddery | first= Mark | title=Lighten up for TV's critical cringe | url= | periodical= The Australian | date= 25 April 2002}}
In a negative review, Vicki Englund of The Courier-Mail wrote, "After a disappointingly slow debut episode, this Brisbane-based children's series seems to be gathering momentum, although some quickening of the pace would still be advisable to keep the young'uns from channel-surfing."{{cite news |last=Englund |first=Vicki |date=2001-08-11 |title=Life |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0FD7D86EA6405696&f=basic |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |accessdate=2024-02-20 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240220074829/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0FD7D86EA6405696&f=basic |archivedate=2024-02-20 }} The Courier-Mail{{'}}s Amelia Oberhardt praised the show, stating, "Cybergirl is, surprisingly, an entertaining way to spend 30 minutes. ... We can only assume Cybergirl is a spoof and is therefore more than a bit of fun. Ania Stephen, who plays Cybergirl, is either one of the most wooden actors of all time or a genius at playing spoofs."{{cite news |last=Oberhardt |first=Amelia |date=2001-07-17 |title=E-Mail |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0FD788DBC7F17514&f=basic |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |accessdate=2024-02-20 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240220074853/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0FD788DBC7F17514&f=basic |archivedate=2024-02-20 }} Leanne Younes of the Canberra Times gave it a rating of "Fast action, great make-up and cool music."{{Citation | last= Younes | first= Leanne | title= Cyber adventures for young sci-fi fans | url= | periodical= The Canberra Times | date= 27 August 2001}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.australiantelevision.net/cybergirl/cybergirl.html Cybergirl] at the Australian Television Information Archive
- [http://www.jonathan-m-shiff.com.au/ Jonathan M. Shiff Productions] - the official website for Jonathan M. Shiff productions, has a Cybergirl section
- {{IMDb title|id=0279556|title=Cybergirl}}
- [https://archive.today/20121127180450/http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=490581;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 Cybergirl at the National Film and Sound Archive]
Category:Network 10 original programming
Category:Australian English-language television shows
Category:Australian adventure television series
Category:Australian children's television series
Category:Australian science fiction television series
Category:French adventure television series
Category:French children's television series
Category:French science fiction television series
Category:Television shows set in Queensland
Category:2001 Australian television series debuts
Category:2002 Australian television series endings
Category:2001 French television series debuts
Category:2002 French television series endings
Category:Cyborgs in television
Category:Fiction about malware
Category:Television series about television
Category:Cyberpunk television series
Category:Australian television series about teenagers